Program areas at YELLS
The Yells mentoring program matches high school "bigs" with elementary school "littles, and provides a service-learning curriculum that prepares them to design youth-led service initiatives together. In this fiscal year, 17 high school bigs and 8 elementary school littles forged powerful mentoring relationships that helped them grow as leaders while giving back to their community. 23/23 (100%) mentoring program participants with updated academic data available showed at least one letter grade improvement or maintained an "a- or "b" in english or math during the 2022 -2023 school year. Yells bigs put their leadership skills to work by planning and successfully Leading a franklin fair block party for their neighborhood, bringing the whole community together for fun, relationship building, and resources. As part of this event, they wrote proposal letters, organized partners to come together to offer resources, helped nurture relationships between police and community, promoted literacy Through free books, and nurtured community pride Through shared fun experiences for over 250 attendees in our franklin gateway neighborhood. These service Learning experiences allowed our Yells bigs and littles to develop skills and build their character and self-esteem. One-hundred percent of Youth reported making better choices because of the Yells program, 94% said they feel more like a leader after participating in Yells, 86% stated that they believed they had made a positive impact on their community, and 100% said that Yells has helped them to think more positively. Parents also see the impact. 100% of mentoring program parents reported that Yells is helping their child show more care and kindness toward others, and 100% indicated that their child's behavior has improved due to the program.
In 2022-2023, the Yells community action caf equipped 24 teens with real- world business and leadership skills as they managed a real coffee shop (mobile caf due to covid) that serves as a hub for community-wide education, engagement, and Empowerment. Yells teens have become career- ready, developing resumes and applying business and life skills as they engaged neighbors in youth-led events and community-building. In 2022-2023 Yells teens networked with local elected officials and community partners about the priorities for their community, hosted and asked thoughtful questions during a police town hall, led a trunk or treat family event, and coordinated mobile caf pop-ups to uplift and serve their community. The Youth's projects strengthen community bonds, foster a sense of neighborhood pride, and lead to long-term change as Youth and their families believe in their ability to overcome challenges, develop support networks, achieve success in school, graduate ready for college and career, open the door to economic mobility, and continue to reinvest in their community. Through a partnership with cobbworks, we provided 16 teens with authentic job training Through a paid work experience at Yells. Teens excelled academically as well. Ninety-four percent (17/18) of teens enrolled during the school year were promoted on grade level, and 100% of our seniors graduated and started college in the fall. Additionally, 100% of parents reported that Yells helps them feel more connected to their community.
The Yells afterschool program provided positive Youth development, including leadership, art, recreation, character building, service Learning, and academic support for 32 elementary Youth daily. The Yells model engages the entire family Through parent volunteering and participation in educational and community-building workshops. Our work is at the front-lines of pandemic recovery, addressing gaps in Learning and social-emotional development, as well as the mental health toll of the pandemic on Youth and families. Ninety-four percent (29/31) of Yells afterschool program Youth improved by one letter grade or more or maintained an a or b in math or language arts in 2022-2023. Parents noticed improvements in their children's academic success as well, with eighty percent rating their child's performance in school as "excellent- or "very good" after participating in Yells. Youth also demonstrated growth in self-esteem and confidence, with 90% of Yells afterschool program Youth reporting that they feel good about themselves after participating in Yells. Furthermore, Youth developed a growth mindset, with 90% believing that they can do hard things and 94% believing that, with practice, they can make their brain grow stronger. Yells also made a difference for parents, with 84% reporting that they had learned at least one new strategy to support their child's education at home.
Yells offered a 45 hour/week, fully-day Yells summer camp for elementary school Youth. Youth enjoyed an engaging and educational summer with daily affirmations, steam activities, book clubs, sports, team challenges, and choice clubs. We kept Youth moving and Learning Through fieldtrips to the beltline, the historic old fourth ward park, a braves game, and white water. Yells parents learned strategies for promoting literacy at home Through our "books and breakfast" workshops for Youth and parents hosted each morning before summer camp. Teens also enjoyed an action-packed summer with multiple college tours, financial literacy workshops, and paid work experience as junior staff in the Youth program.