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Welcome Prospective Mentors,

Here at the YESS Institute we are committed to finding mentors for Metro Denver area youth. Why choose the YESS Institute? Because we are a committed to leadership training for all our mentors. Our process is simple:

We are looking for enthusiastic college aged year old people willing to commit one day a week for 1 ˝ hours to impact a child’s future. Commitment level is 4 visits a month for at least 1 1/2 hour during after-school hours. The mentorship relationship is to last for one school year, until May 2008.

The mentee is a 6th/7th or 8th grader at Kepner Middle School who is an at need youth with high potential.

The YESS Institute will help match the mentors with the youth and facilitate first meetings.

The YESS Institute will handle all the training for the mentor and assure a safe, comfortable setting for the mentor to succeed.

The mentoring is school-based and will take place at the mentee's school.

The YESS Institute will have ample curriculum to assist the mentor in the mentoring process. We want this relationship to be as easy and lasting as possible. There should be no obstacles, the youth need us.

A typical mentoring session will be talking to the youth about their lives, homework help and activities at the school; such as sports, arts and crafts, games or whatever the mentor and youth have decided for the day.

Because it is school-based the time of the mentoring will have to be after school, such as from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM. The day of the week is flexible.

Denver area youth need mentors more than ever and it is time for the community to step in and help direct them towards a future full of possibilities.

To become a Mentor:

Please call Alex Cordoba at 303-951-3012

Or email: alex@yessinstitute.org

check out: http://www.myspace.com/kepnermentoring

EmoSmart™ Buddies Program at Denver Center for International Studies (DCIS)

EmoSmart™ Buddies is a peer mentoring program for the Denver Center for International Studies (DCIS). DCIS is a Denver Public Schools magnet middle and high school focused on rigorous international education and intensive study of world languages. Because of the difficult curriculum, DCIS currently has a high attrition rate. As part of the Denver Plan, to increase achievement in the Denver Public Schools, DCIS is required to provide additional class time for 6th and 9th grade students that are not meeting achievement goals. The YESS Institute trains upperclassmen (10th – 12th grade) mentors to work with 6th and 9th grade “Buddies” on improving academics and EmoSmart Leadership™ skills. The older students learn leadership skills while helping the younger students reach their full potential for achievement. The program consists of two weekly sessions, one focused on academic tutoring and one focused on leadership development and the EmoSmart™ curriculum.
The main goals for the program include:

increased academic achievement

reduction of the dropout rate by 50%

smooth integration of new students into the school community.

For more information about this program contact Alex Wald at 303-951-3013
Or email: alexandra@yessinstitute.org

Lancer Leaders Peer Mentoring Program at Abraham Lincoln High School

The Lancer Leaders program matches thirty peer mentors—upperclassmen who have leadership positions within the school such as student council, Link Crew and National Honor Society--with incoming freshman who are underperforming academically or demonstrating unacceptable school behaviors. Lincoln is a large, urban high school in south Denver that serves a predominantly Latino population. The school as a whole performs poorly academically, having again received a Low school performance designation. However, the school’s stated mission is to ensure that “[a]ll seniors graduating from Abraham Lincoln High School will qualify for a four year college or university.” To achieve this mission, Lincoln has created partnerships with outside agencies and community colleges to ensure that Lincoln students have opportunities to succeed. The Lancer Leaders program furthers Lincoln’s mission, as students in past YESS programs have experienced increased attendance and academic performance and a more positive outlook towards school and their futures.

For more information about this program contact Alex Wald at 303-951-3013
Or email: alexandra@yessinstitute.org