Our History
Youth Empowerment Services (Y.E.S.) had its start in the small northeastern Arizona community of Shonto when a group of community activists who had established the Shonto Youth Center teamed with a budding group from nearby Kayenta to form Y.E.S. for Dine Bikeyah. Y.E.S. is a federally recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization that was created to offer creative, healthy, and family oriented activities to serve the needs of youth in communities across the Navajo Nation. Y.E.S. has evolved as an organization since its establishment in 1994 and has become more program-oriented, offering outdoor and culturally-enriching activities through all seasons across the reservation
Y.E.S., which is based in Teec Nos Pos (near the Four Corners), works with groups and various communities around the Navajo Nation. Some of our partners include Kayenta Community School, Shonto Prep School, Lukachukai Community School, Tsaile Bible Church, Chilchinbeto Community School, Shiprock Coordinated School Health Program, Red Rock Day School, Tohatchi Elementary School, Ganado Intermediate School, Rocky Ridge Boarding School, Twin Lakes Elementary School, Shonto High School, Tuba City Dept. of Youth, Gallup Coordinated School Health Program and Montezuma Creek Elementary.
Y.E.S. has been involved in many creative community-based projects throughout its history. The Tour de Rez, our year-round series of backpacking trips, family campouts, the Chuska Challenge, trail projects, star parties, youth service projects and school-based activities have been and remain at our core. In addition, we have hosted alternative summer school experiences, drug-free music events, family forums and college scholarship program are just a sampling of the projects that are Y.E.S. Along with the local school and health clinic, Y.E.S. built the Rainbow Sky Ropes Challenge in Kayenta and managed it for seven years. We have also supported martial arts activities, a pow-wow group, a boxing club, a writers project in connection with P.E.N., a summer medical experience program and the Tall Mountain Wilderness Camp.
Y.E.S. is hopeful that its vision of creating healthy, family oriented and drug-free activities for communities on the Navajo Nation through engaging programs will continue to make an impact in the lives of reservation youth.
'You're all doing a great job. I'm glad that there are people like you guys in our corner of the universe. The Peace Corps is right there on the rez.' - Lois, Y.E.S. supporter
