As a comprehensive youth-development agency, Project YES provides free after-school programing, parent engagement events, and leadership opportunities for Boulder County youth.
Established by Carole Macneil and Beth Krensky at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education in 1991, Project YES began as a pilot program aimed at supporting young people in using art as a vehicle for social change. As the young people involved in the program were so inspired by their experience, they became the driving force in developing the pilot into a non-profit agency.
After relocating to Colorado in 1994, Project YES existed as a volunteer-run organization, leading after school arts and service workshops in various schools and communities for several years. Recognizing the need for after-school and summer programming in East Boulder County, Project YES opened the Youth Center in 2000 and initiated the Lafayette Service-Learning Partnership program in 2001. In 2003, the organization reintroduced its arts for social change workshop through the Art in the Community program. In 2010, in response to the economic climate, Project YES was forced to close the youth center but continued its work in East Boulder County. As testament to its unyielding community support, the organization managed to stay open through volunteer staff while many others shut down.
Now Project YES is looking at launching innovative new programming, strengthening community networks, and serving a higher number of Lafayette and Boulder County youth in proven effective ongoing programs. Through close partnerships with community organizations in addition to its signature school-based programming we can work together so that all of our youth are served. We believe that if we can envision a better world we can make it happen and our youth can lead the way. We thank you for being part of the journey and for making so much magic happen.