Hello << Test First Name >>!

We’ve officially passed the peak of Summer, and the heat has well and truly settled in across Los Angeles. This season is a difficult and dangerous time for unhoused young people, with demand for our beds increasing significantly over this period. That’s why our focus right now at Youth Emerging Stronger is on community care and keeping our young people safe and sheltered.

As we wrap up our summer break programming, our attention shifts to the back-to-school season. Our case managers, as always, stand ready to help, whether it’s prepping our minors for the new school year, or supporting our transitional age youth as they pursue their GEDs or college degrees. From tutoring to college applications, our team makes sure nothing stands in the way for the youth in our care!

Congratulations are also in order: we’re thrilled to share that six YES youth just graduated high school or college! It’s a huge accomplishment, especially as so many young people struggle to maintain a hopeful outlook about their futures amidst the current political and economic landscape.

Read on to catch up on everything happening at YES,

Changes to the YES Board

YES is pleased to announce new board executive appointees, strengthening our leadership as we mark 40 years serving unhoused LA youth. Diana Buckhantz steps into the role of Board Chair, joined by key officers: Vice Chair Hope Biller, Treasurer David Cottrell, and Secretary Melanie Cotton. We also welcome newly appointed board member Daniel Inlender. This renewed leadership reinforces YES’s legacy as a lifeline for vulnerable youth, ensuring we continue providing safety, stability, and life-changing services. Read more about it on KTLA!

A Night to Remember

On Thursday, July 31, YES was honored to be the beneficiary of The Sheraton Grand’s annual Poker Smoker benefit! Over cocktails and cards, a group of players came together for a poker tournament where 100% of the proceeds benefit our work with unhoused youth! Thank you to the team at Sheraton Grand for your generosity and partnership 🧡

Summer Break Fun!

Our 12-17 year-old youth are ready to head back to school after a fun summer break! From many trips to the local pool, a paddle around on the swan boats, to movies, skating, and a couple of magic shows, our younger residents were able to relax and enjoy their summer months, and it’s all thanks to your generosity!

Youth Grads

YES is very, very proud to announce we’ve had six (!) youth graduate either high school or college over the last three months! Among our grads are new UCLA and CalState alumni. We’re so excited to see what they’ll do with their new qualifications!

One last step before independence

Over the past month, four YES youth have graduated to apartment living at our scatter-site apartments. This represents an important step in their journey toward long-term stability. Semi-independent living enables youth to experience the responsibilities of maintaining their own homes alongside work and school demands, while ensuring access to additional support, if needed.

Job Goal Achievement!

Rachelle, 19, has secured a permanent position as a Library Clerk for LA County! This success comes after traumatic experiences limited Rachelle’s confidence, which affected her ability to succeed in interviews. After working for three months with our therapists and case managers on her confidence and interview skills, she felt ready to start putting herself out there. Great job Rachelle!