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Evidence of Program's Success

 

• YEA serves youth ages 14-24, with 88% in high school at time of enrollment.
• In 2023, we served 265 unique youth with 97% classified as low income households.
• Our self-identified gender identity ratio was 53% female, 42% male and 5% non-binary.
• 53% of youth self-identified as Hispanic/Latinx* with 12% identifying as multi-racial, 25% as African American/ Black, 6% as Caucasian, 2% as Native America and 2% Asian American /Hawaiian/ Other Pacific Islander. (*some youth only identified as Hispanic/Latinx and did not identify under any race.)

In 2023 YEA served 265 unique youth with over 15,000 in contact hours to assist them in reaching their education, employment goals, and mental wellness goals.
Industry Academies
• 249 Youth participated in culinary and creative industries academies
• 98% Completion rate
• 95% of those completing showed an proficiency in entry level industry skills
• 100% of those in culinary completed a national certification in food safety preparation and handling
• 94% of those in high school stayed in school or graduated or those that were drop outs, returned to high school or equivalency program
• 90% of those with a high school diploma or equivalency entered post-secondary education/training and/or became employed

Internships
• 42 youth participated in internships in the culinary and creative industries
• 93% of those completing showed an proficiency in entry level industry skills

• 100% of those in high school stayed in school or graduated or those that were drop outs, returned to high school or equivalency program

• 83% of those with a high school diploma or equivalency entered post-secondary education/training and/or became employed

Mentorship & Well-being
• 220 youth participated in out of school time mentorship program
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Youth Employment Academy National Awards:
• National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) National Award of Merit, Osage Café (YEA Social Enterprise) 2014
• National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) National Award of Merit, YEA Advanced Manufacturing/Engineering Program 2014
• NARSAAH Public Housing Youth Program of the Year Award 2010
• National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) National Award of Merit, Youth Employment Academy 2008

Arts Street @ YEA:
Local Awards
• INC Denver Youth Engagement Award for our EnvironMENTAL project, 2021
• Launch Internship Partner of the Year by Denver Public Schools' Career Connect/Career Launch Program, 2019

• INC Youth Civic Engagement Award for our Journey 2 Unity Project, 2018
• Best Youth Arts Program in Denver 2017, Westword
• Art Tank, 1st Place Award, Arts Affinity Group 2017
• Art Tank, Audience Choice Award, Arts Affinity Group 2017
• Outstanding Non-Profit Partner by Denver Public Schools' Career Connect/Career Launch Program 2017
• Innovate for Good Award, Rose Community Foundation, 2015
National Awards:
• National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) National Award of Merit for the Journey 2 Unity Project (Arts Street) 2019
• National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) National Award of Merit for the Arts Street @ YEA program 2019
• Our Town Award, National Endowment for the Arts 2015
• Coming Up Taller; National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award 2004