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From supporting the YES staff and supporters to having difficult conversations with troubled youth, Carolyn’s commitment to making a difference and celebrating life is a gift she gave to every corner of the world she entered. We were lucky to know her, we all fell in love with her, and we will never forget her.

The mission of YES Institute’s Youth Advisory Leadership Council is: To empower and coach youth to lead YES Institute’s education, to support its vision of a community where all youth are free of suicide, violence, and discrimination.

The main emotion that teachers see in young men is ANGER; they’re finding boys to be shut down and isolated. This sentiment was shared among more than 130 teachers of all grade levels.

June 3, 2023, marked a somber day for all who knew and cherished Edwin (Ed) McAmis. It is with heavy hearts that we inform you of his passing, and bid farewell to a remarkable individual who left an indelible impact on our lives.

Our Leadership in Action™ (LIA) course gives teams the tools to enhance their individual leadership and work more effectively together as a group. Through inquiry and small group discussions, professionals are able to discover powerful pathways to collaboration and effectiveness, even in moments of disagreement.

When YES Institute was founded in 1996, statistics reported that 1 in 3 LGBTQ youth considered self-harm if they were rejected based on their orientation. The latest data from the Trevor Project revealed that: “LGBTQ youth who found their school to be LGBTQ-affirming reported lower rates of attempting suicide.” 

YES Institute’s communication model provides an alternative to the “I am right, and I will prove you are wrong” context and asks, “Is it possible to create something new together? What could it look like to hear one another, feel heard in the process, see one another, and be seen for your authentic self?” 

YES Institute receives inquiries from companies interested in creating inclusive and welcoming professional environments, especially through the lens of gender, orientation, and culture. The Florida Chapter of the National Diversity Council recently requested a dialogue to bring awareness on gender and orientation to employees in various organizations.