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Early in the city''s quarantine, we realized that many of YEP''s participants didn''t have access to the technology they needed to participate in distance learning and enrichment activities. Tools that many of us take for granted, like laptops and home internet connections, are not universally available, and many young people had relied on their school, community center, or library to provide access to these resources.

Thanks to partners like Strong City and a number of generous donors, we were able to quickly collect and distribute 25 laptops and hotspots to young people in YEP programs. Students like Alexa can now continue their education, participate in enrichment activities, and develop valuable job skills through YEP''s remote programming.

With restaurants closed and everyone at home, cooking healthy meals is more important than ever. As part of our regular programming, Ms. Nakita, YEP''s Music and Arts Coordinator, runs a weekly cooking club. Last week, she found that doing it via Zoom is only slightly more complicated.

YEP staff prepared 25 baskets full of fresh ingredients and recipes to deliver to participants'' homes. Ms. Nakita then led young people (and some engaged family members) through step-by-step instructions to prepare tasty meals, like jambalaya, omelettes, and flatbread pizza.

"It''s refreshing to bring love and joy through cooking during these difficult times," said Ms. Nakita, "but the best part is getting to eat together."

GiveNOLA Day is a 24-hour city-wide day of giving organized by the Greater New Orleans Foundation.

When you give to YEP on GiveNOLA Day, your gift will be matched by a generous donor to double your impact.

You can schedule your gift today at www.givenola.org/youth-empowerment-project.

The Class of 2020 may be the most memorable yet. Our students persevered through personal and societal challenges to finish high school and begin a new chapter of their lives.

We weren''t able to watch our 22 graduates cross the stage at Mahalia Jackson Theater this year, but we still found a way to celebrate. First, we delivered graduation packages to everyone, including Cris, this year''s valedictorian.

Thanks to you, GiveNOLA Day was a huge success. Together, you contributed $70,810 towards emergency services and support for children and families whose lives have been changed by the pandemic. That''s more than we''ve ever raised on GiveNOLA Day before.

Thank you to all of our donors. We are so appreciative of this outpouring of support.

Eleven-year-old Casey has been coming to YEP’s Afterschool Program for over a year. Since he started coming to YEP, Casey has made a lot of friends and works hard as a member of the YEP Drumline. Recently, Casey said he was happy he could start coming back to in-person programming again. “At home, I don’t really express my feelings. I don’t come out of my shell. But at YEP it’s a whole different story. I can have kid dreams here.”

In times of uncertainty, we rely even more on your support to give young people like Casey the opportunity to explore their dreams. This year, we’ve secured two very generous year-end matching pledges. Thanks to the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust and the Rusovich Family Foundation, every dollar we raise between now and January will be matched up to $75,000. That means your gift will have twice the impact!

Faith has been coming to YEP''s Afterschool Program and Camp Mariposa with her cousins for years. Since she started coming to YEP, Faith has opened up to her mentors and has learned a lot about herself. "I say a lot of things to them that I don''t say to my parents, and I''ve learned to celebrate my own self." 

Your support has offered Faith and many others the opportunities they need to learn about themselves and to develop the skills and relationships they need to thrive in a challenging environment. So on behalf of everyone at YEP, we hope you have a safe and joyful holiday. Thank you for everything you do to help young people improve their lives and the lives of others.

Sincerely,

Melissa Sawyer

Co-Founder & CEO