Meet “Building Belonging” The youth named their project Building Belonging, and they didn’t just talk about what they could do, they made it happen. The teens designed and distributed 175 free wellness kits filled with mental health and wellness resources, activities, and information from local community partners. They also created…
What should the future Franklin Gateway park look like? The people who call this neighborhood home are helping answer that question—and YELLS teens are making sure their voices are part of the conversation! Recently, YELLS teens brought parents, neighbors, and fellow youth together for a community meeting focused on the…
Over a dozen YELLS youth were present in Marietta City Council Chambers for the big announcement on March 19. After months of advocacy and showing up for their neighborhood, our young leaders eagerly awaited the details of the deal that would shape the future of their Franklin Gateway community. Our…
Showing up for Franklin Gateway When decisions are being made about land, development, and the future of a community, the voices of those who live there matter most, especially the voices of young people who will grow up with the outcomes of those decisions. That belief was put into action…
After 16 years of honing our place-based model in the Franklin Gateway community, we are thrilled to share that YELLS expanded our powerful youth leadership approach to a new neighborhood! In 2024, YELLS launched the Fair Oaks YELLS Youth Program for Kindergarten to fifth grade youth within Fair Oaks Elementary…
At YELLS, we believe youth aren’t just the future. They’re leaders today. This past year, the young people of Franklin Gateway and Fair Oaks proved just that, taking their neighborhoods into their own hands and transforming them with creativity, passion, and love. From our youngest K-5th grade changemakers in the…
At YELLS, we believe the power to transform a neighborhood lives within the people who call it home. This year, that power shone brightly through the parents who have joined hands with us to shape not just their children’s growth, but the future of their families and their community. Our…
From the moment Jevyn Clark joined the YELLS Mentoring Program as a silly, but timid elementary school “Little,” he was watching, learning, and soaking it all in. He studied his “Big,” David, as he pitched service projects and brought ideas to life. That early exposure to mentorship and leadership planted…
Check out our 2024-2025 Impact Report and get inspired by the ways that together we have made a measurable difference for the youth and families of our shared community. Thank you for your investment and faith in YELLS that makes all of this possible. Our work is collaborative and our results…
YELLS has enjoyed abundant holiday blessings this year thanks to the generosity, hard work, and community spirit of the Marietta Country Club. For the past nine years, the Marietta Country Club has been giving back to local organizations through their ThanksGIVING Golf Classic, and YELLS is so honored to be…
