Testimonials from Inner-City Youth

Washington D.C.

“This course never ceases to amaze me. It’s always amazing, always something new.
This is probably one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been, and I’ve grown to love this entire place and all the people in it.... I’m speechless as to how amazing this has been…” –Chris Beards, 16

“Without this program I would be stressed!” –Paris Cooper, 16

“The first two days I was in a rush to get back home, now I don’t even believe it—everyone in this room, I wish they could stay here with me. This week has been so much fun! …I never knew breathing could make you so relaxed like that. I was in a deep sleep and I was mad ‘cause they woke me up! This camp gave me good visions of myself; like I pictured myself being in the NBA. And that’s something to live for. Also, I’ve made good friends here—everybody’s my friend!” –Wesley Chambers, 17

Baltimore City

“I prayed to God for some release of my stress – somehow I was stressing out really bad about family issues and stuff in my life and then all of a sudden, the YES! program popped up at my school and I joined the class. When I stopped taking the class, I realized that it had relieved a lot of my stress. I was more friendly to people around me, and more relaxed and more focused on my work instead of real tense and stressed. The class gave me a chance to think before acting. I wanted to go to Canada to further the program because I wanted that same feeling. I have never been out of Baltimore and I have never done anything like this before” - Tashana Sawyers, 16