JUNE 2022
YEMBA Makes Friends and Funds at Day in Our Village
Oak Park’s Day in Our Village, held on June 5, after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, was a great success. Village residents came out in force, reconnecting with friends, enjoying music, and learning more about our many nonprofit organizations.
YEMBA had a banner day! We debuted the second edition of coffee bags designed by YEMBA graduate Hasani Cannon and filled with coffee roasted by our generous partner Dark Matter Coffee. We sold 40 bags of coffee and raised $734—and, just as importantly, we connected with lots of new people, several of whom expressed interest in becoming involved with the organization.
Congrats to Tommy McDonald, who won the raffle basket containing Dark Matter Coffee, Dark Matter Coffee Cold Brew, Sleepwalk chocolate and two YEMBA coffee mugs.
Thanks to the volunteers who staffed the YEMBA booth: board members Crystal Brown, Akeisha King and Jessica Mackinnon; Hasani Cannon; Cornick Harris; and supporters extraordinaire Jen, Bob and David Quinlan.
Summer Program Update
YEMBA will launch its new summer program on Monday, June 20. Designed to help middle school students transition to high school, the program includes workshops on time management, stress management and study skills, as well as financial literacy sessions provided by Byline Bank. Participants will also work on developing action plans to ensure a successful high school experience.
The six-week program will include a tour of Oak Park River Forest High School to help students learn how to navigate the building and to introduce them to student services, clubs and activities.
Field trips to Oak Park Bank, where students will shadow employees, DuSable Museum of African American History, Morton College and Dark Matter Coffee will be offered on Thursdays.
We are partnering with the Oak Park Tennis and Fitness Center to use its facility on Wednesdays for recreation activities.
Spotlight on Supporters: Future Philanthropists Program
YEMBA received a total of $8,000 from the Future Philanthropists Program (FPP) during its Capstone Ceremony on May 23. The young philanthropists awarded YEMBA a grant for $7,000 and an additional $1,000 “popular choice” bonus from the program’s senior team. The FPP has been a long-time, consistent supporter of YEMBA.
A program of the Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation, the FFP provides high school students with the opportunity to learn how to be responsible philanthropists and grant makers. Each year, the program distributes more than $50,000 in grant funds to worthy local nonprofits.
YEMBA deeply appreciates FPP’s continued support—a great example of young people helping other young people.
Congratulations to our MEP Graduates!
Congratulations to our MEP Graduates! YEMBA held graduation ceremonies for middle school students involved in our Mentoring Education Program—with celebrations at Julian Middle School on May 23 and at Brooks Middle School on May 25. We served a total of 77 students this academic year.
The following students received special awards during the celebrations:
E’mon Johnson (Julian)—Charismatic Award
Myles Kelly (Julian)—Mr. Social Award
Micah Saunder (Julian)—Critical Thinker Award
Jaylen Stanley (Julian)—Attendance Award
Kemen Carbajosa (Brooks)—Critical Thinker Award
Aurora Colchamiro (Brooks)—Most Social Award
Christopher Nash (Brooks)—Sportsmanship Award
Daveon Willis (Brooks)—Mr. YEMBA Award
Good luck to Our MET Mentors!
It’s always hard to see our Junior Mentors move on—but we are proud of them and wish them well with their future plans, confident that they are poised for success. The following high school students were instrumental to YEMBA’s program this year:
Julien Carbajosa (OPRFHS)—Triton College. Julian plans to pursue a degree in automotive mechanics. He received the OPRFHS Career Pathway Award.
Amaria Harris (Fenwick)—University of Michigan. Amaria graduated with a 3.975 GPA and was a member of the National Honor Society. She received the President’s Education Award of Excellence. She plans to major in chemistry (pre-med) and minor in Spanish.
Lorritzia Richard (Fenwick)—Philander Smith College. Lorritzia plans to major in business and minor in kinesiology.
Armani Smith (Fenwick)—University of Arkansas. Armani plans to major in computer science. He received a Fenwick Football Scholarship.
Save the Date For YEMBA Gala!
After a hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, YEMBA will present its annual gala on Wednesday, November 2 at the Nineteenth Century Club in Oak Park. Join us for what promises to be a joyful celebration.