Exploring Life & Business with Debra Locke of Youth Empowerment Agency

Today we’d like to introduce you to Debra Locke. 

Hi Debra, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Youth Empowerment Agency is an organization for the community created by the community. Our goal is to be a connector and guide. YEA’s mission is to provide opportunities to youth in communities with barriers to resources to guide healthy lifestyle development. Healthy lifestyle Development includes mental health support, financial literacy, Social and Emotional support, physical opportunities, and stable living.” 

Youth Empowerment Agency (YEA) was established in 2013 by four women who saw a significant amount of needs for lower-income families in their communities. Low-income families often do not have access to quality after-school care and other resources to care for their families. In 2021, in partnership with Second Family Childcare, YEA launched a licensed after-school program for youth ages 5 to 12. After-school activities include, but are not limited to, musical instrument exploration, dance, painting, yoga, YEA Youth Thrive Peer group, and self-defense courses. We are committed to providing quality child care for low-income families. We are a new organization that offers not only child care but wrap-around support for families. We have a community liaison that helps our families navigate around barriers and through community resources. It is our goal to offer training to parents and the community on the Youth Thrive Framework through Illuminate Colorado. The facility for the After-school Program is in Aurora and can safely care for 50 youth during out-of-school-time programming. We are currently working to partner with a Middle School to expand our After-school leadership Program into Denver. We emphasize with the families we are not just about providing care for youth but also leaving them with knowledge and or life skills from our programming. YEA also provides access to healthy foods through food delivery and pick-up distributions on a weekly basis. We have also been building community gardens and are training youth to grow their own food through a partnership with a local farm. 

Through YEA’s youth led Youth Thrive for Youth Peer Navigators program, youth who are 12 and older are able to bring their skills and teach to younger youth within YEA After-school Program. This teaches the youth how to lead and communicate effectively. We have a group of young adults aged 18 to 24 yrs. that will come in monthly to teach the youth the promotive factors through Youth Thrive for Youth. 

YEA Youth Thrive Program uses the Protective and Promotive Framework and the research behind each of its five components with the community: knowledge of adolescent development, social connections, cognitive and social/emotional competence, social connections, concrete support in times of need, and promoting youth resilience. 

YEA is a community organization that is built with community partners and we stand firm on the value “It takes a village to raise a child”. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We have had many challenges mainly access to funding. We are of the community which means we have been working within the means that we have. So far, we have served over 1500 individuals last year. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Youth Empowerment Agency has become a place where youth feel safe and supported. We specialize in getting the resources out to the community. At First it was us just giving out knowledge and food. Then it grew to the youth asking what are we doing this month? I am the founder of YEA and seeing how much the organization has grown and myself professionally has been amazing. we specialize in youth development and my personal industry is childcare. I have been within the industry since 16 years old and we now provide that opportunity back to the youth. This serves as a support for the families but also education for the youth. I am most proud that I can see the change in the youth. They want to come to camp and they want to try new experiences. What sets us apart is the fact that we hold youth and family forums to hear their input to gauge what experiences we provide for the youth. 

Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
In business, you have to take risk and to keep operating a nonprofit organization has been one of my major risk. 

Pricing:

• YEA membership is free but childcare is the $30 per day with scholarships offered

Contact Info:

• Website: www.youthempowermentagency.com
• Instagram: @youthempowermentagency

Image Credits
https://www.aplos.com/aws/events/yea_2nd_annual_fundraising_gala