Posts and testimonials about volunteering with YELLS.
Finding Our Piece in Community: Building Connections at YELLS Parent Night As youth returned for another year of learning and leadership, YELLS parents gathered at both our Franklin Gateway and Fair Oaks locations to connect, reflect, and define their roles as community leaders. At YELLS, we believe change is a…
At YELLS, we believe that building strong leaders starts with building a strong community where mentors, role models, and neighbors come together to support youth, and the Life University Women’s Rugby Team has become an invaluable part of that community. These incredible student athletes have brought their energy, discipline, and…
At YELLS, we empower youth to serve and uplift their community, and it’s inspiring to see that spirit continue long after they graduate. Fozia Paracha, a former “Big” in our YELLS Mentoring Program from 2009–2011, is a shining example of paying it forward. After moving back to the area, Fozia…
When Ruth first joined the YELLS Afterschool Program, she faced a challenge that would intimidate many students her age: learning English as a second language. Reading felt like climbing a mountain, each page filled with obstacles. At YELLS, though, Ruth had learned the power of “yet,” and she knew that…
YELLS is blessed to have the support of incredible corporate partners like GDS Associates, Inc. Their team knows we are stronger together, and they share their time and gifts with us year after year, rolling up their sleeves to clean and transform our site each fall, providing holiday gifts for…
When Mr. Robin retired, he knew he wanted to use his extra time to make a difference. He had been a 5th grade teacher for three years during his early career, and he was searching “aggressively,” he says, for a place where he could continue to pour into the lives…
We are so grateful for our wonderful partners at Assurant who have gone above and beyond in providing our teens with incredible opportunities to explore their professional passions and practice their networking skills, as well as experiences that they will remember for a long time! Assurant Career Day In the…
YELLS has been actively involved in uplifting the Franklin Gateway community for years, but it’s easy to forget that we are a small grassroots organization that relies on community support to continue the good fight. It is a blessing that our mission to empower the youth of Franklin Gateway resonates…
YELLS prides itself on being a community hub where Franklin Gateway residents can come together to engage with city representatives, community leaders, and their fellow neighbors to discuss the needs and expectations of their community. Together we can accomplish more, and on August 25th we hosted our first YELLS Parent…
After 2 ½ years of shuttered doors, virtual programming, and canceled community events, the Franklin Fair was finally back and better than ever! Reviving this flagship event after all that time was no easy feat for our Mentoring Bigs; they drafted and sent out countless proposal letters, made dozens of…
