Youth Empowerment Project Inc - Building Positive Tomorrows for the People of Today
YEP Inc.'s Executive Director & Founder - Mrs. Barbara Gaston
Barbara’s intense belief that hope exists for every disabled and troubled person inspired her vision of establishing a program that would have the flexibility to be tailored to meet the needs of individuals. She believed with the appropriate combination of services, programs, and positive role modeling, people facing challenges would have the opportunity to avoid violence and violent behavior. Her dream expanded to help parents, disabled adults and those suffering from Traumatic Brain Injuries. She developed trainings for teachers, aides,and bus drivers to understand the interaction with children and people with disabilities and the behaviorally challenged. Thus, inspired the beginnings of the Youth Empowerment Project Inc also known as YEP.
Experiencing many obstacles throughout her youth, including a Traumatic Brain injury at the age of 7 and then another at the age of 25. Barb knows first-hand the challenges people face. Barb’s life experiences allowed her to become active in developing homeless shelters and programs to support women and children. Participation in this cause furthered her commitment to understanding the importance of creating safe environments for children, families, schools and the community. She has been a driving force in the lives of behaviorally challenged, developmentally-disabled, people with Traumatic Brain injuries, mentally ill children, homeless children, and our community’s youth. Barbara has been named New York State's Entrepreneur of the Year as well as one of the Great Women of Oneida County.
Barb’s mission to build "positive tomorrows for the people of today" has flourished into an array of services, The Youth Empowerment Project has served thousands of individuals every year, groups, and families as well as 100 people at any given time.
Barbara serves as an inspiration to her staff and all those they encounter. Despite the obstacles and challenges facing her throughout her life, Barbara trekked through the cold and the rain to help the children, families, and schools she believed could prevail over all of the obstacles. Her drive and determination cannot be surpassed, nor can her hope and faith be quelled. Barbara can often be caught saying that “YEP was built on the wings of angels”.
To date YEP has served over 6 thousand families and continues to reach one person at a time. When funding is tight, they hold fundraisers and hit the streets so our people do not become another statistic. YEP continues to work on getting the educational system as well as the social service system to recognize that individuality is the only way to service this population.
Experiencing many obstacles throughout her youth, including a Traumatic Brain injury at the age of 7 and then another at the age of 25. Barb knows first-hand the challenges people face. Barb’s life experiences allowed her to become active in developing homeless shelters and programs to support women and children. Participation in this cause furthered her commitment to understanding the importance of creating safe environments for children, families, schools and the community. She has been a driving force in the lives of behaviorally challenged, developmentally-disabled, people with Traumatic Brain injuries, mentally ill children, homeless children, and our community’s youth. Barbara has been named New York State's Entrepreneur of the Year as well as one of the Great Women of Oneida County.
Barb’s mission to build "positive tomorrows for the people of today" has flourished into an array of services, The Youth Empowerment Project has served thousands of individuals every year, groups, and families as well as 100 people at any given time.
Barbara serves as an inspiration to her staff and all those they encounter. Despite the obstacles and challenges facing her throughout her life, Barbara trekked through the cold and the rain to help the children, families, and schools she believed could prevail over all of the obstacles. Her drive and determination cannot be surpassed, nor can her hope and faith be quelled. Barbara can often be caught saying that “YEP was built on the wings of angels”.
To date YEP has served over 6 thousand families and continues to reach one person at a time. When funding is tight, they hold fundraisers and hit the streets so our people do not become another statistic. YEP continues to work on getting the educational system as well as the social service system to recognize that individuality is the only way to service this population.
YEP Inc.'s Dedicated Staff
YEP's staff is a group of dedicated professionals working to assist persons living with Traumatic Brain Injury, the Developmentally Disabled, and others in need with the challenges of daily living. Several other services are also provided by the staff at YEP Inc. For more information or to contact any of our staff, please call the telephone number listed below.
404 Court Street, Utica, NY 13502 315-368-0117 Fax: 315-368-0136