The Denver not-for-profit YESS - Youth Empowerment Support Services - Institute will teach the Staying Kool™ Program to 30 Morey Middle School students. Through the five-month program, students will learn practical ways to integrate social emotional skills into their daily lives.

The project will be called The Inward Journey/Outward Vista Pilot Program and involves role-playing, video feedback and interactive exercises.

“The training that our at-risk students will receive will help them learn appropriate behaviors for when they are frustrated, angry or overwhelmed,” said Morey principal Kristin Waters. “Ultimately, these new skills will help them be successful in school and in the community.”

Annalise Smith and Jacob Malson, students at Mountain Vista High School (MVHS) from the Douglas County School District, had the brilliant idea to partner MVHS students with the Morey students as one-to-one mentors for the entire duration of the Staying Kool™ Program.

Each MVHS student will simultaneously be educated in team building, positive role modeling and communication skills by completing the YESS’ Mentor Leadership Program.

“It is rare to give students the ability to get to know themselves at such a personal level under the impression that they are helping others with this knowledge,” said MVHS counselor Wendy Trumbull. “Connections will be made that will demonstrate to students that no matter your address, your race or creed, we all have a lot in common.”

For educational reinforcement and evaluation purposes, Denver not-for-profit Little Voice Productions will create a 30 minute video documentary of The Inward Journey / Outward Vista Pilot Program.

This educational project further involves the following community partners:

• The Denver Safe City Office, providing an evaluation specialist to evaluate the link between social emotional skills and academic performance and school conduct.
• Students at the Art Institute of Colorado, providing the project’s logo.
• The Communications Department at the University of Colorado at Boulder, offering consulting on maximizing the impact of video feedback techniques.

Special thanks to Christine Smith, Director of Community Partnerships at Denver Public Schools, for being the champion of this innovative educational partnership.

“We are eager to see our children develop into caring and productive members of our community and believe that the YESS Institute will be a pivotal factor in the attainment of this goal,” said Smith.

For more information contact: Carlo Kriekels at 303-355-4230.