2018 CIIP Program Book CIIP Booklet 2018 | Page 53

Community Partner: Youth Empowered Society (YES)
Intern: Janaya Brown
Site Supervisor: Greg King
What is YES?
YES is an organization that prevents and eliminates youth homelessness through the synergy of
youth/peer and ally partnerships. YES provides urgently needed direct services to youth experienc-
ing homelessness through trauma-informed peer and ally support; develops the leadership and
employment readiness of youth who have experienced homelessness; and partners with youth to
advocate for systems change.
• Supported staff and youth ex-
periencing homelessness during
drop-in, providing clothing, food
and drinks, and bus tokens
• Created weekly event calendars
to hand out to youth each week,
as well as planned the framework
for several programs to run in the
space
• Started an electronic notes form
for better data input and keeping
by staff members on youth up-
dates
This has probably been the most emotionally enlightening and challenging internship experi-
ence. Each day brought an array of challenges, but I can say I learned something from every one
of them. The most nerve-wracking thing was coming in with such little knowledge of what I was
to be doing for the next eight weeks. There was only so much to be learned from a few Google
searches or a short interview in the space. My only goal was to make myself a helpful part of the
staff and an ally to the youth.
I most appreciated my fellow staff members throughout my experience. I was the youngest in the
office but still felt included. Being at Hopkins has often made me forget the diversity of Baltimore,
so it was enlightening to work with a diverse staff. Not only were people racially diverse, but also
socioeconomically diverse. They were funny and accepting of people coming as they were, allow-
ing me to be myself more than I usually am at work.
Coming into the job, I knew the age range we served was from 14 to 25 years old. Youth typically
treated me no differently if they knew I was younger than them, with some relating to me more
because of it. However, it left me to wonder how I have been lucky enough to go to college and
be able to serve people. So many of our youth were dealt cards outside of their own control, leav-
ing them constant hurdles to overcome.
While I was not a case manager, I often found myself still building close bonds with certain youth
and helping them through job and housing issues. There were days where I was emotionally
drained by the things I would hear. The importance of self-care in social work and small nonprofits
is wildly important. But while caring for myself, I spent each day trying to do anything I could for
each youth that needed me. With each hug, with each thank you, with each happy baby, I grew to
love YES and everything that is done to keep the organization running for our youth.
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