YES!2 0 0 5

A n n u a l R e p o r t

YES

YES!2 0 0 5

A n n u a l R e p o r t

EAR FRIENDS,

We are blessed to work with courageous, visionary young leaders from around the world. Theyteach us that life is precious and the human spirit is resilient. That in the face of the wars, natur-al disasters, and social and economic upheaval humanity faces, there is something worth everyounce of love and muscle we can bring forward on behalf of life.

YES! supports young people who are challenging the destructive course of things in the worldtoday, and are taking a stand on behalf of humanity. They are diverse, and they are addressing some

of the toughest issues of our times with creativity and brilliance. Some of them are seeking to leveragegreat wealth, and others are working in the face of brutal poverty. Working all around the globe, they are tackling the sys-temic and pervasive injustice, militarism, and environmental destruction that are undermining lives and communities, andthat now threaten the very future of life on Earth.

Today’s young changemakers inspire us, and they also need support. They need elders willing to believe in them. They needpeers with whom to share ideas and generate movements. And they need a root system that can help them sustain throughthe good times, and the pain and loss, that inevitably confront every life. YES! helps young leaders to create a deepenedcongruency between the inner, interpersonal and systemic dimensions of their work for a thriving, just and sustainable future.

In the last year we held a World Youth Leadership Jam in Senegal, Africa, andbegan organizing programs on five continents for young global leaders from manydozens of countries. We expanded our Leveraging Privilege for Social Changeprogram to build two new communities, one to support young donors of colorand another to organize young people with substantial wealth and a commitmentto social change. We engaged grantors and grantees in a series of retreats toexplore how to create greater authenticity and real partnership across historicdivisions of money, power and age. And a young YES! alumna stepped forwardwith $650,000 to establish the Seeds of Justice grantmaking fund.

We’ve also been bringing sustainability to our own staff and organization. In thelast year fifty people joined our Visionary Partners’ Circle with five-year commit-ments to YES!’s work of at least $1,000 annually. We’ve hired an outstandingOperations Manager, begun formation of a global advisory council, and have re-energized and expanded our board of directors.

Thank you for joining us, and for all the stands you take for the future of ourworld.

In gratitude,

WHAT IS YES!?

YES! is a non-profit organization thatconnects, inspires and empowersyoung changemakers to join forces fora thriving, just and sustainable way oflife for all through: Global LeadershipJams, the Leveraging Privilege forSocial Change program, grantmaking,public speaking, and a global networkof support. Since 1990 YES! has spo-ken to more than 629,000 students inschool assemblies, and led hundredsof workshops and more than 90 week-long gatherings for outstanding youngleaders from 60 nations.

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Photo credit: Marwa Seoudy

WORLD YOUTH LEADERSHIP JAM,NOVEMBER 14-22, 2004YES!’s seventh annual World Jam united 30outstanding young leaders (most under age 30)from 18 countries for a weekin Senegal, West Africa. Jamparticipants came fromBrazil, Canada, Egypt,Ghana, India, Israel, Kenya,Mali, Mexico, New Zealand,Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania,Senegal, Sierra Leone, SouthAfrica, Thailand, and theUSA. The Jam came toAfrica at a critical junctureon a continent still recovering from the loss of50 million people to slavery and strugglingwith widespread poverty, resource depletion,and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The Jam high-lighted outstanding young leaders, nearly halfof them from Africa, who are reaffirming life,transforming communities, and buildingmovements for sustainability and freedom.Participants delved deep into the linksbetween racism, ecology, social justice and theshifts in values and consciousness that can helpmove our world towards healing and balance.

“I had an amazing time at the Jam – the best weekof my life. The Jam was an overwhelming experi-ence, in an entirely good way. It was an emotional,spiritual and mental experience that has changedthe way I look at everything and everyone and actu-ally changed ME. I’m looking forward to the chal-lenges of my life and to the opportunities that havebeen opened up to me. I went to the Jam feeling likea child in a world of adults, but I came back feelinglike an adult living in a world of children.”

Amrita Bhatia, 18, Seeking Needed Actions For Peace, Mumbai, India

LATIN AMERICAN JAM, JANUARY16-23, 2005Held in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, the secondannual Latin America Jam selected 25 of the

region’s outstanding young leadersfrom a pool of more than 500 appli-cations. Participants came fromArgentina, Uruguay, Paraguay,Peru and Brazil. Representingpositions of influence and leader-ship in organizations working forpeace, environmental protection,human and children’s rights andsocial justice, participants engagedin mutual sharing, learning, net-

working and community-building among someof the young people who willshape the new Latin America.Immediately following the Jam,constituents participated in the100,000-strong World SocialForum, by holding a specialworkshop for 600 WSF dele-gates in which they presentedsome of the learnings that cameout of the Jam.

“The Jam was a totally newmoment in my life, a kind ofchallenge of finding inside me the stories, motiva-tions and reasons for my work. Why am I here? Isanother world possible? The Jam didn’t finish inJanuary 2005 — it was only beginning. We’re nottalking about any kind of young activists meet-ing but more... a seed able to build anotherpossible world.”

Leonardo Jianoti, YB News Youth Agency, Curitiba, Brazil

NEW YORK CITY LOCAL JAM,SEPTEMBER 17-21, 2005The Global Youth Action Network organizeda Local Jam for young leaders from 15 organi-zations in the New York City metropolitanarea. The initiative brings together localyouth organizers and organizations to cultivatestrategic partnerships and collaborativeaction that will develop a more unified andeffective youth movement in one of theworld’s largest cities.

“Before I participated in the Jam, I was verydedicated to doing youth work, but isolatedand lacking support. Now I feel that myproject has so much more potential. I met

some of the most talented andamazing people here, and Ibelieve that we will support eachother for life.”

Sarah Quinter, 19, Founder, Misled Youth Network, New York, USA

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LEVERAGING PRIVILEGE FORSOCIAL CHANGE JAM, JULY 24-30, 2005YES!’s third annual LeveragingPrivilege for Social Change (LPSC) Jambrought together 28 diverse young lead-ers with access to exceptional privilegefor a week of dialogue about power,money, our lives and the challenges andopportunities of our times. Participantsincluded young changemakers withprivilege in a variety of forms, includingmonetary wealth (collective financialresources that reach into the hundredsof millions of dollars), public attention(participants carry significant music andfilm industry presence), and philan-thropy (giving of time, talent, and/ormoney). The LPSC Jam was a place toexplore the many sides of privilege, tolook at the values and visions we carry,and to help participants bring their livesand their social impact into greateralignment with their values.

“My week at the Jam helped me to realizethat I can’t leverage privilege for social changeby optimizing an investment portfolio, orfacilitating the establishment of a charitablelead trust. Rather, leverage comes from open,honest conversations with other passionate,visionary and transparent individuals likethose the Jam attracts. Leverage comes fromlinking arms, building bridges, and inspiringmovements toward common goals. My Jamexperience was a beautiful balance of humilityand empowerment.”

Erik Falconer, 33, FalconerGroup Family Wealth Management,

Traverse City, MI

INTERGENERATIONALDIALOGUE ONLEVERAGING PRIVILEGEFOR SOCIAL CHANGE,JULY 30-31, 2005Immediately after the LPSC Jam,35 more people ages 14-81 joinedthe Jam participants for a 60+-person IntergenerationalDialogue. It was a profound andprovocative exchange, and many valuablepartnerships were built.

“What a cauldron of unimaginable power.You are blessed in being able to reach acrossthe chasms that can at times separate thegenerations, with your specialness that touch-es so many of us.”

Jeff Grossberg, 59,Founding Partner, Guidestone

Consulting Group, Boulder, CO

TRANSFORMINGPHILANTHROPY RETREAT, MAY 17-20, 2005YES! joined with The Fetzer Instituteand Shinnyo-En Foundation, to bringtogether leaders from more than a dozenorganizations and philanthropic institu-tions for several days of dialogue explor-ing transformative partnership betweengrantors and grantees.

DONOR-PARTNER MINI-JAM,SEPTEMBER 23-24, 2005YES! convened a two-day gathering ofsome of the organization’s major donors,board, staff, and core organizing part-ners. This “Mini-Jam” enabled a diversegroup of participants to learn from and

engage with YES!’s insights and growingedges around cross-cultural communitybuilding, transformative philanthropy,bringing sustainability and spiritual rootsinto our work, and leveraging privilegefor social change.

“I was profoundly moved that space was cre-ated for those of us who love and supportYES! to experience the flavor of a Jam first-hand. Thanks to brilliant and inspired facil-itation, and a truly extraordinary and diversegroup of individuals, (it was) positive, inten-tional, safe, lively, and fun.”

Avi Peterson, 40, YES! Visionary Partner’s

Circle Member, San Francisco, CA

LAUNCHING TWO NEWPROGRAMSLeveraging Privilege for Social Changealumni have joined with peers to launchtwo new YES!-sponsored initiativesfocusing on building communities ofsupport within specific LPSC sub-con-stituencies. Power and Privilege for thePeople (P3) will support resource-privi-leged young people of color, whileLeverage Alliance will build a communi-ty of young people who have access tosubstantial financial resources and a com-mitment to social change.

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YES! supports movements working towards a thriving, justand sustainable way of life for all through public speaking atconferences and on school campuses, workshop facilitation,donor-directed grant funds, the Art in Action Camp, our website, and distribution of educational materials.

ART IN ACTIONCAMP, JULY 26-AUGUST 4, 2005YES! partnered withCultural Links,Global Exchange,Dancers WithoutBorders and others tohold our sixth annualArt in Action Camp.Thirty young leadersfrom across the US,85% of them youthof color, cametogether to learnabout global andlocal movements forjustice and sustain-

ability, and building alternatives to war and violence inour communities. Participants made original music,poetry, spoken word, dances, murals, and giant puppets,using art as a medium to build community, find theirvoice, and take a stand for the world they want to helpcreate. The camp culminated with a performance attend-ed by more than 200 people.

“To say you have changed my life is an understatement. Fromthe moment I arrived, I was welcomed to a space that embracedboth art and activism. (I) challenged my heart to breathe for thefirst time, surrounded with love and peace. I do not know how toexpress the great appreciation I have for the effort, dedication,patience and love you all put into 10 days.”

Nathalie Sanchez, 19, Los Angeles, CA

THE SEEDS OF JUSTICE FUNDA YES! alumna established the Seeds of Justice Fundwith a gift of $650,000 to be distributed through YES! bya diverse collective of social change leaders. The Fundwill strategically support individuals and community-based organizations worldwide working on the internal,interpersonal, and systemic levels to build a thriving, justand sustainable future.

BEING A VOICE FOR CHANGEYES! founder Ocean Robbins spoke at numerous con-ferences, reaching leaders from thousands of organiza-tions and networks. These events included, among oth-ers: The Institute of Noetic Sciences 11th International

Conference onConsciousness andHealing, University ofCalifornia at SantaCruz and atBerkeley’s Educationfor Sustainable Living,the Creating ASustainable Futurecampus organizingconference, the GreenEarth Festival, andthe FoundationIncubator’s confer-ence on Young Adultsin Philanthropy.

COMMUNITY ALLIANCES INITIATIVE (CAI)YES! continued to build and deepen CAI, an intentional-ly diverse and intergenerational community of leaders inthe Santa Cruz area. CAI members held twelve one-daymeetings and a weekend-long retreat facilitated by BePresent founder Lillie Allen to strengthen our facilitationskills and leadership.

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RESPONDING TO KATRINAAfter hurricane Katrina left hundreds of thou-sands of people homeless along the US gulfcoast, one of YES!’s core affiliates, 21st CenturyYouth Leadership Movement (21C), opened thedoors of their small Selma, AL camp site to dis-placed evacuees. YES! put out the word that 21Cneeded urgent support, and within weeks 31donors contributed more than $40,000 to help21C meet the pressing needs of their community.More than 100 people, many of them directly outof the Superdome catastrophe, came to 21C andreceived food, housing, and emotional and logis-tical support. YES! alumni Holly Roberson andAngel Kyodo Williams traveled to Selma tospend a week volunteering with 21C. By mid-October, 2005, all of the displaced evacuees whohad come to 21C had been relocated and weresettled with family members or in homes.

“After hurricane Katrina, I was so grateful to knowfellow Jam alumna Malika Sanders, and to have theopportunity to support her and 21C’s relief work inSelma. 21C offered a chance for evacuees to regroupand come together as families — families facing hugedecisions. I’m blessed to have been a witness to therebuilding of lives and to provide support.”

Holly Roberson, 32, BonaVita Enterprises, Inc., New York, NY

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World Jam, NM Bringing together extraordi-nary alumni from 20 countries,representing bright lights fromthe past ten years of WorldJams, to deepen and build amore cohesive and transforma-tive global Jam community.Core partners: NativeMovement (USA), Shikshantar(India), and Institute forPopular Education (Mali).

Rajasthan Jam, India Uniting young changemakers in India’s most heavilytourism-filled state to explore culture, community, andhow to maintain long-cherished values and ancient lan-guages in the presence of globalization. Core partner:Shikshantar.

Flagstaff Jam, AZ Bringing together young leaders fromFlagstaff, Navajo Nation, and Hopi Nation’senvironmental, indigenous rights, social justiceand community wellness movements to createspace for transformational community-buildingon a local level. Core partner: NativeMovement.

United Kingdom Jam, UK For 30 young leaders from throughout the UnitedKingdom to connect and build partnerships as they workfor peace, ecology, and cross-cultural respect. Core part-ner: Tolerance in Diversity (United Kingdom).

Leveraging Privilege for Social Change Jam, CAFor thirty diverse young inheritors, entrepreneurs, phil-anthropists and public figures. Core partners include:Shikshantar, Resource Generation and Changemakers.

Intergenerational Retreat on LeveragingPrivilege for Social Change, CA A weekend for 50 privileged people of all ages to look atpower, social change, and intergenerational partnership.Core partners: same as LPSC Jam.

Power and Privilege for the People (P3) A retreat and a Jam in 2006 focusing on young and influ-ential people of color. Core partners: UrbanPeace and21st Century Youth Leadership Movement.

Leverage AllianceA gathering in 2006 will help to launch a network ofyoung leaders with substantial financial resources and acommitment to transformative social change. Core part-ner: Falconer Group.

Transforming PhilanthropyA series of retreats to create a set of Transformational

Philanthropy Principles andexplore how to apply them.Core partners: FetzerInstitute and Shinnyo-EnFoundation.

Art in Action CampHelping young people fromdiverse backgrounds to useartistic expression (dance,spoken word, poetry, publicspeaking, street theater,

hip-hop, and puppetry) as a means of education, self-expression, and social change. Core partners: CulturalLinks, Global Exchange, and Ella Baker Center forHuman Rights.

Donor-Partner Mini-JamsGatherings to connect, inspire, and support some ofYES!’s major donors, board, staff, and core partners.

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OUTSTANDING GLOBAL LEADER AWARDS

YES! received grants from two anonymousdonors that enabled us to acknowledge sixyoung global leaders of extraordinary visionand dedication with a gift of USD $2,500 each.The 2005 recipients were: * Kimmie Weeks,23-year-old founder of Youth ActionInternational, whose courage has led to the dis-armament of 20,000 child soldiers in Liberia. *Coumba Toure of Senegal, 31-year-old glob-ally known advocate for the rights of womenand children. * Evon Peter, 27-year-old co-founder of Native Movement, helps youngindigenous leaders join forces on behalf ofindigenous cultural preservation and self-deter-mination. * Shilpa Jain, 27-year-old author,speaker and facilitator with Shikshantar, a peo-ples’ movement based in India that seeks toregenerate and nurture diverse worlds of learn-ing and living. * Rev. Angel Kyodo Williams,35-year-old founder of urbanPEACE, empow-ers peacemaking in urban environments usingself-awareness and community-making prac-tices to bridge spirit and social transformation.* Malika Sanders, 31-year-old president of the21st Century Youth Leadership Movement, is aleader in helping carry on the legacy of theCivil Rights movement with a new generationof changemakers.

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OOuurr FFiinnaanncceessYES! 2004-05 MAJOR SUPPORTERS INCLUDED

Visionary Partners:Angela Sevin, Avi Peterson, Barbara and Christopher Wilson, Betsy Rix, Brad Black, Carolyn Cavalier,Cate Coslor, Debbie Rennels-Salkind, Elrik Jundis, Fiona Pugliese, Geraldine Lopez, Helen Gemmill,Ilyas Iliya, James Elsen, Jamie Jeffries, Jay & Jennifer Wood, Jeffrey Leifer, Joe Keon, Joel Yanowitz, JohnDensmore, John and Margo Steiner, Leslie Neale, Lynne Twist, Marion Hunt-Badiner, Mark Stafford,Melanie and Mike MacKinnon, Melissa Stuart, Michael and Judith Bissonnette, Michael Kilgroe, MichaelSteiner, Miles Smith, Nancy Glock-Grueneich, Nuria Latifa Bowart, Olivia Boyce-Abel, PamelaCrawford, Phillip Garrison, Raj Sundra, Robert Foster, Robert Hamer & Jill Reber, Russ and Joni Pratt,Savitri Burbank, Shirley and Paul Dean, Sophia Bowart, Steve and Carli Szymanski, Susan Griffin Black,Theo Ferguson, and Tracy Gary

$25,000+Aveda Corporation, Community Foundation Serving Boulder County, Joaquin Phoenix, W.K. KelloggFoundation, Panta Rhea Foundation

$10,000 - $24,999Burt Family Fdn., Calvert Giving Fund, EnviroKidz, Hidden Leaf Fdn. Horst Rechelbacher, LevinsonFdn., New Hampshire Charitable Fdn., Olivia Boyce-Abel Fdn., San Francisco Fdn., SFC Fdn.

$5,000 - $9,999Benjamin and Ruth Hammett, Chenstein O’Malleysven Fdn., Clarity Gift Fund of the Community Fdn.Serving Boulder County, Earle Harris, Falcon Fund, Firedoll Fdn., Gegax Family Fdn., Grant Abert,Honor The Earth Fund at the Tides Fdn., Lazar Fdn., Lustig Family Fdn., Mariana Bozesan, New EarthFdn., Richard Glantz, Scott Porter, Seven Springs Fdn., Steve Fox

$750 - $4,999Amy and Glenn Bacheller, Angel Kyodo Williams, Avi Peterson, Barbara MeislinBrian Biro, Celia Zaentz, Changemakers, Clouse Family Fund of the San Francisco Fdn., EleanorWasson, Foster Gamble & Kimberly Carter, Gail High, Heather McFarlin, Highfield Fdn., HundtFamily Fund/Minneapolis Fdn., Jack Butler, Jeanne McHugh, Jim & Betty Arnold, Judith Brown, Karenand Bill Scarvie, Katz Family Fdn., Kurz Family Fdn., LTD, Laura Livoti, Lowell Brook, Mark Demsky& Wini Nimrod, Mazal Fdn., Men’s Wearhouse, Mike Kappus, Moss Fdn., Nalith Fdn., Not Just UsFdn., Nuria Bowart, Peter Buckley, Primitive Logic, Robert Nissenbaum, Roy A. Hunt Fdn., SandyMintz, Shanti Cliff, Steiner Family Fdn., The Tides Fdn. upon the recommendation of Wendy Grace andMichael Honach, Thomas Reynolds, Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program, Warren Wilson, Whereit Belongs Fund of the Tides Fdn., Wildwood Natural Foods, Working Assets, Youth Development Fdn.

Statement of Activities; October 1, 2004 - September 30, 2005

Unrestricted Temporarily TotalREVENUE RestrictedCamp/Workshop Tuition $23,429 $23,429Donations for Others $106,369 $106,369Foundation Grants $127,442 $181,750 $309,192Individual Contributions $235,795 $968,614 $1,204,409Interest & Dividends $17,924 $17,924Product Sales $6,752 $6,752Scholarship Donations $20,776 $20,776Sponsorship $3,000 $3,000Funds released from Restrictions $96,411 ($96,411) $0TOTAL REVENUE $637,898 $1,053,953 $1,691,851

EXPENSESProgram $404,397 $404,397Administration $108,846 $108,846Fundraising $68,105 $68,105TOTAL EXPENSES $581,348 $581,348

CHANGE IN NET ASSETS $56,550 $1,053,953 $1,110,503

NET ASSETS, 10/1/2004 $133,198 $225,090 $358,288NET ASSETS, 9/30/2005 $189,748 $1,279,043 $1,468,791

Statement of Financial Position - September 30, 2005

ASSETS Unrestricted Temporarily TotalRestricted

Cash $23,957 $15,179$39,136

Investments $159,973 $827,000 $986,973Inventory $2,684 $2,684Receivables $9,600 $436,864 $446,464Net Computer Equipment $8,196 $8,196TOTAL ASSETS $204,410 $1,279,043 $1,483,453

LIABILITIESAccounts Payable $14,662 $14,662Net Assets $189,748 $1,279,043 $1,468,791

TOTAL LIABILITIES $204,410 $1,279,043 $1,483,453AND NET ASSETS

Notes: Restricted Revenue includes Seeds of Justice Fund ($650,000), as well asmulti-year grants & pledges.*These are not audited financial statements. YES! is in the process of an annualaudit and will make final information available upon request.

— Thank You!

YES!INTERNATIONALHEADQUARTERS

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INDIA:SHIKSHANTARSHILPA JAIN+91-294-245-1303SHILPA@SWARAJ.ORG

THAILAND:KWAN MUANGINSTITUTENUTTAROTEWANGINYOO+66-53-712053NUTT2000@LOXINFO.CO.TH

INTERNATIONAL:GLOBAL YOUTHACTION NETWORKJONAH WITTKAMPERWWW.YOUTHLINK.ORGGYAN@YOUTHLINK.ORG

SENEGAL/MALI:INSTITUTE FORPOPULAREDUCATIONCOUMBA TOURE+221-827-4559KUUMBATI@SENTOO.SN

BRAZIL:OSMAR FILHO+55-19-3289-3915GIRAMUNDO@HOTMAIL.COM

SOUTHERN USA:21ST CENTURY YOUTHLEADERSHIPMOVEMENTMALIKA SANDERS(334) 874-0065MALIKAASANDERS@YAHOO.COM

CORE AFFILIATES: