2017 Results and

Accomplishments

2

Dear YES Institute Supporters & Friends,

My heart is full as I reflect on the previous year. It’s difficult for me to share an update without becoming emotional. Amid the sweeping groundbreaking moves YES Institute has accomplished, there are countless individual stories that hold my heart captive. I’ll share just one.

At a recent Communication Solutions™ course, a young man courageously—and matter-of-factly—opened up about multiple suicide attempts, and being

verbally and physically assaulted daily in school. “But,” he said, “I don’t feel hopeless anymore.” When I asked him why, he said, “I want to spare my little sisters the pain that I experienced. I want to tell my story with YES so people can see that kids like me are actually worth something.” He paused, and with a huge smile, said, “I just want to live.”

More highlights from the second half of 2017 follow. Looking ahead to 2018, YES Institute is poised to tackle the challenges facing our community with fresh energy and a powerhouse, dynamic team. Our partnerships will allow us to impact youth from preschool to graduate school; healthcare providers in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties; faith communities; foster care personnel; and, of course, parents and families.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your generosity and commitment to keeping all youth safe. Your support makes our life-saving work possible. Wishing you the happiest of holidays!

Love,

Luke Jude, Executive Director

A Year of Opportunities

Posters created by students at Archimedean Academy.

3

Creating Safe Classrooms

Education sessions focused on solutions to anti-gay and gender-based bullying behaviors reached:

• 400 parents, teachers, and students from 21 Miami-Dade County Public Title 1 Schools.

• 100 Teach for America (TFA) corps members who directly impact 1,000 elementary, middle, and high school youth in low income communities.

• 120 City Year AmeriCorps members who work with high-risk students to become college- and career-ready.

• 100 School Allies for Equity (SAFE) Liaisons in Miami-Dade County Public Middle and High Schools.

• 75 school psychologists in Palm Beach County Public Schools.

• 50 school counselors at the Florida School Counselors Association Conference in Orlando.

• Thousands of students, parents, and educators from public and private schools including Devon Aire K-8 Center, Turtle River Montessori School, Oliver Hoover Elementary, Miami Country Day School, iPrep Academy, Silver Bluff Elementary, and Booker T. Washington Senior High.

YES Institute staff with Miami Country Day School second grade students.

“I’ll admit I felt uncomfortable with gay and transgender people before. Now I feel inspired to be the support system for ALL my students.” - TFA corps member

Other results in education:

• New partnership with the Early Learning Coalition to provide education to 2,500 teachers who work with youth ages 4-10.

• Live interactive webinar on bullying prevention for 100 teachers across Florida, hosted by the Florida Department of Education.

• Ongoing partnership with Palmer Trinity School (PTS)—with education for parents, students, and faculty—to support them implementing a transgender affirming student policy.

• Colleges engaging with us include University of Miami, Barry University, Florida International University, Keiser University, Miami Dade College, Nova Southeastern, and St. Thomas University.

“I see many changes I can make in my classroom to have everyone feel welcome and accepted. This education is desperately needed in middle school.” - PTS teacher

Jubilee, right, YES Institute volunteer speaker, with high school students at American Heritage in Broward County.

Dani Dominguez, right, addressing psychology students at St. Thomas University.

4

Advancing Healthcare

Steps to increase access to quality gender- and orientation-affirming healthcare include:

• New partnership with Citrus Health Network to train their entire staff of 1,000+ people over three years; will also involve detailed evaluation of policies, language, patient intake forms, and organizational and case consultation services.

Emergency Department physicians and residents at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.

• Education for 120 doctors, nurses, and psychologists at Community Health of South Florida, Bethesda Hospital East, Camillus House, and Douglas Gardens Community Mental Health Center; 100 nursing and medical students at Florida International University and University of Miami; and 100 doctors and nurses with the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses.

• Clinical continuing education course for 40 faculty and psychologists at the College of Psychology at Nova Southeastern University (NSU), in partnership with Dr. Jamie Joseph.

• New online forum for medical professionals to connect with one another and share knowledge; will support our effort to build a robust network of providers who are equipped to fill the gaps in care that currently exist for gay and transgender patients.

“Improved my knowledge of the medical hurdles young people face, and how I can distinguish myself as a safe resource.” - NSU student

5

Fostering Workplace Unity

Supporting powerful leadership and authentic dialogue for:

• 100 managers at The Biltmore Hotel who are committed to welcoming all guests, and bolstering teamwork among staff.

• 50 staff members of Mastercard’s Brickell office, sponsored by their PRIDE committee.

• Two lunch-and-learn dialogues at Sapient Razorfish, including “Women in the Workplace” and “A Balancing Act: Kids & Career.”

• All human resources managers at the University of Miami (UM) as they work to build a true “culture of belonging.”

• Staff at the Grand Beach Hotel who earned the Pink Flamingo Hospitality certification, indicating to potential guests that they are a safe and welcoming property.

“Before today I felt only confusion or frustration towards gay and transgender people. Now I feel compassion.” - UM Human Resources Manager

Joseph Zolobczuk, left, with Mastercard Brickell employees.

6

7

Increasing Our Impact

Year after year, YES Institute maximizes the investment our donors provide to both sustain and grow the capacity for our work. The graph below represents the total number of annual participants experiencing a YES Institute community dialogue or education course. As of November 30, we reached 8,217 people in 2017, and estimate a few hundred more by December 31.

Jennifer Lopez, left, addressing students at Hispanic Heritage Month.

Strengthening the System of Care

Introducing critical conversations on gender and orientation to:

• 30 foster care and adoptive parents at the Our Kids Fostering & Adoption Summit, which was recorded on video and is now available online for child welfare professionals across Florida; and 30 First Star Academy foster youth who had their first open and frank discussion on how these topics impact their lives.

• The National Workgroup on Gender and Orientation in Maryland for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), where YES Institute is now a board member.

Our rockstar Cuban dynamo mom Eva Leivas-Andino is retiring at the end of the year. Driven by a passionate love for

her family, she has been an unstoppable force and relentless champion of YES Institute’s work for over 20 years. There will never be a day that Eva’s impact doesn’t resonate throughout our organization or the South Florida community. And thankfully, she will still be only a phone call away.

Thank you to everyone who generously contributed to the Eva Leivas-Andino Family Education Fund, which will ensure that all families have access to our life-saving education. If you would like to make a donation to this fund in Eva’s honor, please contact Liz Amore at 786-910-1442 or liz@yesinstitute.org.

Honoring Eva Leivas-Andino

KIAORA SOCIETY MEMBERS ( as of 12/4/17)

PHILANTHROPIST $150,000 Joseph W. Blount Educational Fund at YES Institute

PIONEER $75,000 Bruce A. Christensen Trust Nancy Hector

TRUSTEE $50,000 Joseph M. Kraus

LUMINARY $25,000 Elton John AIDS Foundation Jan & Daniel Lewis The TOBY Fund

VISIONARY $10,000 Jorge L. Basto & Robert Zimmerman The Dunspaugh-Dalton Foundation, Inc. Charles N. & Eleanor Knight Leigh Foundation Gibraltar Private Bank & Trust Jonathan & Tina Kislak F. Lynn Leverett & Lane W. Park Jonathan Lewis Ed McAmis & Gerson Gonzalez Paula Morabito & María M. Yip Our Fund, Inc. OUT Miami Foundation Osiason Educational Fund

CHAMPION $5,000 Patricia Caicedo & Eduardo Salazar Charles Urstadt & David Bernard The Miami Foundation Unite Miami Shores

LEADER $2,500 Lewis Aaron & Nigel Stirk Tim & Meredith Birrittella John Carey & Fiona Fay – In Memory of Robert Grimstead Citrix

8

Kiaora Society

Kiaora Society members contribute $1,000 or more annually to directly support the work of YES Institute. To honor Ed McAmis, our first private donor, we named the YES Institute donor society after the Coconut Grove street where he resided. “Kia Ora” is a Maori word used for greetings in New Zealand; it literally translates to “have life, be healthy.”

9

LEADER $2,500 Patricia Dowd-Davis & Gary Davis Howard KurzweilAlfredo & Cristy Leon The Logan Family Dr. John J. Martin, Jr. & Forrest McSurdy Jose Luis Pere & Trae Williamson Karen Raben & Andrea Pernick Michael Rucker Kevin Veilleux Carol & Ed Williamson

MENTOR $1,000 Dr. Lauren Abern Dr. Patrick Abuzeni & Angela Patt Jose Alonso Appelrouth Farah & CO., P.A. Greg Baldwin & Jose Castro Connie Barden Sarah A. Barroso Alan Behmoiras Thomas Blount Sam Blum Dharma Yoga Studio of Coconut Grove Jeffrey Davis & Michael Miller Olga & Ignacio del Valle Deli Lane Cafe & Tavern William Dewald Marisa di Giovanni Maria Elena Diaz de Villegas Samantha Dietz Dennis Edwards & Mark Steinberg Foundation Giancarlo Falco Flirtbowl, Inc Martha Fugate Victoria Gabriel Liebe & Seth Gadinsky Thomas Gellman & Carlos Yudica Randall R. Gluss Barbara T. Gray Misae Graziano James Gross Marty Harris & Nikki Korval

MENTOR $1,000 Robert J. Hedigan Tom Jackson Robert Johnson & Layne Tidwell Jamie M. Joseph, Ph.D & Michael Krameisen Luke & Karen Jude The Jacques W. Soukup Fund Jahn & Christie Kirchoff Giselle Kovac Larry Luing & Dario Espinosa Mairi MacLean Marsh & McLennan LLC Company Mastercard Evan McEwing Maria Menendez & Floriano Alencar Robert Oldakowski & Luis Mendoza Damian Pardo Plinio Pastor Palmieri Cathy Pick Dr. Alan K. Roberts & Allan Barger Silvia Rojas Bill Ross Howard Perry Rothberg II & Paul A. Scolieri-Rothberg Steve Ruffe Don Sadler Lee Schrager Richard Shannon & Mario J. Arnaez Michelle Shurtieff Shelley Slapion-Foote & Franklin Foote Roxana & Efrain Sora Roxy-Cary Sora Gary B. Stross Cynthia & Emilio Vazquez Vega & Oprandi Jorge Vazquez & Robert Armada Tim Wagoner The Robert S. Wennett & Mario Cader-Frech Foundation Laura White Dr. Terilee Wunderman Joseph M. Zolobczuk Anonymous Donor

Legacies of Contribution and Philanthropy

Your Giving Makes a Difference

YES Institute is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of William Vaughan while he was on holiday in Hawaii this summer. We first met William in the '90s when he was Vice President of the New World Symphony (NWS), and soon we were part of an outreach he created leading to our first major fundraiser, which raised over $130,000 for YES Institute in partnership with the NWS. While he lived in Miami, he joined the board of YES Institute and continued as a long time supporter and dear friend, even after accepting a position at the prestigious

Harrow School in London, England. William was raised in Mississippi in a time and place where no one could safely be gay, and he maintained his lifetime commitment to making sure the world would be safer for all youth.

He will always be loved and remembered in our hearts. If you or someone you know would like to make a gift to YES Institute to support William's legacy, please contact Liz Amore at 786-910-1442.

YES Institute is grateful to our dear friend and long-time supporter Bruce Christensen, who passed away last spring. He named YES Institute in his estate planning, which supports the continuation of our work and advancement of our mission. We also thank Howard Kurzweil, executor of Bruce’s will and a YES Institute Kiaora Society member, who has worked tirelessly to fulfill Bruce’s wishes.

Thank you for your ongoing support! The results you are reading about are possible only through your generosity and commitment.

YES Institute is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit registered in the state of Florida. We have been independently audited each year since our inception, and 92% of every dollar goes directly to support our groundbreaking educational programs. We are proud of our Gold nonprofit rating on GuideStar.com. Your investment is secure and goes directly to our work in the community.

Please consider renewing, increasing your financial contribution, or establishing your planned giving to YES Institute. Call Liz Amore at 786-910-1442 or give online at yesinstitute.org/give

10

Welcome New Board and Staff

Samantha Dietz, Ph.D., LCSW, MCAP YES Institute Board of Directors “In my experience as a mother, daughter, and sister, youth will flourish when their need to feel valued by the people in their lives and their community is met.”

Liz Amore, MA Donor Relations & Communications Manager YES Institute Staff “My daughter Abbey is 7 years old. She is bombarded with messages about what kind of girl she ‘should’ be. I am thrilled to be part of creating a new future.”

YES Institute Professionals Society

PROFESSIONALS SOCIETY

YUPPIES $500 Nicole Arevalo Melitza & Juan Dominguez Umut Dursun Hans Lau Soraya Melegi-Diaz Tommy Murrell Hortensia V. Soriano

YIPSTERS $250 Tracey Carswell Elissa Chakoff Amy Chavez Dulce del Pozo & Family Dani Dominguez Michele & Jonathan Drucker Sarah Eddy

YIPSTERS $250Sara Gonzalez Sky Guilbaud Athena Hadjixenofontos Caro Hernandez Barbara Lima & Alexandra Alvarez Jennifer Lopez Erin Pelletier Scott Prosan Deanna Saunders Visnia Scanio Dr. Daniel Sheridan Jouseph Sliba Connie Snyder-Sontag, DMV Karla Sobenes-Desme Jihan Soliman Pioneer Winter Josephine Wiseheart Stephanie Yahn

Members of YES Institute Professionals Society (YIPS) donate $250 or more annually to our work. These contributors allow our innovative programs to flourish. Members also participate in exciting events throughout South Florida, to celebrate our accomplishments and invite new friends to join! Contact Liz Amore at 786-910-1442 or liz@yesinstitute.org to learn about our events and join today!

11

Daniella Dominguez, BA Community Education Coordinator YES Institute Staff “Our work saves lives. My purpose is to make sure youth feel supported so they don’t turn to destructive behaviors or have to live in fear.”

MissionTo prevent suicide and ensure the healthy

development of all youth through powerful communication and education

on gender and orientation.

Phone 305-663-7195 email@yesinstitute.org

yesinstitute.org

5275 Sunset Drive, Miami, Florida 33143