Who we are
At Youth Empowered, we are passionate about creating a culture of compassion and empathy, teamwork and accountability, and the willingness to embrace hard work. We are equally passionate about wrapping it all up in confidence and building relationships with peers and adults mentors. We strive to support and strengthen young minds and bodies as they navigate the complicated world around them. While youth members are the primary targeted audience of Youth Empowered Sports Club, we encourage and offer support to community members of all ages.
As acommunity cornerstone for more than a decade, YESCs resources and activities are available to all family and community members, regardless of age. YESCs vision is to create a sense of belonging for kids and community members by offering a safe and empowering opportunity for people of all ages to focus on physical and emotional health and academic success. The organizations tag line of “in the gym, in the classroom and in the community “speaks to the mind, body and soul connection we aim to nurture. YESC aspires to instill a passion for excellence, accountability and teamwork. We assist our students and athletes in reaching their goals by developing their confidence, independence, and teaching them to embrace lasting habits of a healthy lifestyle.
Youth Empowered Sports Club is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization located in Solvang, CA. Youth Empowered focuses on three areas that we consider critical in the development of youth. Our athletes and students build a strong, healthy presence in the gym, in the classroom and in the community. YESC is dedicated to teaching young people the value of healthy living and academic excellence. Our expectation is that each of our students become a positive and productive part of the community.
YESC serves a wide demographic, from toddlers to seniors, as well as working with people of varying socioeconomic classes. Members represent all segments and classes, however, Youth Empowered serves a high percentage of youth who are at risk. Many are being raised in low-income and/or single parent families. With long-established connections in the local community, Youth Empowered is uniquely positioned to develop consistent and healthy relationships with children to buffer the effects of socioeconomic stress. As a family focused program, a deep-rooted passion and commitment to the success of every member is evident in each interaction. This unparalleled dedication to youth has created a unique draw to the Sports Club that people are often at a loss of words to describe. Our retention speaks volumes, however, and as kids grow up they find new ways to stay involved with us.
Youth Empowered offers several fitness/sports programs: Central Coast Wrestling Academy; Cold Iron Barbell, and our Boxing/Wrestling Gym. Room to Grow is our on-site tutoring and enrichment Classroom. It provides a safe and comfortable space for one-on-one tutoring, peer tutoring, small group study sessions, homeschool study groups and summer school support. Music and art enrichment classes are supported by volunteers, many of whom are retired educators.
With facilities combining over 2,500 square feet, Youth Empowered provides participants with well-equipped areas for fitness classes, powerlifting, boxing and wrestling. The Sports Club is operated by founding directors Lynne Castellanos, Chantalle Castellanos and Raul Sandoval, all of whom are actively engaged on a daily basis in all aspects of the program. A dedicated and growing number of volunteers give of their time and talents to keep the youth members engaged and on track. These volunteers include professional athletes, teachers, coaches, business owners and peer mentors. Our team members have worked diligently to create a welcoming culture that fosters teamwork, accountability and respect.
We recognize that the past few years have been difficult ones for all of us, and youth have been impacted in a way that they are struggling to deal with. The learning gap has widened, with minoritized youth having lost more ground than their peers. Mental health issues are a concern as students deal with feelings of isolation, and social-emotional stress. We feel confident that we can provide a grass-roots solution for students in our community, by expanding and adding structure to our programs that have already proven to be successful.