ABOUT YEBO
THROUGH VOICE, WE LIVE.
Yebo
/’jebaʊ /
exclamation
Zulu, South African
1. used to show agreement or approval; yes.
The Youth Empowerment Broadcasting Organization (YEBO) deepens social and emotional awareness in Black and Brown youth by integrating culturally relevant mental health resources, intergenerational storytelling, and media-making. We envision a world where Black and Brown youth use their stories, cultural wisdom, and creative expression to heal, lead, and shape a more liberated future.
YEBO’s journey began in 2016 when founder Cory Montalvo, serving as a dean of students in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood, saw firsthand the systemic challenges Black and Brown youth face. His office received 1,477 disciplinary referrals in a single year, underscoring the need for a positive outlet for students and himself. In response, Cory started a comic book club where students reimagined themselves as superheroes. This club evolved into YEBO’s current storytelling initiative, Mission 1477, a call to transform cycles of harm into pathways of healing by centering youth in wellness, intergenerational connection, and the power of their own voice.
Today, YEBO offers storytelling workshops, mindfulness practices, and digital media creation rooted in youth mental health, cultural identity, and education. Our programs help young people counter racial harm, reclaim their narratives, and envision thriving futures, turning personal stories into tools for healing, power, and self-determination.
OUR VALUES
AUTHENTICITY
Authenticity is unmitigated self-expression. Our stories celebrate and share our unique voices, experiences, and perspectives.
SELF-DETERMINATION
Self-Determination is living our possibilities in the world. Our stories inspire us to take ownership of our narratives and shape our lives.
COMMUNITY
Community is nourishment through relationships. Our stories build strong, healthy connections between people to create respect and collaboration.
PILLARS OF IMPACT
YEBO addresses critical challenges faced by Black and Brown youth aged 14-24 through research-based, storytelling-centered programs. Grounded in the “Social and Community Context” of the five social determinants of health, YEBO strengthens social ties and fosters psychosocial well-being by using storytelling as a transformative tool.
Our work is built around three key pillars: Education & Career Empowerment, Cultural Enrichment, and Youth Mental Health. These pillars address the challenges Black and Brown youth face, including underrepresentation, misrepresentation, and racial harm in school environments and beyond, and create opportunities for youth to share their narratives, develop life skills, and nurture their mental well-being.
- Education & Career Empowerment: Our programs enhance communication skills through narrative literacy, grow executive function skills, and strengthen digital technology proficiency.
- Cultural Enrichment: Our programs celebrate cultural heritage, promote cultural participation, and foster empathy.
- Youth Mental Health: Our programs foster reflective narratives, enhance social & emotional intelligence, and build and strengthen interpersonal relationships
