THROUGH VOICE, WE LIVE.

The Youth Empowerment Broadcasting Organization (YEBO) is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering BIPOC-identifying youth through the art of storytelling. Our work directly addresses the pressing systemic barriers that BIPOC youth face in society today. These include the lack of representation in curriculum, cultural insensitivity, and limited access to the arts and spaces of belonging.

YEBO believes storytelling is a powerful tool that transcends time and culture, allowing individuals to explore their identities, connect with others deeply, and develop essential skills for their educational and career success.

YEBO’s flagship statewide initiative, Mission 1477, is a series of workshops and events that provide a platform for BIPOC youth (14-24 years old) to learn how to leverage storytelling to grow their agency and well-being.

Mission 1477 was inspired by founder Cory Montalvo’s tenure as a dean of students at a school in Five Points, Denver. After witnessing the systemic challenges faced by BIPOC youth, Cory created a storytelling and comic book club to build healthy relationships with students who were experiencing a disconnection from their school community. The number 1,477 represents the number of times students were sent out of class to be disciplined during the year Cory was dean, and it has become a symbol of transformation and signifies the potential to turn moments of adversity into opportunities for growth and empowerment.

Through Mission 1477, YEBO aims to support and uplift 1,477 BIPOC youth across Colorado in three ways:

1. Education & Career Empowerment: Our programs enhance communication skills through narrative literacy, grow executive function skills, and strengthen digital technology proficiency.
2. Cultural Enrichment: Our programs celebrate cultural heritage, promote cultural participation, and foster empathy.
3. Youth Mental Health: Our programs foster reflective narratives, enhance emotional intelligence, and build and strengthen interpersonal relationships.

Our Values

YEBO’s values reflect our belief in the power of storytelling, which drives our organization’s culture and activities:

• Authenticity is unmitigated self-expression. Our stories celebrate and share our unique voices, experiences, and perspectives.
• Self-Determination is living our possibilities in the world. Our stories inspire us to take ownership of our narratives and shape our lives.
• Community is nourishment through relationships. Our stories build strong, healthy connections between people to create respect and collaboration.

Interested in becoming a partner? Click here to learn more.