My Nonprofit Reviews

I attended YPI as a student and then worked there as a counselor and assistant instructor from the late '90s to the early '00s. The artistic community that is created each summer is truly magnificent. I grew in my self-confidence and in performance, and more importantly, learned about the value of a community that prizes risk-taking in an atmosphere of support. More than twenty years since I was last involved, I still carry the lessons that YPI taught me.

I attended YPI for five summers during my middle and high school years, and worked there as a counselor for two. I had always been vaguely interested in theater and the creative arts in general, but had never really thought of it as a serious undertaking. At YPI, the Master Teachers are all working in the fields in which they teach. As a young person, seeing adults who were passionate about the arts and willing to share their expertise with people my age was inspiring. YPI helped me to understand the importance of expressing myself creatively as a part of my whole identity, not just as a hobby. Perhaps more important than that realization is the fact that all of this learning takes place in one of the most supportive and affirming environments I have ever known. One of my proudest moments as a counselor at YPI was telling a parent who was concerned her child would be teased: "That doesn't happen here." Here, young people are encouraged to take risks in exploring new ways of expressing themselves. The important thing is not just the end result of making good art, but to learn and revel in the process of creating something new. Please support this wonderful organization, and help them to bring a remarkable experience to more young people.

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