Case for Support
Support youth creativity and leadership. Your dollar makes a difference.
For over 20 years, YUPP has been empowering youth through creative and performing arts, sports, and mentorship. Helping young people across multiple counties discover their gifts and walk boldly in purpose.
I invite you to take a moment to read our Case for Support, it highlights the stories, impact, and vision that make YUPP’s work so vital.
Your financial involvement makes all the difference. Together, we can continue to inspire, equip, and uplift the next generation of leaders, artists, and changemakers.
Mission & Vision
Empowering and Equipping the Community Through the Arts. For over two decades, Youth Utilizing Power & Praise (YUPP) has transformed the lives of young people by providing a safe, inspiring space to learn, create, and lead. Founded in 2002 with a mission to “create a cross-cultural network that enhances the whole being” of youth through performing arts, fine arts, public speaking, and sports , YUPP has grown from a small volunteer-driven initiative into a multi-county youth empowerment movement. Today, it stands as a beacon of hope and creativity, a faith-based, community-rooted organization that uses the power of the arts and mentorship to unlock the potential in every child.
Turning Passion into Purpose
YUPP was born from an act of compassion. When founder Shelene Huey-Booker overcame severe bullying in middle school by finding refuge in music, she vowed to create a refuge for others. In 2002, Shelene co-founded YUPP to ensure no young person would feel alone or voiceless. Our vision is simple yet profound: to develop “cross-cultural networks” of youth who uplift one another through shared creative expression and positive mentorship. We welcome participants from ages 6 to 25 across all backgrounds, and we now serve youth in six California counties from urban centers to rural communities. Every program, performance, and practice at YUPP is designed to enhance the whole being of our participants, nurturing their artistic talents, confidence, character, and sense of belonging.
At YUPP, performing arts, fine arts, public speaking, and sports are more than activities – they are avenues for personal growth and bridge-builders between cultures . Whether it’s a shy child finding her voice in a theater class or teens from different neighborhoods bonding on the basketball court, we see our mission come to life whenever a young person exclaims, “I feel seen, known, and loved here.” This mission of empowerment through the arts is at the heart of everything we do, fueling an inclusive community where youth from diverse cultures come together as one creative family.
Our Impact at a Glance
Founded in 2002
Now serving hundreds of youth annually across six Northern California counties.
Core Programs
Public Speaking & Leadership
Join our Program? Setup takes less than 5 minutes
Cross-Cultural Exchanges and Community Outreach
YUPP is dedicated to cross-cultural exchange, using the arts to connect youth from diverse ethnic, socioeconomic, and religious backgrounds. In our dance troupes and art classes, participants gain skills while learning from one another, turning every rehearsal into a lesson in empathy and diversity. From hip-hop and ballet collaborations to friendships that cross social divides, YUPP helps weave a stronger multicultural community. Our commitment to empowering and equipping youth through mentorship and access to the arts is not just a tagline, it’s our everyday practice
YUPP’s ambassador trips extend our cross-cultural mission by turning performances into exchanges that connect communities. From introducing West Coast gospel and dance to East Coast audiences, to a 2024 tour in Washington, D.C., these journeys expose youth to new places and diverse people. For many, it’s their first time leaving California, an eye-opening experience that builds independence, broadens perspective, and affirms their role as cultural bridge-builders. Through these tours, YUPP empowers young people to share their gifts while living out our vision of growth through cross-cultural connection.
Locally, YUPP partners with schools, churches, and community groups to bring the arts directly into neighborhoods. From mobile pop-up workshops in youth centers to afterschool collaborations, we create opportunities for learning and expression. Our showcases and annual “Teach Me to Play and Pray” conference draw families together across cultures, breaking barriers and fostering unity. What begins as personal growth for youth ripples out into family bonds and community connection, making YUPP more than an arts program, but a movement for uplift.
The Path Ahead: Building on Hope and Reaching More Youth
As we look to the future, YUPP is filled with ambitious dreams and unwavering resolve. We know what our youth are capable of, and with your partnership we intend to open even more doors for them. Here’s what’s on the horizon for YUPP:
Our goal is to double the number of youth we serve annually over the next five years. We plan to establish satellite YUPP programs in additional communities (within and beyond our current counties) so that more children can access our classes without long commutes. This includes exploring partnerships in underserved areas of neighboring counties and possibly expanding our virtual program offerings (a lesson learned during the pandemic) to reach youth who can’t attend in person.
We are preparing our most exciting performance opportunity yet in Shelene’s own words, “My heart’s desire is that we will take a group of students and perform at Carnegie Hall.” By November 2030, we aim to have a select ensemble of YUPP’s talented singers and musicians ready to shine on one of the world’s grandest stages. It’s an audacious goal, but audacity is part of YUPP’s DNA. This endeavor will not only be the culmination of years of training for these youth, but also a powerful statement to all our participants that no dream is out of reach. With sufficient support, we’ll fund the travel, lodging, and production of a live recording of the Carnegie Hall performance creating memories and a resume-building achievement that will inspire YUPP kids for generations.
In addition to bolstering our core arts programs, YUPP will introduce new initiatives addressing the evolving needs of today’s youth. We are expanding our STEM-toSTEAM integration – adding creativity to STEM learning – by incorporating technology and digital media into our arts curriculum (such as music production, graphic design, and video storytelling classes). We’re also formalizing our sports and fitness offerings: launching those e-sports leagues and sports clinics to attract youth who have interest in athletics or gaming and channel those hobbies into lessons on teamwork, ethics, and healthy competition . On the wellness front, we plan to grow Live Out Love into a year-round initiative, partnering with mental health professionals to host workshops for parents and youth on topics like coping skills, anti-bullying strategies, and emotional resilience. By approaching youth development from all angles – creative, physical, emotional, spiritual, YUPP will continue to set the standard for whole-person youth programming.
To support our growth, YUPP will need to expand its infrastructure. We envision upgrading our Santa Clara center with a larger dance studio and a media lab, as well as acquiring a mobile “Arts on Wheels” van outfitted as a mini stage and art studio to bring programs directly into underserved neighborhoods. These expansions will allow us to serve more students simultaneously and reduce barriers to access. We also plan to train and hire more instructors (many of them YUPP alumni) to maintain our low student-to-mentor ratio as enrollment grows. Every dollar invested in capacity-building will directly translate into more opportunities for youth to discover their talents and value.
Join Us: Your Support Can Ignite the Spark
YUPP’s story has always been one of community coming together mentors, donors, parents, and partners all playing a part in the success of our youth. As we embark on this next chapter, we invite you to join hands with us in this rewarding mission. By supporting YUPP, you are not just funding an arts program; you are investing in the next generation of compassionate leaders, creative thinkers, and confident individuals. Consider the impact of your contribution:
- A gift of $100 can provide art supplies, music materials, or athletic gear for one student for an entire season of classes . You can outfit a young artist with canvases and paint, or equip an aspiring athlete with a tennis racket and uniform, giving them the tools they need to thrive.
- A gift of $500 will cover a full month of instruction for an entire small class . You can underwrite, for example, four weeks of a dance class for 10 students or a series of guitar lessons for a teen band. That’s dozens of hours of learning and joy made possible by your generosity.
- A larger investment of $1,000 or more can sponsor a whole season of programming for multiple students, including classes, workshops, mentorship sessions, and performance opportunities . Such a gift can literally change the trajectory of young lives keeping kids engaged in positive activities after school, helping them build college-ready skills, and surrounding them with a supportive community during the critical formative years.
No contribution is too small to matter. Every dollar helps ensure that YUPP’s doors stay open to any child who needs encouragement and a place to belong. And every dollar directly supports program costs instructor stipends, facility upkeep, costumes, instruments, studio equipment, field trip travel – all the ingredients that go into our impactful programs.
Beyond financial support, we also welcome partnerships and involvement. You can volunteer at events, offer internships at your company for our youth leaders, sponsor a specific program, or simply spread the word about YUPP’s work. By partnering with YUPP, you become an integral part of a success story that is still being written. It’s the story of children like those five siblings from Brentwood, whose mother said “[Shelene] plants seeds in every one of the kids’ lives, and we just see that growth” seeds that are now f lourishing into confidence and talent. It’s the story of teens who once doubted themselves but now stand proudly center stage, inspiring others with their voices. And it’s the story of communities bridging divides, united by the joy of watching their youth soar.
Our Reach
📍 Santa Clara County
📍 Alameda County
📍 Contra Costa County
📍 Sacramento County
📍 San Joaquin County
📍 Stanislaus County
Together, We Build a Legacy
In the words of one grateful student, “Little becomes much when you place it in the Master’s hands.” YUPP began as a “little” dream in one woman’s heart, placed in the hands of a community that cared. With each helping hand and each generous heart that has joined us, that dream has grown “much” touching more lives than we ever imagined. Now, with your support, we can reach even further.
Join us in writing the next act of this beautiful story. Your contribution will fuel performances that build pride, art projects that heal hearts, leadership training that shapes futures, and sporting activities that channel energy into excellence. Together, we can ensure that every young person – regardless of background or hardships – has the chance to discover their power, lift their praise, and shine their light on the world.
This is our case for support, and we invite you to take your place in it. By partnering with Youth Utilizing Power & Praise, you become part of a movement that is transforming youth and transforming communities, one song, one painting, one speech, one game at a time. We thank you for believing in our youth and in the bright future they are creating. With your help, that future will be nothing short of remarkable.
Let’s empower the next generation, together. Join YUPP in utilizing the power of the arts and the power of community to uplift our youth – for when we invest in them, we enhance the whole of our society.
Together, we can ensure that every child’s potential is realized and every voice is heard.