YEA Mission
The mission of the Otero County Youth Empowerment Association (YEA) is to nurture the growth and well-being of our community's youth through the collaborative building of youth developmental assets. We believe the responsibility of positive youth development lies within the entire community. There is the opportunity for greater cultural awareness and sensitivity as our County is a rich blend of ethnic diversity.
Research demonstrates that the more external and internal assets that are available to youth, the greater the likelihood of healthy behaviors such as abstaining from drugs, staying in school, exercising, and eating well.
All too often as a society, we focus on the problems and negative preception people have about our youth. In doing so, we as adults, and the youth themselves, often overlook the positive attributes the younger generation has to offer. The youth have the potential to gain social competencies through planning and decision-making and seeing their ideas and efforts come to fruition through Otero County YEA.