Our Story
Established in 2007 at the Denver Housing Authority, the Youth Employment Academy (YEA) focuses on providing educational and employment opportunities for low-income youth and young adults aged 14-21 in the Denver metro area. By developing industry-specific academies, YEA addresses the challenges faced by underserved youth through intensive mentoring, tutoring, paid internships, and job coaching. In 2012, YEA became an independent 501(c)(3) organization and opened the Osage Café in 2013 to offer culinary training. The program expanded further with Arts Street in 2016 and Decatur Fresh in 2021, supporting youth across various career paths.