Our Story
Founded in 1990 by Dr. Leslie Parker Barnes, the Youth Excellence Performing Arts Workshop began as a vision to uplift youth through the transformative power of the arts. Starting with the Youth Excellence Gospel Choir in a church basement, the initiative blossomed into a thriving nonprofit organization by 1998, serving thousands of young people across the nation. Over the past 30 years, YEPAW has engaged over 5,000 participants and volunteers, fostering creativity and community.