Wu hails ‘life skills’ the organization is making available
YES, Executive Director Bryan Van Dorpe (left) with Bill (right) and Denise Richard (center) standing inside Martin’s Room, a beautiful community space named after their son. Cassidy McNeeley photos
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Youth Enrichment Services (YES), a nonprofit committed to providing Boston’s young people with impactful and rewarding year-round outdoor experiences, has played an integral role in the lives of Dorchester teens Jordan Johnson and Maemae Chang. Now, thanks to the grand opening of its new headquarters in Jamaica Plain, YES can help more kids and teens than ever before.
Mayor Michelle Wu and community members joined YES leaders at 267 Amory Street last Thursday night (Oct. 29) to celebrate the opening of the Richard Williams Youth Development Center. Gathered on the top floor of the three-story, $16 million center, they heard from the 18-year-old Johnson and the 17-year-old Chang.
“This organization has become a huge part of my life,” Johnson said, standing inside Martin’s Room, a beautiful community space named after Martin Richard, the eight-year-old Dorchester boy and YES track and field participant who was killed in the 2013 Boston Marathon terror attack on Boylston Street. “My journey with Youth Enrichment Services started three years ago when my mom started to sign me up for the winter program.”
At the time, Johnson had just moved to Dorchester from New York City and, between a new city and a new school, was searching for community. He quickly found it at YES.
“I was very nervous at first, but that didn’t last long,” he recalled. I instantly felt a connection. Everyone was incredibly nice to me. The other teens were interested in what I had to say, and I felt welcomed by everyone here. But it was after I went on my first snow sports trip that I knew YES was really an amazing place.”
YES, teens Jordan Johnson (left) and Maemae Chang outside of the nonprofit’s new headquarters in Jamaica Plain.
That experience ignited a passion inside the young Johnson. While participating in YES’s Downhill Ski and Snowboarding Program, he fell in love with the slopes.
“The cold air, the feeling of the wind as I go 20 miles an hour down a frozen mountain, and even the bus rides with YES are amazing; I get to enjoy views I’ve never dreamed of seeing in my life,” Johnson said.
“Snowboarding has become a big part of my life. I’ve worked and saved my own money to buy my own snowboard and boots. I’m thinking about my future, and I’ve started looking at colleges where I can continue snowboarding.”
He added, “YES has fueled my love for snowboarding and brought my appreciation for the outdoors to a whole new level. But nothing compares to teaching young YES kids how to ride. I get to share my knowledge as a snowboarder with other kids and see them get excited about trying something new. It’s the best part about YES for me.”
For her part, Chang, a senior at Boston Latin Academy, is excited to be a part of YES’s past, present, and future. “I first began my involvement with Youth Enrichment Services in the 4th grade,” she said. “Since then, YES has always been a prevailing aspect of my life, especially since being involved in the spring and winter Leadership Corps and working as a track coach assistant over this past summer.”
YES continues to be a cornerstone of Chang’s life as she navigates her final year of high school and the college admissions process. “I’m actively applying to colleges this year; I know YES has got my back, making me a stronger applicant and preparing me for the college process,” she said.
The new facility, named after the late YES founder Richard Williams, will enable the organization to increase its capacity from serving 1,600 Boston youth annually to more than 2,000 within five years. With the Gross Family Ski Shop right inside, Jordan Johnson can share his passion for snow sports with even more kids.
But the center isn’t just about skiing and snowboarding. The first floor also features a rock-climbing wall, and the two top levels are home to classrooms, learning spaces, multipurpose community rooms, and even an outdoor mezzanine.
“When Richard Williams founded YES in 1968, his mission was to give youth a chance,” said Bryan Van Dorpe, the executive director of Youth Enrichment Services. “This new home allows us to carry on Richard’s legacy while creating transformative opportunities for Boston’s young people.
“We are thrilled to open a headquarters that will help us reach and inspire even more Boston youth to experience the outdoors, build self-confidence, and develop into young leaders through YES’s challenging sports-based programs and leadership opportunities.”
Added Mary Williams, Williams’s widow, “Richard believed every young person deserved the opportunity to dream bigger, discover their potential, and experience the transformative power of the outdoors.
“Seeing this beautiful new facility carry his name is deeply meaningful to our family. It ensures that his commitment to giving youth opportunities will continue to inspire generations of Boston’s young people.”
“It is life skills that you all are giving,” said Mayor Michelle Wu at the opening. “Sending our young people to the mountaintops, sending them to the track, to the forest, to every possible place where they can grow, where they can find wonder and build community and friendships and that confidence for every part of their life hereafter.”
The center will be the home base for year-round outdoor sports-based leadership experiences for Boston youth ages 7-18 from Dorchester, Mattapan, Roxbury, and Jamaica Plain.
The YES’s $16 million capital campaign reached its fundraising goal through philanthropic organizations, public partners, proceeds from the sale of its former South End home, and generous donors, including $1 million gifts from Phill and Liz Gross and Brian Lash and Family.
The Yawkey Foundation awarded YES a $1.5 million grant to name the facility, built by Timberline Construction and designed by Embarc, in honor of Richard Williams.
Community members are invited to visit the new space at open houses on Thursdays Nov. 5, 12, and 19, and Dec. 3 and 10 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
For more information, visit YESKIDS.ORG.
Copyright © 2026 Boston Neighborhood News, Inc. This content may not be re-published or re-used without written permission.
