Check out our 2020-21 Annual Report (as a PDF)
Completed Programs: October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021
North America Leadership Alumni Jam, September 29 to October 6, 2020, on zoom – YES!’s longest-running program, which has helped to birth so many Jams around the country and has been happening for the last 21 years, in one form or another. 24 past North America Leadership Jam and Leveraging Privilege for Social Change Jam alumni joined in a deep Zoomy dive to co-create shared vision, find common points of collaboration, heal historic divides, and explore the self.
India Education Transformation Jam, October 8-16, 2020, on zoom – The first-ever Jam focused on transforming education, personally, interpersonally, and systemically, in India. Organized by alumni of the India Youth Jam and the Education Transformation Jam, 24 people came together to explore their journeys in, struggles with, and possibilities for education, in these times.
Black Diaspora Jam, October 14-20, 2020, on zoom – The 2nd Black Diaspora Jam brought together 16 diverse changemakers from across the Black diaspora to explore personal, interpersonal and systemic transformation in these times.
A ‘Taste’ of the Egypt Jam, October 19, 2020, on zoom – While (hopefully) gearing up for an in-person 7th annual Jam in the Spring 2021, this two-hour ‘taste’ of the Jam brought together 15 diverse change-makers from varying religious, ethnic, economic, geographic, national and professional backgrounds from around Egypt, to get an initial feel for the Jam experience.
Wellness and Healing Justice Jam, October 23-28, 2020, on zoom – This 3rd annual event brought together 32 social workers, therapists, counselors, and many other wellness and healing artists, to dive into deeper self-awareness, community collaborations, healing across the fields of work, and moving the dial on what is possible in the field overall. Core partners: Minna Kim, Sky Yardeni, Hanan Al-Bilali, Gert Comfrey, Roan Coughtry, Chetna Mehta, Yoo-Jin Kang.
The Impossible Summit, October 30-November 1, 2020 – YES! supported this gathering around ‘Impossible Healing’ with a keynote, panel moderation and workshop on moving from breakdowns to breakthroughs.
AWID Facilitation Training Program, November-December 2020 – YES! worked with the Association for Women’s Rights in Development to offer an in-depth facilitation training, including three interactive sessions and one-on-one coaching for AWID staff.
Invoking the Pause Zoomit, December 2, 2020 – YES! supported our partner, Invoking the Pause, for their first-ever Zoomit! which brought together various members of the ITP community: staff, advisory board, and grant partners of this past year and beyond.
YES! Annual Holiday Party, December 20, 4-5:30 pm PST / 7-8:30 pm EST, on Zoom – Nearly 50 Jammers, program partners and community members came together for YES!’s annual fun-, friend- and fund-raising event.
Pacific Northwest Changemakers Jam, Held virtually January 26-February 1, 2021 – This first-time Jam gathered 27 multi-generational change-makers from around the Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington, British Columbia) to explore the diverse realities of this incredible region, generate shared vision, create lasting relationships, and deepen in self-awareness together.
Transforming Ourselves, Transforming Our World: Attending to the Personal, Interpersonal and Systemic – February 2, 9, 16, 23, 2021 – YES! Jam leaders, Shilpa Jain and Hanzade Germiyanoglu, hosted this four-part series in partnership with The Peoples’ Hub. Sessions are focused on slowing down, finding your purpose, cultivating supporting, and transforming conflicts.
Queer/LGBTQ* Jam, 2021, March 5-12, 2021 – This 4th annual Jam brought together 26 multi-generational change-makers from around and across the LGBTQ* spectrum for collective visioning, interpersonal healing and understanding, and self-transformation. Core partners: George Holmes, Roan Coughtry, Jessie Workman, Will Grant, Alia Lahlou, and Jovan Julien.
Building Bridges and Mediating Conflicts, March 29, 2021 – YES! Executive Director Shilpa Jain hosted this interactive workshop sharing core tools and practices on healing and wholeness for members of the East Point Peace Academy community.
Toronto Changemakers Jam, April 6-12, 2021 – This 6th annual Toronto Jam brought together 32 Toronto-based and/or -connected changemakers to connect with each other and explore together what transformation looks like in our communities, in our relationships, and in ourselves.
Men and Masculinity: Men Raised as Men Jam, April 8-11, 2021 – This brand-new Jam offered 22 participants the opportunity to catalyze positive change through healing, homecoming, and expression of healthy masculinity as part of a resilient whole.
Re-Storying Justice Jam, April 16-23, 2021 – This 2nd-ever Jam brought together 30 practitioners in the fields of restorative justice, prison reform, prison abolition, and more, to generate deeper community, self-awareness and healing, and to help move the dial on what ‘justice’ can look like for our times. Core partners: Demarris Evans, Richard Cruz, Kevin Martin, Yoana Tchoukleva, Angela Sevin, Seth Weiner.
Cohousing in Community, April 18, 2021 – YES! Executive Director Shilpa Jain shared some YES! Jam tools, practices, and reflections at the online conference held by CohoUS. Note: You can see the talk and more about the conference when you enter this EVENT SPECIFIC password: Con2021
Buddhist Eco-Chaplaincy Facilitation Training, April 24, 2021 – YES! Executive Director Shilpa Jain worked with HOME Environmental Changemaker Jammer, Kirsten Rudestam, to offer a facilitation training for the Buddhist Eco-Chaplaincy year-long program.
World Gaels Jam, To be held virtually April 26 to May 1 – This 7th annual Jam brought together 31 multi-generational Gaelic language and culture creatives from around Nova Scotia, North America, the United Kingdom, and beyond, to create a welcoming, supportive and INSPIRING community. Core partners: Amber Buchanan, Alison Etter, Heather Sparling, Joyce MacDonald, and Shannon MacMullin.
Let’s Get Free: The Power of Co-Liberation, May 2, 2021 – YES! Executive Director Shilpa Jain and Arts for Social Change Jam alum, Santos S.O.U.L, shared about the power of co-liberation in the “Medicine for Our Times” series hosted by the Thrive East Bay community.
“Sacred Activism” – World Localization Day, June 16, 2021 – YES!’s Executive Director Shilpa Jain shared insights from YES! Jams on this unique panel with Pat McCabe, Alnoor Ladha, Helena Norberg-Hodge, and Alex Jensen, as they collectively explored the shape, flavor, and role of sacred activism in these times.
Egypt Leadership Jam, Held virtually June 9-14, 2021 – This 7th annual Jam brought together 14 diverse change-makers, from varying religious, ethnic, economic, geographic, national and professional backgrounds from around Egypt. It was organized and facilitated by a team of alumni of past Egypt Jams.
Wellness and Healing Justice Jam, Held virtually, June 25 to July 2, 2021 – This 4th annual event brought together 29 social workers, therapists, counselors, and many other wellness and healing artists, to dive into deeper self-awareness, community collaborations, healing across the fields of work, and moving the dial on what is possible in the field overall. Core partners: Minna Kim, Sky Yardeni, Hanan Al-Bilali, Gert Comfrey, Roan Coughtry, Yoo-Jin Kang.
Asian Jamily Reunion, June 30, 2021, 2-5 pm PST / 5-8 pm EST – About 24 Asian-identifying Jam alumni gathered for personal and collective connection and healing in this challenging time.
Ten Thousand Heroes podcast – June 2021 – Tune into this interview with YES! Executive Director, Shilpa Jain, in this unique podcast focused on personal transformation for collective service, hosted by Pacific Northwest Changemakers Jammer, Ankur Shah.
El Jam México, Se llevará a cabo virtualmente el 12 – 17 de julio, 2021 – El Jam en México es un encuentro contigo y con otras personas hispanohablantes para conocerte, cuestionarte y explorar; para conectar con otros, crear espacio y nuevas posibilidades; para ubicar en donde estás parado, lo que te detiene y lo que te impulsa, tus sueños.
Mexico Jam, To be held virtually July 12-17, 2021 – The Mexico Jam was an encounter among 32 Spanish-speaking people to deepen self knowledge, question and explore; to connect with others, create space and new possibilities; to understand and build relationships with participants from Mexico and other parts of Latin America (Guatemala, El Salvador, Argentina, Cuba, Colombia, etc.).
Education Transformation Jam, Held virtually August 9-14, 2021 – How is education transforming in this COVID-19 world? 24 intergenerational and dynamic change-makers in the field of education gathered together to (re)weave an oft-divided education transformation fabric. Learning from our life experiences, healing from education pains, co-creating a robust support system, and generating new visions and practices of education were at the heart of this 8th annual Jam.
North America Leadership Jam, Held virtually September 13-18, 2021 – YES!’s longest-running program, which has helped to birth so many Jams around the region and has been happening for the last 20 years in one form or another. 27 diverse multigenerational leaders from around North America gathered for co-creating a shared vision, finding common points of collaboration, healing historic divides, and exploring the self.