Together We Thrive: YW+A’s Year of Empowerment and Impact

As the school year came to a close, our Young Women+ Achievement (YW+A) program wrapped up with a powerful final workshop series and an exciting field trip—capping off a year filled with learning, community-building, and discovering new opportunities to pursue after high school.

NAMI Partnership: Breaking Stigmas and Building Resilience

Early in the school year, YW+A advocates teamed up with students to talk about what support would help them succeed, and mental health quickly rose to the top of the list.

In response, YW+A partnered with the Boulder County chapter of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) to host three in-person workshops in April. Small groups of students engaged in meaningful conversations about mental health challenges and how to create supportive communities.

As part of the experience, students and advocates played NAMI’s Say It Out Loud game—a powerful tool to spark dialogue, reduce stigma, and foster connection through storytelling.

“The girls enjoyed talking about mental health in a low-pressure environment,” observed Victor Alamillo, YW+A Advocate.

Read more how mental health plays a key role in their success.

Celebrating a Year of Growth

To celebrate the end of another impactful year, 19 students from three high schools came together for a day of fun at Dave & Buster’s. The field trip gave students a chance to relax, bond with peers from other schools, and reflect on their shared experiences in the program.

The impact of the program was clear:

100% of surveyed students reported learning a new life skill—ranging from financial literacy and resume building to mental health awareness.

100% of participants agreed that the YW+A program supported their academic success and made them feel encouraged by their advocates throughout the year.

Advocate Spotlight: Honoring Our Graduating Mentors

We’re proud to recognize two incredible YW+A advocates—Victor Alamillo and Lupita Ortiz—who are graduating from CU Boulder. Their dedication and mentorship have made a lasting impact on the students they served.

Victor Alamillo served as an advocate for two years at Broomfield High School and Centaurus High School. School liaisons and students consistently shared how much they valued Victor’s presence and guidance. He is graduating with a Master of Science in Business Analytics, focusing on Decision Science, and is exploring roles in local or state government. If you would like to connect with Victor about any opportunities, please reach out at victor.e.alamillo@gmail.com.

Lupita Ortiz has been a part of YWCA for three years, serving as an advocate at New Vista High School, and as YWCA Boulder County’s advocacy intern. Known for her thoughtful leadership and community focus, Lupita is graduating with a degree in Sociology and a minor in Political Science. She is currently seeking a role in a city hall department focused on youth and family services, where she can apply her education and passion for community engagement.

We thank Victor and Lupita for their meaningful contributions and wish them continued success as they take their next steps!

Interested in becoming a YW+A advocate or getting involved in the program? Visit YWCA’s career page to learn more.

About YW+A

Young Women+ Achievement (YW+A) is an identity and culturally responsive mentoring program that supports local high school students of color and of all gender identities. The program aims to reduce systemic barriers and bridge opportunity gaps through mentorship, advocacy, and community-building.

YW+A advocates meet regularly with students to support their academic and personal goals, and to create safe spaces for exploring critical topics—identified by the students themselves—that are essential to their success and sense of belonging.