Remarkable Women Finalist: Melissa Sawyer

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Thousands of children know her, and thousands of children love her.

Her name is Melissa Sawyer. She is the co-founder and CEO of the Youth Empowerment Project, better known around town as YEP.

Beginning in 2004, Melissa and two other women believed there needed to be a program in New Orleans that really invested in the future of our youth. YEP’s mission was to engage underserved young people through community-based programs.

“It really came from addressing an unmet need in the community and wanting to help and to do good and support young people and families,” said Sawyer. “It’s funny, people ask me if this is what I had hoped for YEP. I was like, ‘I had no idea!'”

Since then, YEP has evolved to enrich the lives of anyone ages 7 and up. YEP serves almost 1,000 people per year.

One of the core services provided is education.

In one testimonial, a woman got her high school equivalency in 2014 thanks to YEP. She added that she is about to have two degrees, stating that once you have someone who is there for you, that will make you want to do it more.

In another testimonial of a woman who got her high school equivalency from YEP, she told her daughter she wanted to get a class ring with “YEP” on it.

There are also employment programs, including YEP Bike Works and Yep Thrift Works.

Melissa has been showered with awards for her work in the community, but her biggest reward is seeing how YEP makes a positive impact on the lives of its participants.

“For me, just knowing that YEP has played one small part in, at this point, thousands of people’s lives in this community is more than I could ever ask for,” said Sawyer.

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