Who we are
At Youth Empowered Club, we are committed to cultivating a culture of compassion, empathy, teamwork, accountability, and a willingness to embrace hard work.
The organization's tagline, “in the gym, in the classroom, and in the community,” speaks to the mind-body-soul connection we aim to nurture. YESC aspires to instill a passion for excellence, accountability, and teamwork. We assist our students and athletes in reaching their goals by developing their confidence and independence and teaching them to embrace lasting habits of a healthy lifestyle.
Youth Empowered Sports Club is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Solvang, CA. Youth Empowered emphasizes three key areas essential to youth development. Our athletes and students cultivate a strong, healthy presence in the gym, in the classroom, and in the community. YESC is committed to teaching young people the importance of healthy living and academic achievement. We aim for each of our students to become a positive and productive member of the community.
YESC serves a broad demographic, from toddlers to seniors, and works with people from various socioeconomic backgrounds. Members come from all segments and classes; however, Youth Empowered focuses heavily on youth who are at risk. Many are raised in low-income and/or single-parent families. With well-established connections in the local community, Youth Empowered is uniquely positioned to develop consistent and healthy relationships with children to help buffer the effects of socioeconomic stress. As a family-focused program, a deep passion and commitment to each member's success are evident in every interaction. This exceptional dedication to youth has created a strong appeal for the Sports Club that leaves people often at a loss for words. Our high retention rates speak volumes, and as kids grow up, they find new ways to stay involved with us.
Youth Empowered offers various fitness and sports programs: Central Coast Wrestling Academy, Cold Iron Barbell, and our Boxing/Wrestling Gym. Room to Grow is our on-site tutoring and enrichment classroom. It provides a safe and comfortable space for one-on-one tutoring, peer tutoring, small group study sessions, homeschool groups, and summer school support. Music and art enrichment classes are supported by volunteers, many of whom are retired educators.
With facilities spanning over 2,500 square feet, Youth Empowered offers participants well-equipped spaces for fitness classes, powerlifting, boxing, and wrestling. The Sports Club is operated by founding directors Lynne Castellanos, Chantalle Castellanos, and Raul Sandoval, all of whom actively participate daily in all aspects of the program. A dedicated and growing group of volunteers give of their time and talents to keep the youth members engaged and on track. These volunteers include professional athletes, teachers, coaches, business owners, and peer mentors. Our team members have worked diligently to create a welcoming culture that fosters teamwork, accountability, and respect.
We recognize that the past few years have been difficult ones for all of us, and youth have been impacted in a way that they are struggling to deal with. The learning gap has widened, with minoritized youth having lost more ground than their peers. Mental health issues are a concern as students deal with feelings of isolation and social-emotional stress. We are confident that we can provide a grassroots solution for students in our community by expanding and adding structure to our existing programs, which have already proven successful.