The YES! Program is a key community partner in the Rise & Shine initiative at East End Community School in Portland, Maine. Rise & Shine is a before-school engagement model designed to help students start their day with energy, focus, and encouragement. Through the program, students connect with caring and charismatic adults who help stimulate both their minds and bodies through positive interaction and structured activities. These after school engagements create a welcoming environment that supports students’ readiness to learn while fostering a sense of belonging and encouragement after the school day as ended.Through the partnership between East End Community School and the YES! Program, students participate in weekly sessions centered on health, nutrition, and physical activity. These sessions emphasize the importance of overall Health & Wellness, helping young people understand how healthy habits, physical movement, and balanced nutrition contribute to both academic success and personal well-being. This work is fundamental to the YES! Program’s broader mission of providing a safe, positive environment where young people can grow both athletically and personally. The program creates meaningful life experiences and learning opportunities while serving as an early prevention strategy against substance abuse, gangs, and other high-risk behaviors.