MCRC Member Highlight: You Yes You!

You Yes You! (YYY) is making a profound impact by connecting incarcerated fathers with their children and families. Through their powerful family-strengthening programs, they create opportunities for growth, healing, and support—ensuring that fathers are better prepared to rebuild their lives upon release. As the only organization within IDOC dedicated to engaging incarcerated fathers, YYY fosters meaningful connections through father/child activities, therapy, curriculum-based workshops, and more.

Take a look at what they had to say about the YYY/MCRC partnership!

Can you tell us about the role your organization plays in supporting individuals who are re-entering the community? 

We support incarcerated fathers during and after their incarceration, providing programming and resources to become healthier and more present dads. We also support our dads by walking alongside them during their return home to their families and communities by helping them with basic needs, mental health, peer support and family engagement opportunities.

How does being part of the MCRC align with or support your organization’s mission? 

We recognize how important it is for our dads to have peer support and YYY looks at MCRC as the same kind of support. We align because we care about people, we understand the injustices within the criminal system and we’re dedicated to see change happen no matter how hard it is or how long it takes.

Can you share an example of how MCRC membership has enabled you to better serve individuals in reentry? 

The network of MCRC members is invaluable. If we’ve needed a housing resource: MCRC. If we’ve needed an email introduction to a new community partner: MCRC. If we’ve needed to be educated on issues related to the population we serve: MCRC. If we’ve needed data to help us tell a larger story of our dads: MCRC.

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Special thanks to Ericka Sanders, Founder & Executive Director of You Yes You!, for sharing this story as part of our MCRC Member Highlight series.

Learn More About You Yes You!