About
Established in 2020
We are passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of young individuals and believe in the power of mentorship and empowerment.
We provide guidance and mentorship to at risk youth in Denver, CO. We do this through workshops and empowering the young adults in our program to make positive life choices and keep them on the right path.
-Daniel
Mission
Young Improvements empowers justice-involved youth and young adults by providing tailored support through credible messengers who serve as guides, advocates, mentors, empowerees, and real models (GAMERs). Through personalized crisis intervention plans, case management, restorative justice practices, and life skills training, we foster resilience, stability, and success, helping individuals overcome challenges and achieve their full potential in education, career, and personal growth.
Vision
Young Improvements envisions a future where every justice-involved youth has the support and tools to thrive, transforming their lives and communities through meaningful relationships, tailored interventions, and opportunities for growth. We aim to create a society where lived experience is valued as much as formal education, and where youth are empowered to lead fulfilling lives, free from the cycles of justice involvement.
Values
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Daniel C. Sampson
Daniel Sampson is a nationally recognized leader in youth justice reform and a driving force for positive change. As a 2022-23 fellow of the National Youth Justice Network's Youth Justice Leadership Institute, Sampson has made significant contributions on both the local and national levels. In Colorado, he serves as a governor-appointed member of the state's Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP) Council, where he co-chairs the Education Subcommittee, advises the Emerging Leaders Subcommittee, and actively participates in the Coalition to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Disparities (CRRED). Sampson is also the founder of Driven By Our Ambitions (DBOA), a company established in 2014 while he was employed in the NFL with a mission to promote post-secondary education for youth in Washington, D.C.'s Title 1 schools. In 2017, he expanded DBOA to focus on supporting justice-involved youth and young adults by providing services such as independent living preparation, creative counseling, mental health care, and pro-social programming aimed at reducing recidivism. Through his work with DBOA and Young Improvements (YI), the organization's nonprofit partner, Sampson has spent over seven years leading a team of Credible Messengers to deliver wraparound services across Colorado. These services, provided in community, home, and facility-based settings, are designed to support Colorado's Division of Youth Services, the Colorado Youth Detention Continuum, local probation offices, school districts, and county human services departments. YI and DBOA are committed to promoting a "School-to-School" pipeline, offering culturally responsive programming to prevent education disruption and ensure youth stay on a path to success. Sampson and his team are also dedicated to eliminating barriers to sustainable employment and healthcare for young adults and families.