About
YG InstituteThe YG Institute
Y. G. Institute is an I.R.S. certified 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization established in March 09, 2009 in Miami, Florida. We integrate families and communities in reentry; we do that by assessing individual/family needs and providing services, training, and/or referrals to have those needs met. We believe our communities are stronger when each individual in it is stronger.
Our services include:
- Self-improvement skills
- Positive coping strategies
- Building healthy habits or self-reinvention
- Financial literacy
- Personal Growth
- Self-awareness
- Referral to training and resources such as housing and employment
- Group meetings
- Training and Seminars/workshops in Business skills such as leadership, character, resume writing, and technical employment skills
- Public Speaking Skills
- Fill-out forms and paperwork
- Skills to start and run businesses including accounting and taxes
- Volunteer participation (high school requirements, court order and others)
- Interns Program (high school through PhD – international and domestic)
- Strategic alliances with community organizations (halfway houses, etc)
- Facilitate communication in community

History
In 1996 Yraida Guanipa (founder of Y. G. Institute) was sentenced to a draconian and now unconstitutional sentence as a first time non-violent offender for drug-related charges. During her incarceration, we maintained communication with Paul Simon (1928-2003) the former United States Senator. The idea about Y. G. Institute was born around August 13, 2002, when the former Senator wrote a letter on behalf of Yraida Guanipa and stated:: “Yraida Guanipa is one who really can make a real contribution to a better society”. He wrote more than 70 letters to Yraida Guanipa and/or on her behalf; in some of those letters, he encouraged her to dedicate herself to help others upon her release. For example, on November 07, 2002, he wrote: “I believe she is someone who is a credit to humanity and will continue to be”. On February 02, 2003, he wrote to her: “what enriches life is helping others… I am proud of you”, on July 14, 2003, he wrote to her: “ what you are doing is bringing pleasure to others and that is what life is all about… keep doing that”; and on September 19, 2003, he wrote her: “just remember that despite all the obstacles you are doing good things now, after your release … you will have greater opportunities for service”. On December 9, 2003, while Guanipa was waiting for a letter from Former Senator Simon the news on TV announced that he died that date. On that date, Ms. Guanipa decided that she will continue working helping others, and to honor his name she named the organization similar to his organization: Paul Simon Institute. Yraida Guanipa was released in 2006, and on March 09, 2009, Yraida Guanipa Institute was established.
Our Staff
Yraida L. Faneite, Doctoral Candidate in Literature
President and CEO
yraida@yginstitute.org
Larisa Svechin
Vice President
larisas@yginstitute.org
Nathalie Morlote
Executive Assistant
nathaliem@yginstitute.org
Orosmer Rodriguez
Web Master and IT
orosmer@yginstitute.org
Carolyn Carmona
2022-2023 Intern
carolync@yginstitute.org
Isabella Gonzalez
2022-2023 Intern
isabellag@yginstitute.org
Manuel Palomares
2022-2023 Intern
manuelp@yginstitute.org
Our Board of Directors
Elina Lopez
President
elopez@yginstitute.org
Selwyn L Talley
Vice Chair
selwynt@yginstitute.org
Carmen Simoza, MBA, MHRM,MACC
Treasurer
carmen@yginstitute.org
Robert Sanchez
Secretary
robert@yginstitute.org
Harrell Henton, Minister and Author
Volunteers Committee Chair
harrel@yginstitute.org
Dr John Bancroft
Program Committee Chair
johnb@yginstitute.org
Karen Deol
Community Relations Committee Chair
karend@yginstitute.org
Lucia Espinoza Nieto, Ph.D
Committee Chair for Mexico
lucia@yginstitute.org