About

YG Institute

The 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.