The following day, on Thursday, July 17, UFC athletes Jared Gordon and Brandon Royval hosted a youth meet and greet with the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP), a non-profit organization that engages underserved youth through community-based education, mentoring, enrichment, and employment readiness programs to help them develop skills and strengthen ties to family and community.
During the event, both athletes conducted a Q&A panel over lunch with members attending the organization’s summer educational program. The panel highlighted areas pertaining to the importance of arts, education, and career development.
“We are so grateful to UFC for their incredible partnership,” said Melissa Sawyer, CEO of YEP. “Our young people were inspired by Brandon Royval and Jared Gordon—two remarkable UFC athletes who opened up about their journeys and the challenges they’ve overcome to reach their dreams. Their words truly resonated and encouraged our participants. Hearing their stories showed our young people that no dream is out of reach. The UFC team was gracious, professional, and their visit brought an energy and sense of possibility that will stay with our young people long after the event.”
Founded in 2004, YEP services more than 1,000 local youth across 13 parishes throughout New Orleans.