About Us

About The Tenacious Group

Founded in 1996 by Adam Ybarra, The Tenacious Group has sought to address an area often overlooked by most social programs. The Tenacious Group saw that many young people lacked hope. They did not seem to have a vision for their futures. They had no sense of purpose for their lives. Adam Ybarra concluded that without a sense of purpose, young people will not have the proper attitude to assess future opportunities, will lack the resiliency skills needed to overcome personal setbacks, and will lack the motivation needed to develop a roadmap for personal success. Over the last 12 years, Adam Ybarra set out to create a program that would help young people develop a sense of purpose, thereby instilling hope and a vision for their lives. Adam Ybarra developed the RESH 180 curriculum. RESH stands for “Raising Expectations, Standards, and Honor.” 180 refers to a young people making a 180 degree turn in their lives. RESH 180 explores a young person’s attitudes, mindset, and beliefs – using visual, auditory, and sensory stimuli that embrace the way young people learn today. By challenging their thought processes, RESH 180 initiates a self-directed inward examination that each young person uses to become aware of his or her direction in life, and progress toward related goals. RESH 180 teaches young people to examine themselves inwardly, to see whether or not they have moved or grown in a direction that will lead to a purposeful, meaningful life. With this newfound awareness, the young people are then taught to examine the inputs, influences and effects that have brought them to the life situations they are in today. Next, they are taught a new way to interpret the factors that influence their lives. The analogy of a “lens” is used to demonstrate how to “make their eyes work.” Finally, RESH 180 teaches young people to be accountable for their actions, and also gives them empowerment tools to practice what they have learned. Every part of the curriculum has been designed with real-life simulation learning to give students a visual grasp of concepts and tools they need to succeed in visualizing their future & setting and fulfilling goals – turning dreams into destiny!

Adam T Ybarra’s Bio...

Growing up in a single parent home, welfare, surrounded by drugs and gangs, to a life of success and influence. He warmly shares his dynamic life changing principles that have encouraged thousands of people including the likes of Tim Brown, Jon Gruden, Rich Gannon, as well Educators, City Leaders, Churches, Entertainers and Executives.

Personal Highlights

Founder of The Tenacious Group Inc.
Spoken face to face to over 350,000 Inner City Youth
Served as the Oakland Raiders as Team Chaplain for 12 years
1st Hispanic to serve as an NFL Chaplain
In 2008 was awarded with an Honorable Doctorate Degree from the Latin University of Theology.
Spear headed Take A Stand - Youth Motivational Events - hosted in cities of NFL Super Bowls Games - along with All-Pro Tim Brown and Kenyon Coleman of Dallas Cowboys.
Creator of Raising Expectations Standards and Honor (RESH 180)
Collaborated with Klasky Csupo (number one animation company in the world) creators of Rugrats, Thornberry’s, Rocket Power to create an interactive animation project to impact students.
Created marketing slogan that was accepted by Starbucks Coffee Company
Serves as a member of the Mayor’s Prevention Gang Task Force for the City of San Jose
Keynote speaker in conventions, seminars and workshops in the public and private sector
Appeared on numerous Radio, television, and newspaper interviews
Graduate of Cal State University of Hayward earning a degree in Speech Communication
Wife Anna and two daughters Chantel and Talia