Our Mission - Leading Up to 2009

Since 2005, You Be Aware (YBA) has provided consumers with an articulate voice in decisions that affect their lives. YBA's professional staff gathers facts, analyzes issues, and disseminates information to the public and the rest of the consumer movement and where possible provides effective solutions. For information about YBA’s products and services, please click here.

The size and diversity of its membership which exceeded 40,000 people as of 2007 -- enables YBA to understand the most pressing issues affecting families today and to help address them. In particular, YBA looks out for those who have the greatest needs, especially those who are adversely affected by natural disasters and economic setbacks.

YBA Roles

YBA is an awareness, research, education, and service organization. As an awareness group, it works to research and educate members on a variety of issues. Its staff works to inform members about beneficial policies, to understand harmful policies, and to ensure a balanced picture of important issues in which consumers have a stake.

As a research organization, YBA investigates consumer issues and attitudes through all types of media, focus groups, and literature reviews. The findings of such projects are provided to organizations that assist consumers as well as individual consumers. This research also provides the basis for new consumer initiatives, and consumer information and education efforts.

As an education organization, YBA disseminates information on consumer issues to the public as well as to community groups and other public interest organizations. Workshops, reports, brochures, news releases, emergency alert phone calls, and our website all contribute to YBA's education program.

Finally, as a service organization, YBA provides support to organizations committed to the goals of consumer advocacy, research, and education. Some of these organizations are consumer assistance, education, or cooperative organizations.

YBA Services

YBA services other organizations and its members through its website, publications, resource centers, and special events. This website provides free information about YBA’s work on many current issues. Specifically, it includes information about YBA, recent press releases, recent government programs, recent consumer initiatives, state and local consumer groups and links to other consumer websites.

YBA has prepared consumer publications on topics ranging from managing consumer debts to hurricane preparedness to mortgage assistance to identity theft. Staff members are constantly reviewing materials and publications to recommend to our members.

YBA's Advisory Group meets regularly to discuss issues of interest to YBA and consumer cooperatives, and to plan initiatives that benefit the existing and potential members YBA.

YBA's Disaster Recovery Workshops have been held throughout Florida to give consumers the opportunity to learn how to prepare for weather related emergencies and how to avoid being scammed by unscrupulous contractors in the aftermath of those disasters.

YBA Membership

Non-profit, pro-consumer organizations, and individuals that support the mission of YBA qualify for membership. Membership entitles them to receive YBA News and other regular YBA publications, Emergency Phone Alerts, and qualify for free workshop registrations. Additional information about membership and an application are available from the YBA office. Contact us at info@youbeaware.com.

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