Six people, representing four organizations came together to form YTP in 2016 because a teenage son’s bandmate found himself without adult support to help him successfully continue in band, school or life. The group came together because each saw hopelessness growing in our youth. Each of us had found a dead-end (or multiple dead ends) when we searched for ways to support youth.  Our hope is that together, with members of our community, we can build just enough structure to connect people to people. People who will listen to the experiences and feelings of youth, who will share their observations about life and offer to be there through the challenges of navigating young adulthood. We also hope that through the connection of people that care, we can provide linkages to the basic needs of all human beings; housing, career experience and exploration, recreation and the arts, education support, service learning, mentorship, health care, leadership development and engagement.