%20(1).png)
THRIVE ON! and Ulster County Youth Bureau Launch the Youth Services Exchange Collective as Rootwork’s First Transplanted Initiative
THRIVE ON! Network Inc. (THRIVE ON!) and the Ulster County Youth Bureau are proud to announce the launch of the Youth Services Exchange Collective (YSEC), a collaborative platform designed to strengthen youth-serving organizations across Ulster County. YSEC also marks a milestone for THRIVE ON!’s new Rootwork incubator as its first transplanted initiative.
10 de junio de 2025
.jpg)
Rootwork in Action
Launched earlier this year, Rootwork was created to incubate grassroots community initiatives through two channels: homegrown projects (developed within THRIVE ON!, such as the PonckHockie Market) and transplanted initiatives (brought into Rootwork from outside organizations).
By joining Rootwork, YSEC becomes the incubator’s first transplanted initiative, receiving holistic support that includes fiscal sponsorship, operational stability, youth deployment through Early Thrivers, and increased visibility across the community.
“This is exactly what Rootwork was built for,” said Keyvious Avery, President of THRIVE ON!. “When an initiative like YSEC comes in, we can give it the infrastructure it needs to grow, while our Early Thrivers provide energy and capacity to make it real.”
Building Infrastructure for Youth and Community Power
The Youth Services Exchange Collective is designed to:
Exchange resources between organizations (space, staff time, supplies, funding opportunities).
Coordinate transportation so youth can reliably access services.
Respond collectively to urgent needs, mobilizing across organizations.
Map systemic gaps to create joint solutions.
Together, these tools create a shared system of care and opportunity that makes youth services more accessible, effective, and equitable.
Economic Development Through Collective Stability
For THRIVE ON!, YSEC represents economic development in action: ensuring families and organizations have the stability to engage in the economy fully. By transforming fragmented services into a coordinated network, YSEC builds the foundation for long-term community and economic resilience.
A Shared Commitment With Ulster County Youth Bureau
“The Youth Bureau has always worked to strengthen opportunities for young people,” said Youth Bureau Director, Sue Weed. “By bringing YSEC into Rootwork, we’re not just launching a program—we’re helping build a system where youth organizations can succeed together.”
About the Youth Services Exchange Collective
YSEC is a transplanted initiative under THRIVE ON!’s Rootwork incubator, supported in partnership with the Ulster County Youth Bureau. Its mission is to create a collaborative ecosystem of youth-serving organizations that share resources, coordinate services, and collectively meet the needs of young people and families.
About THRIVE ON!
THRIVE ON! is a youth-driven nonprofit based in Kingston, NY. Through its Early Thrivers program and Rootwork incubator, THRIVE ON! equips young people and grassroots leaders to design, build, and lead the solutions their communities need.