In 2003, a group of youth concerned about the environment, social justice and improving access to healthy, affordable housing, began developing a new idea that addressed more current needs of youth - not just youth who were directly connected with street life, but a more inclusive youth demographic of “hidden homeless” and those at risk of becoming homeless, which included most of our peers at that time.
Originally, idea was to match the boundless energy of homeless and at-risk youth with the experience and know-how of professional builders, designers and mentors in order to design and construct ecovillages in rural areas located near cities, as a way to end homelessness and create community economic development. That dream still lives on and inspires everything we do.
In the winter of 2004, Banyan Youth (then known as Banyan Tree Community Initiatives) collectively teamed up with
Low Income Families Together (LIFT) and its founder, Josephine Grey.
Since then we've been involved in a wide variety of projects, but in all of them, our characteristic MO has been to partner with great youth-led or youth-oriented organizations, co-design an experience, and find innovative experts to lead the process.
Most of all, Banyan has grown from years of tireless efforts from its volunteers. Together they have founded Banyan Youth with an asset-base of knowledge and ideas.
