RYASAP’s initiatives are based on a philosophy that each person young or older has special gifts. It is up to our staff to identify and mobilize those gifts in order to enlist youth and adult citizens to improve the lives of residents of the Greater Bridgeport area as well as the state of Connecticut. Special initiatives exist in the areas of community survey action research, youth development, youth and adult leadership development, service learning, substance abuse prevention and treatment development, juvenile justice system reform, community grant development and crime and violence prevention.

As a Catalyst for Community Change RYASAP seeks to form partnerships with Local Prevention Councils, grassroots community organizations, government, not for profit organizations, business, faith based organizations and youth and adult citizens. RYASAP also acts as an incubator and fiduciary for new organizations that support our mission such as: 

• Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance
• Public Allies of Connecticut
• Parent Leadership Training Institute
• Groundwork Bridgeport
• Connecticut Assets Network

The Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance and Public Allies of Connecticut both operate out of the RYASAP offices.