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Council agrees to draft letter of support for Casper Youth Hub (The Void) centered on third‑space and mental‑health priorities
Summary
Seth Hollier, representing The Void Outreach Inc., asked council for letters of community support for a proposed youth 'third space.' Councilors expressed support and directed staff to draft a letter referencing council priorities, particularly third spaces and mental‑health programming, for later review and approval.
Seth Hollier of The Void Outreach Inc. asked the Casper City Council on Oct. 7 for letters of support to accompany grant applications as the organization develops a new youth 'third space' focused on skills, entrepreneurship and mental‑health‑forward programming for ages roughly 14–20.
Why it matters: The project is intended to provide a dedicated, youth‑focused space offering maker tools, arts, woodworking, sewing and mental‑health‑oriented programming; letters of municipal support can strengthen funding applications and help secure grant dollars for start‑up and operations.
What Hollier said
Hollier described the proposed hub as a “space created by youth for youth” focused on creative and entrepreneurial pathways, vocational and soft‑skill training, and mental‑health supports embedded in programming. He said the organization has received initial grant funding from the Collective Health Trust to conduct youth research over nine months and that funders are requesting letters of community support (an email requested letters by Oct. 1, which Hollier said may have been an earlier timeline; he asked for flexibility on timing).
Council response and action
Council members who had prior familiarity with Hollier’s work said they supported a letter attesting to council priorities related to third spaces and mental‑health programming; one councilor said she would prefer a fuller work‑session presentation before a more detailed endorsement but expressed general willingness to support a letter referencing council priorities. Staff (City Manager’s office) offered to draft a letter incorporating the points raised and circulate it to council for review and approval.
Clarifying details noted in the meeting
Hollier said the intended participant age range is roughly 14–20. Programming ideas include maker activities (3D printing, laser engraving), woodshop, arts, sewing and entrepreneurial pathways; the organization prefers to finalize program details with youth input during the funded research period. Hollier said timelines for grant submissions were evolving and that securing a general letter of support from the council would help meet funder requests.
Outcome
Council directed staff to draft a letter of support reflecting city priorities (third spaces and mental health emphasis) and circulate it to council for review and approval. Staff will return the draft to council for formal sign‑off and distribution to The Void Outreach Inc.
Ending: The city will produce a draft letter for council review; no binding financial commitment by the city was made at the Oct. 7 meeting.
