O.U.R. Journey was founded to empower, heal, and support youth in Skagit County through culturally responsive mentorship and peer-led intervention. Our work is rooted in lived experience, community connection, and the belief that every young person deserves the opportunity to rewrite their story.

Founded by Genaro Sanchez, a leader with deep ties to the community and a local migrant farmworker family background, O.U.R. Journey was created to fill a critical gap in resources for young people often overlooked by traditional systems. Genaro, along with his family, has been on their own healing journey, and his firsthand understanding of cultural identity, generational trauma, and the challenges of reentry shape the foundation of this work.

O.U.R. Journey is led by a team of mentors with shared lived experiences, including individuals who have experienced involvement, incarceration, homelessness, and behavioral health challenges. The majority of our leadership team is Mexican-American/Chicano, and all mentors have been directly impacted by the realities our youth face. This peer-based model creates authentic, trust-driven relationships that allow us to engage with youth in ways that traditional systems often fail to.

Skagit County is a rural community with limited resources for affected youth and their families. Outside of law enforcement intervention, few organizations exist to provide non-judgmental, trauma-informed support to young people actively involved in or at risk of harmful influences. Underground Ministries, one of our key partners, played a vital role in shaping the creation of O.U.R. Journey, helping us build a bridge between mentorship, advocacy, and reentry support.