Inside Out Youth Services

Inside Out Youth Services is the flagship community organization and service hub for LGBTQIA2+ youth and young adults across Colorado Springs, El Paso County, and the greater Pikes Peak region. Founded in 1990 by grassroots organizer Regina DiPadova, the organization was born during an era when Colorado Springs was nationally recognized as a focal point for anti-LGBTQ+ campaigns. DiPadova recognized that young queer people living in southern Colorado urgently needed an affirming physical sanctuary where their identities would be celebrated rather than condemned. Over more than three decades, the agency has expanded from an informal support group into a comprehensive youth center offering integrated youth development, basic needs assistance, and civic advocacy.

Operating from its community center on West Colorado Avenue, the organization provides a welcoming drop-in space tailored specifically for young people ages 13 to 24. Drop-in hours provide visitors with opportunities to play games, study in a quiet environment, access technology, and build enduring peer friendships under the guidance of trained youth development staff. Structured programs incorporate facilitated discussion groups covering topics such as navigating school environments, coming out to families, mental health strategies, and artistic self-expression.

To ensure basic safety and stability, the center delivers comprehensive basic needs assistance and individualized case management. Staff case managers work one-on-one with young people experiencing housing insecurity, family estrangement, or financial hardship, helping them obtain emergency shelter, secure employment, navigate government benefit systems, and schedule medical visits. Within the center, participants can freely access an emergency food pantry, a clothing and makeup boutique, personal hygiene supplies, and public transit passes. The agency also provides free non-medical gender-affirming gear, distributing chest binders, packers, and trans tape to youth without financial means.

Youth autonomy and civic empowerment remain foundational to the organization's philosophy. The Youth Advisory Committee gives participants a direct governing voice, empowering young leaders to plan center activities, coordinate special events, and serve as voting liaisons to the board of directors. Signature annual celebrations organized by the center include Queer Prom, an affirming formal dance for high school students, alongside Youth Pride and Spencerfest, a lively celebration of local music and arts.

Recognizing that youth wellbeing depends on affirming home and school environments, the organization extends its reach to families and broader institutions. The TransParenting program offers a confidential monthly support group for parents and caregivers raising transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive children, providing educational resources and mutual peer support. Through its Safe at Schools coalition and community training division, the agency conducts workshops for educators, counselors, social workers, and corporate teams across Colorado, cultivating inclusive, supportive environments for queer young people throughout the region. By centering youth voices, providing essential safety nets, and advocating for regional systemic change, Inside Out Youth Services ensures that every young person has the resources necessary to thrive.