Chapter One Youth, the flagship program. 

The Story of Chapter One Youth.

Every great leader has a beginning. For us, that beginning started with a simple idea: connect young people with role models who inspire them to dream bigger, aim higher, and take action in their communities.

Before Chapter One Resources became what it is today, our founder, Chase Watts, saw the power of mentorship firsthand through the Books with Badges program, where law enforcement officers and community leaders read to children, shared life lessons, and built trust. What began as reading aloud in classrooms soon became something more: a bridge between youth and the positive leaders who could guide them.

From that spark, Chapter One Youth was born and became the flagship program of Chapter One Resources. This initiative focuses on helping youth “write the first chapter” of their leadership journey by combining three pillars: literacy, mentorship, and service. We believe reading opens the mind, mentorship shapes the heart, and service strengthens the character.

Through Chapter One Youth, students connect with mentors from diverse professions, participate in leadership and life-skills workshops, and engage in hands-on community projects. Along the way, they gain the tools, values, and confidence to grow into thoughtful, responsible leaders who will carry their story far beyond page one.

For us, this is more than a program. It’s a promise. A promise to stand beside our youth, invest in their potential, and ensure their first chapter is filled with opportunity, encouragement, and hope for what’s to come.