Journey On’s History

Tracy Sigdestad originally founded Journey On in 2018 as the first wilderness therapy program in South Dakota.

During the Covid pandemic, it became apparent that there was an increased need for support of the unsheltered population of Rapid City. In response, Journey On shifted focus to providing compassionate street outreach, with the Journey On Street Outreach program officially launching in July 2020.

Modeled after successful street outreach programs in Newark, NJ, and Los Angeles, CA, the Journey On Street Outreach program engages people by meeting them where they are, building relationships of trust and mutual respect. Our hope is that those we connect with will accept community services to achieve violence reduction, permanent shelter, and self-sufficiency.

The Journey On Youth Outreach Team was developed to address increasing safety, housing instability, and violence-prevention needs among youth in the Rapid City area. Grounded in trauma-informed outreach and relationship-building, the team of credible messengers meets young people where they are and connects them to supportive services that promote long-term stability and positive outcomes.

Today, the Journey On Youth Outreach Team operates three youth-focused programs. Support Team Encouraging Perseverance and Strength (STEPS), launched in 2022, supports youth ages 16–24 who are houseless or at risk of becoming houseless by providing transportation and direct connection to critical resources. In 2023, Journey On introduced High Risk Intervention (HRI), a mentorship-based program focused on youth with a history of violence or those at risk of gang involvement. Most recently, Safe Passage launched in 2024, serving as a “walking school bus” to ensure students travel safely to and from school in the Knollwood, General Beadle, Wilson and North Middle School areas.

Together, these programs form a comprehensive youth outreach framework focused on prevention, safety, and opportunity for Rapid City’s most vulnerable youth.

The Journey On LOSS Team (Local Outreach to Survivors of Suicide) operates as a co-response model alongside the Pennington County Sheriff’s Department and the Rapid City Police Department, providing immediate, trauma-informed support to survivors. This model reduces pressure on law enforcement by addressing ongoing human service needs, allowing officers to focus on acute and emergent calls. While the LOSS Team came under the Journey On umbrella in June 2023, its partnership with local law enforcement has existed for more than 20 years. Formerly operated through the Front Porch Coalition, the program transitioned to Journey On when the Front Porch Coalition dissolved its operations in 2023, ensuring the continued operation and long-term sustainability of the LOSS Team within Journey On’s broader co-response framework.

 Journey On Funding Partners

The Journey On Team is supported by a diverse group of public and private funders committed to advancing our mission. Our grant funding includes resources from Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the City of Rapid City. Additionally, private support comes from the South Dakota Community Foundation, Black Hills Area Community Foundation, Gwendolyn Sterns Foundation, John T. Vucurevich Foundation, United Way of the Black Hills, Walmart Foundation, Johns Hopkins Love Your Block Grant, numerous community organizations and partners, and generous individuals throughout our community.

If you would like to learn more about how you can donate to Journey On, click below.