A startup community initiative for "a safe and brighter future for Atlanta's LGBT Youth Rising!" is being organized by a local activist who worked with the volunteer task force that investigated the viability of YouthPride and found it to be in deep debt and disarray.

A Facebook event created by Maggie Lopez late Thursday asks for adults and youth to organize together in the midst of the financial crisis YouthPride is facing.

"It is evident that the demand for services and a safe community center for LGBT youth is larger than any one current organization. The cry for 'someone' to provide alternatives to the status quo in this community has gone on long enough without anyone stepping forward. So, to that end, I invite everyone interested, to come together in unity, sow the seeds that will take root to begin the endeavor," Lopez states.

 "The goal here is to provide a simple framework to bring together anyone who wishes to serve on a board, volunteer professional services, provide funding, be willing to seek out seed money, source out space, whether rented, purchased or donated. First and foremost, we need the involvement of the community LGBT Youth and Young Adult leaders. Then, educators, lawyers, accountants, non-profit and community leaders, activists, healthcare providers, realtors, corporate allies, chambers of commerce, clergy — anyone with talent and dedication to HEED THE CALL," she adds.

Lopez asks for as many people to join the Facebook page and come up with a date and location to be determined.

"As soon as some critical mass is achieved, hopefully in short order, we can begin to meet as a community and see what leaders emerge from this call to action," she states.