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YSA Texas Partner Forum: A Launchpad for Youth-Led Change
Thank you to the youth leaders, educators, and community leaders who joined us on January 17, 2026, to reimagine youth service in Texas and beyond. Together, we launched a powerful conversation that will shape the future of civic engagement across the state and the country.
What We Achieved Together:
Participants from youth, nonprofit, education, and civic sectors
Breakout discussions on Vision, Barriers, and Strategies
Texas voices feeding directly into YSA’s National Youth Engagement Strategy
New partnerships formed for future grant collaborations and programming
What’s Next: Take Action
Ready to turn ideas into impact? Here are ways youth, educators, and organizations can continue engaging with Youth Service America (YSA) and advance youth-led service in Texas.
Lead a Service Project & Build Leadership
Identify a community need, lead or create a youth-led service project, and strengthen your leadership skills using Youth Service America’s free tools, trainings, and resources for youth leaders and adult allies.
Apply for a YSA Grant or Award
Looking for funding or recognition? Apply for Youth Service America grants to support youth-led service projects, and elevate youth leadership by applying for YSA awards, including the Everyday Young Hero Award, which honors young people making a difference through service.
Sign up to join YSA's Youth Service Briefing to receive updated information on grants and awards.
Participate in Global Youth Service Day (April)
Join the world’s largest youth service event. Plan or participate in a Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) activity in April and submit your project for the opportunity to receive a grant and national recognition.
Learn more about GYSD
Texas Statewide Partner Forum for Youth Engagement Organizations
New Era of Youth Service in America:
The Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedical Education (BioMedEdu) and our Houston-based partner organizations—We Care Act, The Health Museum, and Born Global Community received a grant from Youth Service America and hosted a critical convening to plan the future of youth service in Texas on January 17, 2026. In addition, Youth Impact (El Paso), the Dickerson Center for Civic Responsibility (DeSoto/Dallas area), and Students of Service (SOS) (San Antonio) also hosted events in other regions of Texas.
The Texas Statewide Partner Forum served as a collaborative space bringing together community-based organizations, educators, youth leaders, and stakeholders from across Texas. Participants engaged in structured dialogue, shared insights and best practices, and worked collectively to strengthen youth service, civic engagement, and community-driven impact statewide.
This forum was designed to foster cross-sector partnerships, elevate youth voice, and support coordinated action aligned with YSA’s New Era of Youth Service in America initiative. Together, partners identified shared priorities, explored sustainable strategies, and laid the groundwork for continued collaboration beyond the forum.
Read more about YSA New Era of Youth Service in America
Partner Organizations and Youth Leaders
Shixia Huang, BioMedEdu | Host Organization | huangs@biomededu.org
Sri Chalasani, The Health Museum | Host Organization | schalasani@thehealthmuseum.org
Sunny Zhang, Born Global Community | Host Organization | sunny@bornglobal.co
Sharon Li, We Care Act | Host Organization | wca@wecareact.org
Weiyi Peng, Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling, University of Houston | Co-organizer
Paige Burgess, The Health Museum | Facilitator
Thalia Tyson Sylvester, The Health Museum | Facilitator
Andy Wu, The Village School l Born Global | Co-facilitator, Youth Leader
Sophie Zhang, Awty International School | Co-facilitator, Youth Leader
Sai Koka, United EduPath
Sriram Inavolu, University of Houston
Olumide Adeyeri, Carnegie Company
Keasia Daniels, Ft Bend County | The Links, Inc.
Alan Wang, Dulles High School | Youth Leader
Steven Xu, Glenda Dawson High School | Youth Leader, We Care Act Pearland Club
Ares Zhou, Glenda Dawson High School | Youth Leader, We Care Act Pearland Club
Chi Pham, Skate Therapy | Youth Leader
Kemia Cleveland | Youth Leader
Phillip Koether, Health In Your Hands | Youth Leader
Cara H, NCL/J&J/GEMS/Links | Youth Leader
Evelyn Zhang, Carnegie Vanguard High School HOSA | Youth Leader
Jayden Yau, Wings to Win | Youth Leader
Mide, Carnegie Care | Youth Leader
Shiloh Ngumbu, Carnegie Care | Youth
Angelina | Youth Leader
Dominic Kolery | NSBE JR - The STEAM Works | Youth Leader
Denise Sanders, NSBE Jr. – The STEAM Works
Wei Lu, We Care Act Pearland
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