YSA Texas

Texas Statewide Partner Forum for Youth Engagement Organizations

New Era of Youth Service in America: 

Join the Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedical Education (BioMedEdu) and our Houston-based partner organizations—We Care Act, The Health Museum, and Born Global Community for a critical convening to plan the future of youth service in Texas. In addition, Youth Impact (El Paso), the Dickerson Center for Civic Responsibility (DeSoto/Dallas area), and Students of Service (SOS) (San Antonio) will host events in other regions of Texas. 

The Texas Statewide Partner Forum will serve as a collaborative space to bring together community-based organizations, educators, youth leaders, and stakeholders from across the state. Participants will engage in structured dialogue, share insights and best practices, and work collectively to strengthen youth service, civic engagement, and community-driven impact throughout Texas.

This forum is 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 will identify shared priorities, explore sustainable strategies, and lay the groundwork for continued collaboration beyond the forum.

Read more about YSA New Era of Youth Service in America

Event Details 

• Date: Saturday, January 17, 2026

• Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM CST]

• Location: Online (Houston-based Host Organizations, Texas)

• Cost: Free  
  Registration Link

About This Event

As we look forward to America’s Semiquincentennial (250th anniversary) in 2026, we face a stark reality: only 1 in 4 young people regularly participate in their communities. This means 64 million young Americans are currently left out of participating in our democracy.

To change this trajectory, Youth Service America (YSA) is launching a "New Era of Youth Service"—a national strategy to double the rates of youth participation in volunteering, voting, and leadership over the next decade.

We invite you to be part of the solution.

This Statewide Partner Forum is part of a national listening tour. We are convening key partners, stakeholders, and youth leaders from across Texas to discuss the current state of youth service, envision a new future, and co-create the strategies needed to engage every young person in our state.

Why You Should Attend

This is not just a meeting; it is a working session to shape policy and practice. Your voice will directly inform YSA's National Strategy launching in 2026. Together, we will:

• Assess the Landscape: Discuss the barriers preventing young Texans from serving and identify where the biggest participation gaps exist.

• Envision the Future: What should the youth service field look like in 2036? What would it take to double youth participation in our communities?

• Explore Solutions: Prioritize specific strategies for funding, training, and recognition that you want to see implemented in Texas.

• Shape Policy: Help develop a state policy agenda—from graduation requirements to funding—that supports youth engagement.

Who Should Attend? 

We recommend organizations send at least one staff member and one youth leader. We welcome representatives from:

• K-12 Schools & Higher Education Institutions

• Afterschool & Youth Development Programs

• Nonprofits & Community-Based Organizations

• Faith-Based Groups

• Government Agencies & Civic Leaders

• Corporate CSR & Foundation Partners

Agenda Highlights

• The Current State of Service: Understanding the data and the "participation gap."

• Visioning Session: Defining our shared goals for the next 10 years.

• Strategy Workshop: Selecting the boldest solutions to active, fund, train, and recognize youth.

• Policy Planning: identifying legislative opportunities to support our work.