Uplifting Youth Voices

Young Adults are at the heart of everything we do—We believe in creating spaces where youth feel empowered to: seize opportunities, strengthen their career paths, and thrive in every facet of life.

Get a glimpse of youth development in action!

Learn about the work of the Young Adult Action Advisory Council

Observe how programs like our Peer Navigator model have demonstrated opportunities for personal and professional growth
Listen to testimonies from local opportunity youth

Young Adult Action Advisory Council (YAAAC)

YAAAC empowers young adults to lead, advocate, and shape solutions collaboratively for themselves and future generations across the Texas Gulf Coast.

Youth Input

YAAAC serves as formal body to ensure youth perspectives are heard and integrated into the collaboratives work. YAAAC members provide feedback on program design, policy, and engagement strategies to ensure they reflect the lived experiences and aspirations of opportunity youth.

Connect with the YAAAC

Leadership

YAAAC members go through 4 months of training and orientation before having the opportunity to be voted into leadership roles. The leadership roles offered are the President, Secretary, and Administrator positions.

Collaboration

YAAAC members meet regularly to strategize, advise, and support community-based initiatives. Official YAAAC meetings occur monthly. Members also participate in GHOYC Stakeholder Meetings, social outings, and community events when they occur.

Peer Navigation

Enhancing programs and youth engagement through neer-peer support

GHOYC’s Peer Navigators, who are young adults themselves, are strategically placed at community based organizations to support opportunity youth and young adults facing challenges in education, employment, and system navigation. Peer Navigators receive paid training in durable skills, outreach and recruitment strategies, and motivational interviewing to ensure they are set up for success. Once placed Peer Navigators assist in youth outreach and engagement efforts and provide guidance, mentorship, and resource connection to peers seeking support.

In 2025, thirty-seven youth adults completed Peer Navigator training and seventeen were successfully placed in Peer Navigator roles at partner sites. Together these Peer Navigators supported over 850 opportunity youth in gaining access to wraparound services and education and job training programs across Greater Houston.

The lessons learned through the work will continue to shape our current approach, ensuring young adults are connected to opportunities for success and their voices help guide new initiatives.

The next phase of Peer Navigator is currently in development.

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Young Adult Stories:

Tune into the personal narratives of local Opportunity Youth. These videos highlight the many challenges young people face, while also reminding us why our mission matters, and why we remain committed to it.

Gerardo Diaz

The GHOYC’s Young Adult Action Advisory Council (YAAAC) proudly presents this compelling video interview with local opportunity youth, Gerardo Diaz. Directed, produced, edited, and featuring members of the YAAAC, this interview delves into Gerardo’s journey through local systems, his personal life, and his engagement with GHOYC initiatives and partners. Gerardo’s story of resilience, perseverance, and survival serves as an inspiring message to Houston’s Gen Z, demonstrating their strength and ability to find light in the darkest times.

Jaqueline Hernandez

The Young Adult Action Advisory Council (YAAAC) also had the opportunity to connect with Jaqueline Hernandez, a proud Houston native, to hear her inspiring story. Jaqueline opened up about the challenges she faced growing up and how her involvement with local nonprofits helped shape her path forward. Now, as a former member of YAAAC and a new mother, she shares her excitement for the future and her commitment to uplifting other young adults in her community.