Texas Emerging Leaders Board Member Application 2025

The Texas Emerging Leaders Board (TELB) is a 12-month, paid leadership program for 15 young adults (ages 18-26) who have experienced disconnection from school or work. This opportunity is tailored for graduates of youth leadership programs like the TNOYS’ Young Adult Leadership Council, AmeriCorps, Young Invincibles’ Young Advocates Program, Housing Youth Advisory Boards, and similar initiatives. TELB members play a vital role in shaping youth services across Texas, each serving as a regional liaison to their local Peer Learning Network. They contribute their lived experience and training as consultants to create pathways for Opportunity Youth to re-engage with school or work. As the first of its kind in the nation, the TELB uniquely empowers youth and young adults (YYA) by ensuring their voices are heard and valued in local organizations and throughout the state.

The goals of the Texas Emerging Leaders Board are to:

1. Identify and work with a selection of Opportunity Youth (OY) from Texas communities to support further development of their leadership, communication, community engagement, and advocacy skills,

2. Integrate OY voice into the design of statewide networks, community planning, and programs, and

3. Work with state and national youth voice integration leaders to capitalize on their expertise and coordinate with already existing state councils and initiatives.

We can accept those outside of these communities on a case by case basis.

Eligibility:

Have lived experiences in our systems, such as: disconnection from school or work, child welfare/foster care, juvenile justice system involvement, homelessness, etc.
Previous involvement in and graduation from a youth leadership program.

Commitment:

This opportunity requires a 12 month commitment.
Members meet twice per month for up to 4 hours in a virtual meeting on a determined bi-weekly basis.
Members complete 8 to 13 additional hours per month to liaise with and advise designated Community of Practice, Leadership Council, and other Boards and participate in systems change/advocacy activities.

Benefits:

Work for a minimum of 10 hours and a maximum of 15 hours per month, earning $20 per hour.
Participate in national Opportunity Youth Forum Communities activities.
Gain experience in the following areas and more: public speaking, advocacy, youth-led training, leadership development, and professional development.
Gain real world job experience and be trained in professional skills which you can put on your resume.
Collaborate with executive staff and key decision-makers at TNOYS and other agencies.
Increase your leadership, collaboration and communication skills.
Build your network with other peer leaders across Texas who are equally passionate about systems issues.

For additional information, please email youthengagement@tnoys.org.