TNOYS’ 42nd Annual Conference takes place from Wednesday, June 11 to Friday, June 13, with pre-conference institutes on Tuesday, June 10.
Guided by the theme Deep in the Heart of What Connects Us, this year’s event features 40+ sessions that will inspire each of us to be part of building stronger youth-serving systems in every Texas community.
Check out the full event schedule in Whova, or click below for the program preview. All attendees will receive a printed program at check-in.
Keynote Speakers & Panels
Karla Solomon | Keynote Speaker
Karla Solomon is the founder of No Longer Captive (NLC), which is dedicated to assisting sex trafficking survivors in escaping their situations. In addition to her expertise with NLC, she is a consultant for Mercy Gate Ministries, a courtcertified human trafficking expert with the State of Texas, a council member with the Human Trafficking Survivor Leader Council for the State of Texas Governor’s Office, a mandatory continuing legal education sponsor with the State Bar of Texas, and a board member of For Freedom Initiative. She shares her personal lived experiences and expertise of child sexual exploitation and adult commercial sex trafficking to provide a deeper understanding of the realities of this heinous crime in the United States. She connects with survivors of all ages to share hope and resources to assist them in their personal journeys to freedom.
MelRo Potter | Keynote Speaker
As a speaker, foster parent trainer, and international advocate, MelRo Potter has made a powerful difference for audiences throughout Texas and worldwide, from high schools to youth-serving organizations. MelRo’s keynotes draw from her own lived experiences— including foster care, teen parenting, mental health, and youth homelessness— leaving a lasting impression of hope and resilience. MelRo advocates through the power of choice throughout her work. She is an expert trainer on trauma-informed care, trauma-informed parenting, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and has served as Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Ohio CASA.
YALC Keynote Panel – The Heart of Systems Change: Centering Lived Expertise in Systemic
Solutions
Meaningful change starts with connection. This panel discussion brings together TNOYS’ lived-experience leaders to gather insights on building systems that truly support and uplift youth. Panelists will explore the policies and practices shaping their lives and highlight actionable steps providers can take to strengthen relationships and drive meaningful impact. Join us as we center youth and young adult voices, spark solutions, and find inspiration in the connections that bring us all together—right here, deep in the heart of what matters most.
Keynote Plenary – Deepening Connections with Youth and Young Adults to Support Their
Futures
This plenary session is a celebration of the next generation of young advocates and leaders and their professional and adult allies at local, state, and national levels working together to connect systems-involved youth and young adults to brighter futures. As part of the Texas Opportunity Youth Network, the Texas Emerging Leaders Board (TELB) provides consultation across the state on how to meaningfully connect with Opportunity Youth (OY), young people aged 16-26 who have experienced a disconnection from education and/or employment. This plenary will discuss national efforts to create better pathways to career and academic success, as well as Texas collaborations between OY and youth-serving organizations in creating supportive pathways to reconnect OY to school and meaningful employment. Panelists will elaborate on the need for cross-systems connections with an emphasis on the role of communities, collaboratives, and youth and young adults in advancing future generations of leaders.
Schedule at a Glance
Tuesday, June 10: Pre-Conference Institutes & Early Check-In
Pre-Conference Institutes are full-day (4-6 hours) training sessions on an in-depth clinical skill or evidence-based tool or approach. Please note that Pre-Conference Institutes require a separate registration on the registration form. You may register for Pre-Conference Institutes in addition to regular conference registration, or you may register for Pre-Conference Institutes separately.
Attendees for the full conference may arrive early on Tuesday to check in. Early check-in takes place from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. in the Galleria Foyer.
Wednesday, June 11: Full Conference Day 1
- 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.: Registration and Check-In
- 9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.: Welcome + Keynote
- 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Workshops and Youth Programming
- 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.: Lunch on Your Own (Professionals)
- 12:10 p.m. – 1:10 p.m.: Youth Lunch
- 1:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.: Workshops, Youth Programming
- 3:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Performance + Keynote (YALC Panel)
- 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: “Howdy, Partners!” Member Reception
Thursday, June 12: Full Conference Day 2
- 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.: Registration and Check-In
- 9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.: Performance + Keynote
- 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Workshops
- 12:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.: Luncheon: Celebrating What Connects Us (Open to All Who RSVP’d)
- 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.: Workshops
- 3:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Workshops
Friday, June 13: Full Conference Day 3
- 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.: Statewide Collaborative on Youth Homelessness (SCYH) Breakfast
- 8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.: Registration and Check-In
- 9:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.: Workshops
- 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Closing Keynote
Photos of the Westin Galleria from TNOYS’ 2022 Annual Conference
Venue, Meals, & Accommodations at This Year’s Conference
This year’s conference takes place at the Westin Galleria Houston, a large, centrally located venue that is ideal for our flagship event. The hotel and conference event space are directly connected to the Houston Galleria shopping mall, providing easy access to a wide range of dining options. This year’s agenda also includes several optional meals for attendees, including:
- Youth-Only Lunch on Wednesday, June 11 from 12:00 p.m. – 1:10 p.m. (Open to All Youth and Young Adult Attendees)
- Youth-Adult Partnership Luncheon on Thursday, June 12 from 12:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. (Open to All RSVP’d Attendees)
- Breakfast Each Day in the Member Lounge; June 11 – 13 (TNOYS Members Only)
- Howdy, Partners! Member Reception on Wednesday, June 11 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (Appetizers and Drinks Available – TNOYS Members Only)
Check out the Annual Conference FAQs to learn more. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to annualconference@tnoys.org.
###
Raffle Prizes this year include tickets to the Houston Zoo, Kendra Scott Jewelry, Lush, and Let’s Roam Scavenger Hunts.
