Texas Emerging Leaders Board Member Application 2027
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The Texas Emerging Leaders Board (TELB) is a 12-month, paid leadership program for 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, contributing 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 Opportunity Youth and Young Adults (OYYA) 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 and Young Adults (OYYA) from Texas communities to support further development of their leadership, communication, community engagement, and advocacy skills. 2. Integrate OYYA voice into statewide network, community planning, and program design, 3. Work with state and national youth voice integration leaders to capitalize on their expertise and coordinate with already existing state councils and initiatives.
While this opportunity is open to young adults throughout the state of Texas, our targeted communities are as follows:
Austin
Amarillo
San Augustine
Dallas/ Fort Worth
El Paso
Corpus Christi
Rio Grande Valley
Waco
Houston
Jasper
San Antonio
We can accept those outside of these communities on a case by case basis.
Eligibility:
Have lived experiences in systems, such as: disconnection from school or work, child welfare/foster care, juvenile justice system involvement, homelessness, etc.
Previous involvement in a youth leadership program or equivalent experience.
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 2 to 11 additional hours per month on homework assignments and research as well as to liaise with and advise designated Peer Learning Network community, TOYN Leadership Council, and other Boards and participate in systems change/advocacy activities.
Benefits:
Work for up to a minimum of 10 hours and a maximum of 15 hours a month, earning $20 an 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 on professional skills that you can use to put on your resume.
Collaborate with executive staff and key decision-makers at TOYN, 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
.
Personal Information
First Name (preferred)
Last Name
Pronouns (Optional)
Date of Birth
Race or Ethnicity
Black or African American
Hispanic or Latino
White
Asian or Pacific Islander
American Indian or Alaska Native
Multiple race or ethnicity/other
Prefer not to answer
Please describe your race or ethnicity:
Personal Phone Number
Personal email that you check regularly. If you do not have an email, you can get one for free at gmail.com.
Subscribe to TNOYS' youth and young adults newsletter list.
Street Address
City
State
Please select...
Texas
Alabama
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Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District Of Columbia
Florida
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Hawaii
Idaho
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Indiana
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Kentucky
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Maine
Maryland
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Puerto Rico
Virgin Island
Northern Mariana Islands
Guam
American Samoa
Palau
Zip Code
Mailing Address
(If different from above; include street, city, state, and zip code)
Previous Experience
Please describe your disconnection from school or work, if applicable.
Have you ever graduated from a youth leadership program or an equivalent experience? If so, please describe:
Please provide contact information for a reference from your youth leadership program or experience.
This can be your boss, project manager, or any other employee that can speak to your involvement. Include an email address and phone number, if possible.
Are you willing to share your lived experiences
to lead and guide others through advocacy, storytelling, training, and public speaking opportunities?
This is a requirement of the role.
Yes
No
What leadership skills do you feel you can learn more about? How do these skills fit in with your goals or interests?
What professional development skills do you feel you can learn more about?
How can these skills help you further your career ambitions?
Is there anything else about your previous experience you wish to share?
What motivates you to join the Texas Emerging Leaders Board, and how do you envision contributing to your community through this role?
Are you currently in or seeking higher education or employment? Please describe:
Technology
Do you have consistent and personal access to a computer or laptop?
Yes
No
Do you have reliable internet access?
Yes
No
Are you willing to be on video during meetings?
Yes
No
Are you okay with being recorded at various TNOYS events?
Yes
No
Is there anything else regarding technology that you would like to share?
Accessibility and Availability
Are you able to commit to a 12-month period covering January 2027 - December 2027? The commitment is at least 10-20 hours each month including two (2) mandatory virtual meetings.
Yes
No
Do you have any accessibility needs that require accommodations? If yes, please explain.
Note: Reasonable accommodations will not disqualify you from participation. If this does not apply to you, please enter "N/A".
As a TELB member, part of your role will involve traveling to community meetings to provide training and attending various community events.
Do you have reliable access to transportation for these responsibilities?
Note: Lack of access to transportation does not disqualify from participation.
Yes
No
Do you have any extraordinary circumstances that may affect your availability? Such as caring for an ill family member, parenting, or any other situation that may cause a sudden change in availability?
Note: Caretaking will not disqualify you from participation.
If this does not apply to you, please enter "N/A".
Is there anything else regarding accessibility and availability that you would like to share?
TNOYS Lived Experience Index
This section is to gauge which systems you have involvement in and are willing to discuss in activities. Please keep in mind that you will never be forced to share something against your wishes but this opportunity requires that you share parts of your stories with other youth, stakeholders and professionals at times.
If this does not sound like something that you are willing to do, please do not apply for this opportunity.
Please check which systems you have experience in and are willing to share about:
Child Welfare
CSEY and Survivor Services
Education
Health and Behavioral Health
Higher Education & Workforce
Housing and Homelessness Services
Justice
Please check any Child Welfare-specific situations for which you have lived experience:
Children Without Placement (CWOP)
Aged out of foster care system
Experience in Residential Treatment Centers (RTC)
In Kinship care (in foster care but stayed with family - or would have liked to)
N/A
Please check any CSEY and Survivor Services-specific situations for which you have lived experience:
Experience with a natural disaster
N/A
Please check any Education-specific situations for which you have lived experience:
Special Education involvement
Out of class discipline at school such as suspension or expulsion
N/A
Please check any Housing and Homelessness Services-specific situations for which you have lived experience:
Dual Status in Homelessness and Child Welfare
Homelessness while in K-12 education
N/A
Please check any Justice-specific situations for which you have lived experience:
Dual Status in Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare
Dual Status in Adult Criminal Justice and Child Welfare
Experience in Residential Treatment Centers (RTC)
Justice involvement at age 17
Justice involvement at age 10, 11 or 12
Arrest or probation referral for behavior in a residential placement
Arrest or probation referral for behavior at school
Experienced Parental Incarceration
Class C Misdemeanor ticket at school or runaway or curfew violation
N/A