About the Conference
Grow Your Impact. Strengthen Your Practice.
The Texas Mentoring Conference brings together youth development professionals, mentoring practitioners, educators, nonprofit leaders, and community partners from across the state for two days of learning, collaboration, and inspiration. Explore more than 20 engaging workshops covering youth voice, trauma-informed care, developmental relationships, leadership, fundraising, storytelling, emotional intelligence, school partnerships, mentoring innovation, and measuring impact. Connect with peers during interactive networking roundtables and our Monday evening reception, then return home with practical strategies, fresh ideas, and new partnerships that will strengthen your work with young people. Whether you are new to the field or a seasoned leader, you’ll leave energized, equipped, and ready to make an even greater difference in the lives of youth.
Date: October 19-20, 2026
Location: Hilton Palacio Del Rio (200 S Alamo St, San Antonio, TX 78205)
Cost: $199
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Monday, October 19th
11:30am - 1:30pm | Registration
1:30pm - 2pm | Welcome Remarks
2:10pm - 3:20pm | Workshops
- Beyond Graduation: The Transformative Power of College Mentoring
- Alexis McDonald, VP of Programs, Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star
- Storytelling: The Stories Only Your Organization Can Tell
- Becky Dinnin, Executive Director, SVP San Antonio
- Beyond the ARD: Equipping Mentors to Support Neurodivergent and Special Education Youth
- Christina Dorta, CEO, Holy Spirit Special Education Advocacy
- Powered By Peers: Building Community and Persistence Through Student Ambassadors
- Mayra Ortuno, College Completion Program Director, Breakthrough Houston
- Carlos Rodriguez, Americorps Senior Leader, Breakthrough Houston
- Embedding Youth Voices in Your Organization's DNA
- Sedoo Ijir, Director of Practice, Texas Network of Youth Services
3:30pm - 4:40pm | Workshops
- Beyond Job Readiness: Leveraging Developmental Relationships to Prepare Youth for the Future of Work
- Joshua Boyce, Executive Director, Bold Idea
- Storytelling: The Story You Carry, The Story You Give, The Story We Are Already Living A Healing-Centered Practice for Youth Development & Mentoring Leaders
- Walter J. Hull, II, Co-National Program Director, U.S. Dream Academy, Inc.
- Developing Strong Mind and Kind Hearts: Exploring the Impact of Mentorship on Teenagers
- Nickolas Raczek, Behavioral Health Supervisor for Child and Adolescence, The Center for Health Care Services
- Building Sustainable School-Based Mentoring Parterships: Recruiting and Retaining Mentors Based on the SBISD SpringBoard Mentor Model
- Katie Redd, Teacher, Spring Branch ISD
- Christopher Marroquin, Director of Community Engagement, Spring Branch ISD
- The Power of Your Voice: How Local Action Drives Big Change
- Mitzi Stoute Faniola, Nonprofit Consultation & Development Officer
5:30pm - 7:30pm | Reception
Tuesday, October 20th
9:30am - 11:30am | Networking Topic Roundtables
11:30am -12:00pm | Break
12:00pm - 1:30pm | Lunch & Panel Discussion
1:30pm -1:45pm | Break
1:45pm - 2:55pm | Workshops
- The Adult is the Strategy: Developing Emotional Intelligence in Toddlers and Preschoolers
- Jessica Flores, Early Learning Inclusion Manager, AVANCE SA
- Ayesha Morin, Early Learning Inclusion Manager, AVANCE SA
- Leading w/ Emotional Intelegence
- Adriana Barbosa, Executive Director, Pathways Forward SA
- Building Bridges Between Schools, Students and Communities
- Dena Petty, Founder, Mentors Care
- Youth Mentoring and Teen Engagement: Strategies That Connect Mentoring with Real-World Exposure
- Alric Amett, Teens in Action Program Director, Camp Fire First Texas
- Nothing About Us Without Us: Embedding Youth Voice Into Mentoring Programs
- Leelah Rivera, Mental Health First Aid & Youth Initiatives Coordinator, Big Brothers Big Sisters El Paso
3:05pm - 4:15pm | Workshops
- Healing the Whole Student: Integrating Community Health and Trauma-Informed Care into Youth Mentoring
- Juan Ramos, Executive Director, r3 Generations
- Values-Based Leadership for Youth Development Organizations
- Mel Zarb-Cousin, CEO, Magik Theatre
- From Connection to Transformation: Using Wellness-Based Goal Setting to Measure Mentoring Impact
- Carolina Sizemore, Director of Programs, Majesty Outdoors
- Fund Development: Fundraising, Friendship, Fun
- Jim Eskin, Founder, Eskin Fundraising Training, LLC.
Hotel Information
Hilton Palacio del Rio River Walk
Room Booking and More Information
About the Conference
Grow Your Impact. Strengthen Your Practice.
The Texas Mentoring Conference brings together youth development professionals, mentoring practitioners, educators, nonprofit leaders, and community partners from across the state for two days of learning, collaboration, and inspiration. Explore more than 20 engaging workshops covering youth voice, trauma-informed care, developmental relationships, leadership, fundraising, storytelling, emotional intelligence, school partnerships, mentoring innovation, and measuring impact. Connect with peers during interactive networking roundtables and our Monday evening reception, then return home with practical strategies, fresh ideas, and new partnerships that will strengthen your work with young people. Whether you are new to the field or a seasoned leader, you’ll leave energized, equipped, and ready to make an even greater difference in the lives of youth.
Date: October 19-20, 2026
Location: Hilton Palacio Del Rio (200 S Alamo St, San Antonio, TX 78205)
Cost: $199
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Monday, October 19th
11:30am - 1:30pm | Registration
1:30pm - 2pm | Welcome Remarks
2:10pm - 3:20pm | Workshops
- Beyond Graduation: The Transformative Power of College Mentoring
- Alexis McDonald, VP of Programs, Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star
- Storytelling: The Stories Only Your Organization Can Tell
- Becky Dinnin, Executive Director, SVP San Antonio
- Beyond the ARD: Equipping Mentors to Support Neurodivergent and Special Education Youth
- Christina Dorta, CEO, Holy Spirit Special Education Advocacy
- Powered By Peers: Building Community and Persistence Through Student Ambassadors
- Mayra Ortuno, College Completion Program Director, Breakthrough Houston
- Carlos Rodriguez, Americorps Senior Leader, Breakthrough Houston
- Embedding Youth Voices in Your Organization's DNA
- Sedoo Ijir, Director of Practice, Texas Network of Youth Services
3:30pm - 4:40pm | Workshops
- Beyond Job Readiness: Leveraging Developmental Relationships to Prepare Youth for the Future of Work
- Joshua Boyce, Executive Director, Bold Idea
- Storytelling: The Story You Carry, The Story You Give, The Story We Are Already Living A Healing-Centered Practice for Youth Development & Mentoring Leaders
- Walter J. Hull, II, Co-National Program Director, U.S. Dream Academy, Inc.
- Developing Strong Mind and Kind Hearts: Exploring the Impact of Mentorship on Teenagers
- Nickolas Raczek, Behavioral Health Supervisor for Child and Adolescence, The Center for Health Care Services
- Building Sustainable School-Based Mentoring Parterships: Recruiting and Retaining Mentors Based on the SBISD SpringBoard Mentor Model
- Katie Redd, Teacher, Spring Branch ISD
- Christopher Marroquin, Director of Community Engagement, Spring Branch ISD
- The Power of Your Voice: How Local Action Drives Big Change
- Mitzi Stoute Faniola, Nonprofit Consultation & Development Officer
5:30pm - 7:30pm | Reception
Tuesday, October 20th
9:30am - 11:30am | Networking Topic Roundtables
11:30am -12:00pm | Break
12:00pm - 1:30pm | Lunch & Panel Discussion
1:30pm -1:45pm | Break
1:45pm - 2:55pm | Workshops
- The Adult is the Strategy: Developing Emotional Intelligence in Toddlers and Preschoolers
- Jessica Flores, Early Learning Inclusion Manager, AVANCE SA
- Ayesha Morin, Early Learning Inclusion Manager, AVANCE SA
- Leading w/ Emotional Intelegence
- Adriana Barbosa, Executive Director, Pathways Forward SA
- Building Bridges Between Schools, Students and Communities
- Dena Petty, Founder, Mentors Care
- Youth Mentoring and Teen Engagement: Strategies That Connect Mentoring with Real-World Exposure
- Alric Amett, Teens in Action Program Director, Camp Fire First Texas
- Nothing About Us Without Us: Embedding Youth Voice Into Mentoring Programs
- Leelah Rivera, Mental Health First Aid & Youth Initiatives Coordinator, Big Brothers Big Sisters El Paso
3:05pm - 4:15pm | Workshops
- Healing the Whole Student: Integrating Community Health and Trauma-Informed Care into Youth Mentoring
- Juan Ramos, Executive Director, r3 Generations
- Values-Based Leadership for Youth Development Organizations
- Mel Zarb-Cousin, CEO, Magik Theatre
- From Connection to Transformation: Using Wellness-Based Goal Setting to Measure Mentoring Impact
- Carolina Sizemore, Director of Programs, Majesty Outdoors
- Fund Development: Fundraising, Friendship, Fun
- Jim Eskin, Founder, Eskin Fundraising Training, LLC.
Hotel Information
Hilton Palacio del Rio River Walk
Room Booking and More Information