Know Yourself. Own Your Story. Build Your Future.
A community-rooted organization empowering Black and Latino youth to lead their lives boldly and freely through identity exploration, storytelling, and entrepreneurship.
What We Build Together
Watch how Emerging Roots HTX participants grow from day one to showcase day.
"We exist because it takes a village."
We want to ensure students are not limited by circumstance, but that they have the support and tools they deserve.
We know young people already have what it takes. We are here to help them acknowledge it.
Emerging Roots HTX exists to create the conditions where young people discover that who they are right now is more than enough to lead, create, and transform their community.
The ROOTS Framework
Our work is grounded in ROOTS - the principles that guide how we build community, expand opportunity, and sustain long-term impact.
Rootedness
Our curriculum, partnerships, and learning opportunities reflect the diversity and richness of the young people we serve.
Ownership
We understand the profound responsibility of being part of these young people’s lives. We take ownership of how we show up, what we teach, and the culture we create. We empower youth to own their stories, ideas, and futures with confidence and agency.
Openness
We keep it real with our students. We create a safe space where we learn alongside them, stay open to their feedback, and share our own personal journeys.
Togetherness
We build collaboratively, strengthening a village where youth grow alongside peers, mentors, and alumni.
Sustainability
We are committed to long-term ecosystems of support that extend beyond high school and evolve with our community.
Our Methodology
Our curriculum covers 3 core pillars
Identity Exploration
Storytelling
Entrepreneurship
Emerging Roots Summer Collective
A dynamic 6-week in-person program for high school students from Black and Latino communities interested in entrepreneurship, storytelling, and creative media.
What Students Leave With
Every student creates tangible deliverables to build their leadership portfolio.
Students develop a written origin story, a defined value framework, and complete a personal SWOT/Ikigai analysis to ground their future decisions in who they actually are.
6 Weeks That Change Everything
Each week builds on the last, moving from self-knowledge to storytelling to real-world execution.
Identity, Culture & Roots
Students explore personal identity through vision boarding and a culturally-relevant field trip, then get introduced to pitch deck elements they'll build throughout the program.
Ideation & Business Concept
Using the Ikigai framework, students discover their business idea, define their target market, and develop their value proposition.
Business Planning & Execution
Students learn cost of living, budgeting, business models, and execution planning — the practical foundation for their idea.
Brand Identity & Film Production
Students develop brand identity, design logos, and begin filming video content for their pitch presentation.
Sales Pitching & Final Deliverables
With pitch decks and films due, students learn sales pitching techniques and practice presenting in front of mentors and peers.
Showcase Preparation & Pitch Day
Mock pitches with industry professionals, final rehearsals, and the community showcase where students present their complete pitch and personal story video.
Meet Our Team
We are educators, organizers, mentors, and community members, united by a belief in the next generation.
Passionate about youth development?
We are always looking for mentors, volunteers, and partners who share our commitment to Houston's next generation.
Get Involved