Since 1994, YouthLaunch has helped thousands of students develop critically needed skills and serve their communities.
We empower youth to serve, lead, and grow.
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YouthLaunch prepares elementary school, middle school, high school, and college students with leadership and career readiness skills. We use structured peer mentorship programs as a workforce development strategy, training young people in communication, decision-making, conflict resolution, goal-setting, and long-term planning skills that are directly transferable to higher education and employment.
Our Team
Executive Director klockhart@youthlaunch.org
KIPP Program Consultant jill.kolasinski@utexas.edu
AISD Program Consultant jross@youthlaunch.org
Board of Directors
William Herndon
Chair
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Stuart Block
Treasurer
Rebecca Yerly
Secretary
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Grant Thomas
Founder & Chair Emeritus
Minnie Hollyman
Valerie Granoff
Adelaide Escott
Mary Beer
Stacia Bowley
Ellie Lochridge
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What We Believe: The YouthLaunch Theory of Change
After more than three decades in the youth service field, YouthLaunch has distilled some essential characteristics that underly all that we do: the YouthLaunch Theory of Change.
Our Story
YouthLaunch was founded in 1994, under the name Peer Assistance Network of America (PAN-America). Its founding was inspired by the success of the PAL (Peer Assistance Leadership) Program, a peer mentoring program that began at one Austin high school in 1980 and is now being implemented by hundreds of school districts throughout Texas and beyond. The central purpose of the organization was and is to serve as a champion of the concept of youth empowerment through service.
In 2004 the organization was renamed YouthLaunch, reflecting the expanded scope of its work. Since its founding, the organization has initiated and participated in a wide variety of noteworthy programs and partnerships that exemplify the youth as resources concept.
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Read about our legacy programs here.