Emerging Roots started with a mother's fear — and a refusal to accept it. Our founder looked at the schools meant to prepare Black and Latino kids for the future and found a gap — real-world skills like financial literacy, leadership, and entrepreneurship simply weren't being taught. With 125,000 Houston youth ages 16–24 disconnected from school and work — and less than 32% of young people ever accessing meaningful leadership development — that gap has real consequences.

We serve Black and Latino high schoolers in Houston's East End: young people from low-income communities who are hungry to grow but haven't always had the space to do it. Through our 6-week summer program, students build skills in entrepreneurship, storytelling, and identity exploration. Last year, one student launched her business by selling 70+ cookies at Black Heritage Festival. Another spoke at a statewide conference. That's what happens when young people find their village.

Beyond our summer program, we serve students year-round. This upcoming 2026-2027 school year we will be hosting workshops and community events open to the public. We're raising $15,000 to help cover meals, transportation, materials, and field trips. We want to continue to provide transformational experiences for our students and families at no cost.

Join our village and invest in the next generation.

Grow With Us