NextGen Roundtable: Dallas Youth Summit

Seeking Youth Voices in Dallas

As young people come of age in an era of political polarization, Close Up is committed to helping them understand policy issues from multiple perspectives and make informed decisions about how to best solve those issues in the interests of all. To that end, we’re proud to partner with the City of Dallas and the Dallas Youth Commission (DYC)—a group of civically engaged students giving voice to youth issues—for this April’s NextGen Roundtable: Dallas Youth Summit.  

We’re gathering 250 high school students from across the Dallas Metroplex to deliberate local issues using data from a recent DYC survey featuring over 5,000 student responses to inform their discussions. Participants will collaborate in small groups, listen to and weigh diverse perspectives, and craft a vision statement for creating positive action in their community. 

Join Us for an information Zoom Webinar on March 27 at 10:30am CT.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW >     ZOOM INFO SESSION >

Date and Time: April 24, 2025 | 8:30am-3:45pm

Location:Kay Bailey Hutc​hison Convention Center Dallas
*Transportation to and from the event is not provided. Schools should arrange transportation for their cohort on the day of the event.

Participant Eligibility: The summit is open to high school students who live in the City of Dallas. We recommend that students participate in school cohorts of approximately 5-10 students.

Cost: There is no cost to participate but registration is required. Space is limited. 

Important Dates: To register a cohort of students or individually, please complete the form below no later than March 28, 2025. You will be notified by April 4 if you or your school/organization has been selected. 

INTEREST FORM >

Support: NextGen Roundtable: Dallas Youth Summit is made possible by the generous support of The Hersh Foundation, Communities Foundation of Texas, and Kathy and Harlan Crow. Their dedication to fostering meaningful conversations and driving positive change has been instrumental in bringing this event to life. To learn how you can support Close Up’s mission, please reach out to us at support@closeup.org.  

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8:30am Welcome and Registration

9:30am Opening Remarks 

9:45am Deliberation and Consensus Building: Explore the goals of deliberation and review the DYC survey results to prepare for group discussions. 

10:30am Issue Group Deliberations: Deliberate on one of five issue areas: homelessness, climate change, public & school safety, public transportation, or civic engagement. Consider the priorities of decision-makers and examine various policies to address the issues. 

12:00pm Lunch 

12:45pm Panel with Local Policymakers and Government Officials: Build a deeper understanding of local government and identify stakeholders and decision-makers on a variety of public issues. 

2:00pm Issue Group Deliberations: Continue to deliberate on your issue, create a vision statement for addressing the issue, and decide how you want to represent the group’s decisions to all participants. 

3:15pm Vision Statement Presentations: Present your vision statements, reflect on the value of deliberation, and consider opportunities for engagement in the future. All participants will be invited to become Close Up Civic Ambassadors. 

3:45pm End of Event