Reimagining Civic Life in Dallas Through Youth-Led Dialogue
By Evelyn Torres, Marketing & Communications Intern
When I attended the Something in Common: Reimagine Civic Life Together in Dallas, I saw what youth-led civic dialogue can look like when young people are not talked about, but invited to help shape the conversation.
Big Thought partnered with The Henry Luce Foundation Inc., History Co:Lab, and Fit and Faithful Living – Youth Leadership to create a space for civic dialogue where youth voice was not just included, but centered.
What stayed with me most was the openness in the room. People were listening to understand, not just respond. That made the space feel real.
One of the most powerful moments came from Paris, a member of Big Thought’s Community Action Team who shared:
“I mean, I’m a kid, but I’m still a person, and I still have things that I can learn from you, but there’s probably things that you can learn from me too.”
Her words captured the heart of the evening. Youth voice was not just part of the event. It was what shaped it. At Big Thought that belief is central to the work.
As the event continued, I kept coming back to the question of how we could collectively rebuild the civic square. What I heard from young people was clear. They want:
- Spaces where adults are curious about their experiences
- Opportunities to connect and co-create across generations
- Spaces to be fully themselves and reflect with peers
- Trust, responsibility, and the chance to lead
- To engage in hard conversations, even when they feel uncomfortable
What made the evening especially meaningful was that young people did not just describe those kinds of spaces. They helped create one.
Throughout the event, they modeled what it looks like to lead with honesty, intention, and care. For me, it was a reminder that young people can be trusted to do hard things and to help hold space for meaningful dialogue.
Ania Hodges, Youth Advancement Manager at Big Thought, reflected on that feeling:
“Everyone decided to lean into this space, and everyone decided that we were going to take the time to understand each other. The vibe of the room is what I want to create in other spaces in my work, in my home.”
Jermaine Owens, Program Coordinator of The Fellowship Initiative shared a similar takeaway:
“We were able to take off all the layers, all of the titles, and just get to the person, the human behind those things.”
That is what made the experience so powerful. It showed that civic dialogue becomes more honest and more meaningful when young people and adults come together with openness, humility, and respect, something different becomes possible.
I left feeling inspired by what young people are already showing us. They are not waiting to be invited into civic life. They are already helping shape it.
Young people are not waiting to lead. They are already showing us what is possible. The opportunity now is for more of us to listen, partner, and help build the kinds of spaces where their voices shape what comes next. If your organization is ready to be part of that work, Big Thought would love to connect.
