Where Young Minds Find Their People and Thrive

Every Sunday afternoon in Plano, a group of young people gathers with a shared purpose: to discover who they are and who they can become. These are sixth through twelfth graders from Plano and the surrounding suburbs—kids who might walk in feeling like they're the only one in the room, but leave knowing they've found their people. YBS Kids creates that space where belonging happens naturally, where a teenager can ask questions about their future without judgment, and where cultural pride and personal growth go hand in hand.

The heart of what happens at YBS Kids is straightforward but powerful. Through monthly workshops, mentorship sessions, and community projects, young people learn life skills that matter—how to speak with confidence, how to navigate college applications, how to manage their finances, how to stay safe. They explore their history and heritage, not as a lesson to check off, but as a source of strength. They volunteer in their communities and see firsthand how they can make a difference. It's education that reaches beyond textbooks, designed to build the kind of self-assurance that shapes decisions for years to come.

What makes the difference, though, is that every member is truly seen. Mentors ensure that the new kid who doesn't know a soul walks away from that first Sunday feeling welcomed. The shy one gets encouraged to try public speaking. The one who's uncertain about their future gets connected with someone who's already walked that path. By the time graduating seniors leave YBS Kids, they haven't just improved their confidence—they've prepared college applications, secured scholarship funding, and built a network of peers and professionals who believe in their potential.

In a suburban landscape where young Black voices can feel invisible, YBS Kids insists on the opposite: every child deserves to feel seen, supported, and empowered. That's what happens on Sunday afternoons in Plano, week after week, year after year.