Houston Revision
About Houston Revision
Houston reVision works with youth in Harris County who are dealing with juvenile justice involvement, homelessness, housing instability, or school disengagement, and it meets them in real life, through schools, the drop-in center, community nights, and partner referrals. The organization pairs practical help like case management, meals, clothing, tutoring, and housing support with mentors, positive peers, and space for art, dance, and soccer. For donors, the appeal is simple: it gives young people a place to belong and a set of supports that can carry them through a hard stretch instead of pushing them further out.
What sets Houston reVision apart is the way youth stay connected to the community over time. Young people do not age out of the community, and many full-time staff members are former Houston reVision youth, which gives the organization a lived-in, generational feel that shows up in the work.
Programs
The concrete work this nonprofit runs. Each program may later become a fundable project.
Keeping Kids in School
School-based support that pairs students with a positive adult mentor, individual counseling, restorative justice circles, basic needs support, academic support, and pro-social activities.
Drop-In Center and community programming
After-school, summer, and weekend services that provide homework help, tutoring, mentoring, intensive case management, meals, snacks, laundry, showers, hygiene items, clothing, and access to positive peers and activities.
Mentoring
One-on-one, group, and peer mentoring for youth in schools, community settings, juvenile justice settings, and at CommUnity Night events.
Wraparound case management and clinical counseling
Professional case management and on-staff licensed clinicians provide individualized planning, service referrals, and counseling support.
Housing support for unstably housed youth ages 16 to 24
Individualized support for youth experiencing housing instability, including case management, employment support, education support, health care, and life skills training.
reVision Football Club
A no-pay-to-play soccer program with U14 and U19 teams and an adult UPSL team.
Breaking Dance / Sport Program
A structured breaking program that uses dance, sport, and culturally responsive instruction to build confidence, creativity, discipline, belonging, and leadership.
CommUnity Night
Weekly gatherings with mentoring, peer encouragement, a free hot meal, dance battles, and sports activities.
First Friday
Monthly mentoring and arts-based visits with youth serving adult sentences at the Ellis Unit in Huntsville.
Camp Good News
A summer camp for children ages 10 to 15 with incarcerated parents, coordinated by Houston reVision.
About this work
In their own words — what they do, who it reaches, and what your dollars actually fund.
Mission
Houston reVision breaks the cycle of juvenile justice involvement and homelessness among youth in Harris County by leveraging community connections to mentors, positive peers, life-changing resources, and opportunities for artistic expression.
Who they serve
At-risk youth and young adults in Harris County, especially youth facing juvenile justice involvement, homelessness, housing instability, and school disengagement.
Their impact
- Connects with over 1,300 youth each year.
- Served 60 to 100 youths each weekday in the community space, with more staying longer during the summer.
- Temporarily housed 47 youths.
- Provided permanent housing for 45 youths.
- Reconnected 27 youths with their families.
- Since 2012, recruited, screened, trained, and supported over 450 volunteer mentors.
- 50 former reVision FC players graduated from high school and are starting or returning to college on soccer scholarships, joining over 150 players who have been able to attend college through playing soccer with reVision.
- Won four State Championships since 2019 and competed in Regional Championships six times during the same period.
How your donation helps
- Drop-in center snacks and basic pantry necessities
- Food, hygiene supplies, and clothing for youth and young adults
- Case management, counseling, and mentoring services
- Housing support and individualized services for unstably housed youth
- Camp Good News sponsorships for children of incarcerated parents
Our story
Houston reVision received nonprofit status in 2012 and grew into a community-based organization serving youth in Harris County affected by juvenile justice involvement, homelessness, and school disengagement. As the work expanded, so did the ways it showed up, through school-based services, community drop-in programming, housing support, soccer, breaking dance, mentoring, and support for youth and young adults.
Need help?
How someone in need can access Houston Revision’s services.
Youth connect through schools, juvenile justice settings, the drop-in center, community nights, and partner referrals. Services are provided at no cost to families, and once a youth connects with reVision, they remain part of the community and help determine the length of service and what support they need.
Stories
The people behind the work.
In their words
Everyone is transformed in this work: kids, mentors, and communities.
Houston reVision sees the inherent potential of disconnected youth and works to empower them to revision, create and choose hopeful pathways.
Houston reVision gives kids a place to find safety, refuge and a meal. After you volunteer for a night, as tired as you are, you feel good.
Events
CommUnity Night
weekly, Tuesdays and ThursdaysWeekly gatherings with mentors, peer encouragement, a free hot meal, and dance and sports activities.
Back To The Beat
annualA spring fundraising event held at the Eldorado Ballroom to raise funds for youth homelessness and juvenile justice work.
Camp Good News
summerA summer camp for children ages 10 to 15 with incarcerated parents, coordinated by Houston reVision at Camp Allen in Navasota.
First Friday
monthlyMonthly mentoring visits with youth serving adult sentences at the Ellis Unit in Huntsville, including pizza, art, music, and dance projects.
Ways to help
Concrete needs and volunteer roles Houston Revision has shared.
Current needs
- Snacks and basic pantry necessities
- Food, hygiene supplies, and clothing for youth and young adults
- Volunteer mentors for schools, community nights, and First Friday
- Camp Good News sponsorships for children of incarcerated parents
Volunteer opportunities
- One-on-one mentoring
- Group mentoring
- Peer mentoring
- Activity leader at CommUnity Night
- Food server at CommUnity Night
- Letter writing and birthday cards for youth in juvenile facilities
- First Friday mentoring visits at the Ellis Unit
- Helping with holiday cards and event-day support
- Moving an unstably housed young person into their own apartment
Recognition & press
Awards & recognition
- Texas Governor's Criminal Justice Volunteer Service Award, Charles Rotramel
- Harris County Juvenile Probation Department's Myrta Fariza Humanitarian Award, Charles Rotramel
In the media
- NBCUniversal, Comcast NBCUniversal and Telemundo Station Group partnered with Soccer Forward to deliver a grant to Houston reVision.
- Greater Houston Community Foundation, "Empowering Futures: The Collective Impact of Grantmaking on Houston's Unhoused Youth".
Partners & funders
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this nonprofit and how its work happens.
How do young people start receiving services from Houston reVision?
Young people can connect through schools, juvenile justice settings, the drop-in center, community nights, or partner referrals.
What does the drop-in center provide?
It offers homework help, tutoring, mentoring, intensive case management, meals, snacks, laundry, showers, hygiene items, clothing, and pro-social activities like basketball, soccer, art, music, and dance.
What happens at CommUnity Night?
Youth meet mentors, get encouragement from peers, share a hot meal, and take part in hip-hop, breakdance, and krumping activities.
What is Camp Good News?
Camp Good News is a summer camp for children ages 10 to 15 with incarcerated parents, coordinated by Houston reVision and limited to 60 children.
What is the focus of the soccer program?
reVision Football Club offers a no-pay-to-play soccer experience with U14 and U19 teams, plus an adult UPSL team.
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