Students at the 2023 Texas-Sized Peer-to-Peer Youth Conference.

Three leading North Texas suicide prevention nonprofits—Grace Loncar Foundation, Grant Halliburton Foundation, and The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation—are joining forces to host the 4th Annual Texas-Sized Peer-to-Peer Youth Mental Health Conference, a two-day event dedicated to empowering young people with hope, connection and life-saving peer support skills.

The conference will take place April 1–2, 2026, at the Dr. Marcelo Cavazos Center for Visual & Performing Arts in Arlington, welcoming 2,000 students, educators and volunteers from 32 school districts, charter and private schools, representing more than 80 middle and high schools across North Texas.

This year’s theme, “Let Hope Rise,” emphasizes resilience, empathy, and the power of peer leadership in suicide prevention.

“This conference shows what is possible when organizations, schools, and students come together around a shared mission—saving lives,” Kevin Hall, Grant Halliburton Foundation president, said. “The scale of participation reflects how deeply North Texas schools care about student mental health and peer connection.”

A Dynamic, Youth-Centered Experience

In addition to impactful speakers and peer-led breakout sessions, the 2026 conference will feature special guests and creative programming designed to engage and inspire students, including:

CHAMP, the iconic mascot of the Dallas Mavericks, bringing energy and encouragement to attendees
Fort Worth Opera, integrating the arts into mental health advocacy through performance
Avy Taylor, former Miss Fort Worth, sharing a message of confidence, leadership, and hope

The conference agenda also includes grounding activities such as yoga, interactive breakout sessions, peer leadership panels, and a powerful keynote address by Emma Benoit, a nationally recognized mental health advocate whose story resonates deeply with youth audiences.

Each day is tailored to its audience, with middle school students attending on Wednesday, April 1 and high school students on Thursday, April 2, ensuring age-appropriate, meaningful engagement.

Building a Culture of Peer Support

The peer-to-peer conference equips students with practical tools to:

Recognize signs of emotional distress in themselves and others
Support peers who may be struggling
Reduce stigma around mental health conversations
Strengthen peer leadership and school-based mental health initiatives

By centering youth voices and fostering connection, the conference helps create safer, more compassionate school communities across North Texas.

For more information about the conference, visit jordanelizabethharrisfoundation.org.

Conference sponsors include:

Title Sponsor

Women Inspiring Philanthropy

Gratitude Sponsor

Hope Squad

Kindness Sponsors

Children’s Medical TCHATT
Faith.Fight.Finish by Dak Prescott
Frasher and John Pergande
ThriveWay – Peer Helpers Plus
Vincent Genovese Memorial Foundation

Encouragement Sponsor

Cook Children’s

By T.J. Griffin
Senior Director of Communications