April 1-2 in Arlington, Texas

The conference will take place April 1-2, 2026, at the Dr. Marcelo Cavazos Center for Visual & Performing Arts in Arlington, Texas, welcoming approximately 1,500 students, educators, and volunteers from 22 school districts, charter and private schools, representing more than 55 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¡ªsaving lives,¡± said leadership from the three partner foundations. ¡°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:

¡ñ        CHAMP, the iconic mascot of the Dallas Mavericks, bringing energy and encouragement to attendees

¡ñ        Fort Worth Opera, integrating the arts into mental health advocacy through performance

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 high school students attending on April 1st and middle students on April 2nd, ensuring age-appropriate, meaningful engagement.

Building a Culture of Peer Support

The Peer-to-Peer Conference equips students with practical tools to:

¡ñ        Recognize signs of emotional distress in themselves and others

¡ñ        Support peers who may be struggling

¡ñ        Reduce stigma around mental health conversations

¡ñ        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.

The conference sponsors include:

Title Sponsor

¡ñ        Women Inspiring Philanthropy

Gratitude Sponsor

¡ñ        Hope Squad

Kindness Sponsors

¡ñ        Children¡¯s Medical TCHATT

¡ñ        Faith.Fight.Finish by Dak Prescott

¡ñ        Frasher and John Pergande

¡ñ        ThriveWay ¨C Peer Helpers Plus

¡ñ        Vincent Genovese Memorial Foundation

Encouragement Sponsor

¡ñ        Cook Children¡¯s