About SAYC
SAYC advises Mayor and City Council on important youth issues. SAYC members develop policy recommendations and organize city-wide benefitting youth in our community.
The SAYC is tasked with advising City Council on matters that directly affect local youth, with the intention of valuing and empowering the City's youth voice to provide a unique insight into City issues and problems. SAYC provides an outlet to youth to civically engage with the City through advocacy and community service.
Through ongoing initiatives, public engagement, and collaboration with community partners, SAYC continues to inform policy, promote youth representation in local government, and address issues that matter to San Antonio’s youth.
Teen Mental Health Survey
Currently, in collaboration with Project Worth Teen Ambassadors, the San Antonio Youth Commission is asking all San Antonio youth ages 12 - 19 to participate in the 2026 Teen Mental Health Survey.
This survey was made by young people for young people and will help our San Antonio Youth leaders make suggestions on what would help improve mental health for young people in San Antonio.
- Opening date: Monday, March 2 at 8 a.m.
- Closing date: Thursday, April 30 at 11:59 p.m.
Take the Survey
Accomplishments
2025
The success of the Youth Budget Town Hall prompted Mayor Ron Nirenberg to propose that SAYC host San Antonio's first-ever Youth-Led Mayoral Forum ahead of the 2025 mayoral election. In collaboration with UP Partnership, SAYC and youth from participating organizations, organized a forum that was held April 1, 2025, with over 300 attendees and 12 mayoral candidates present.
The Second annual Youth Budget Town Hall was organized with the San Antonio Youth Commission, Higher Education Student Advisory Board, and NXT Level Pathbuilders and held on August 23, 2025.
2024
On March 23, the San Antonio Youth Commission drafted and approved a statement to address book banning in local public schools. The statement was read at the City of San Antonio's City Council A Session meeting on April 4, 2024.
In August, SAYC held a youth-led budget town hall in partnership with the Higher Education Student Advisory Board and NXT LEVEL Pathbuilders, giving residents ages 12–24 an opportunity to engage in the city's budget process through peer discussions and leadership presentations. The Youth Budget Town Hall is now an annual event part of the City of San Antonio's budget town hall series.
2023
SAYC received funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). SAYC allocated $70,000 of the funding to offer microgrants of up to $3,000. The microgrants fund local projects to support mental health in schools.
2022
SAYC worked with Texas Public Radio and sponsored the Mucho Gusto Wellness Expo. The Mucho Gusto Wellness Expo was a free wellness event for young people 12-19. SAYC also participated in the first Teen Mental Health First Aid training from the Center for Health Care Services.
2021
SAYC and Project Worth Teen Ambassadors made the first citywide Teen Mental Health Survey. The survey results were important to promote youth voices. SAYC used the results to make recommendations. They presented to the Deputy City Manager, City Council, and the Superintendents of Bexar County.
2019
In August, SAYC presented policy recommendations to the Community Health and Equity Committee (CHEC) on the following:
- Teen Mental Health
- Gun violence
- Transportation
- Education
2018
SAYC created a public policy agenda to share with the City Council. The policy agenda focused on youth issues in the city.
Become a Member
Apply
Eligibility
- Applicants must be in high school during the upcoming school year.
- You may only apply for the district you live in or for the mayoral position. Find your council district.
Application
- Find the “San Antonio Youth Commission” and click on “see all”.
- Check one box for the districts you’d like to apply for.
- Please only select the district you live in and/or the Mayoral District.
- Please only select one spot within the district you are applying for not both (this creates an extra application). For example, if you are applying for District 1 and the Mayoral seat, check one box next to District 1 and check one box next to the Mayoral spot. Please do not check both boxes next to District 1 and both boxes next to the Mayoral spot.
- Scroll back up to the top of the screen and click on “Apply”.
Apply Now
NOTE: For technical help with the application, please call the Office of the City Clerk at 210-207-7253.
Members
SA Youth Commission
| District |
Name |
|
District 1
|
Audrey Samora
|
|
District 1
|
Dayre Fernandez
|
|
District 2
|
Yaniv King
|
|
District 2
|
vacant
|
|
District 3
|
Tabitha De La Rosa
|
|
District 3
|
vacant
|
|
District 4
|
vacant
|
|
District 4
|
Elijah Emmanuel Alviar
|
|
District 5
|
Trinity Lopez
|
|
District 5
|
Leana Morales
|
|
District 6
|
Johnavan Guerrero
|
|
District 6
|
vacant
|
|
District 7
|
Arpita Patel
|
|
District 7
|
Robert Ximenes
|
|
District 8
|
Harini Logan
|
|
District 8
|
Divya Beeram
|
|
District 9
|
Tyler Charles Piesman
|
|
District 9
|
vacant
|
|
District 10
|
Serena Walker
|
|
District 10
|
Cabrini Jude Bustos
|
|
Mayoral
|
Jewel Morin
|
|
Mayoral
|
Dane Bluhm
|
Projects
SAYC works on projects as a commission and within subcommittees. Their work addresses important issues impacting youth in San Antonio.
On March 23, 2024, SAYC drafted and approved a statement to address book banning in local public schools. The statement was read at the City of San Antonio’s City Council A Session meeting on April 4, 2024.
Read SAYC’s statement on banned books(PDF, 276KB).
Meetings
For meeting dates and times, please visit the SASpeakUp SAYC website.