We’re making an impact in the lives of youth 8 – 18.

We’re a community-based non-profit organiztion focused on sponsoring youth programs and activities designed to address juvenile crime, drug abuse, and the high rate of school dropouts.

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WHY GNHYA?

Because every young person deserves a chance to rise above their circumstances and discover their true potential.

We exist to empower youth ages 8 to 18 who are often labeled as “at-risk”—young people facing real challenges, from delinquency to low self-esteem. Through mentoring, academic support, and recreational programs, we help them build confidence, find purpose, and make better choices

Our Programs

Partnering with community-based organizations and schools

By partnering with schools and community organizations, we create safe spaces where these youth feel seen, supported, and inspired to become leaders in their own lives. Your support fuels this transformation—and helps change the trajectory of a generation.

Signature Events

Family Day in the Park and the Juneteenth Parade are two beloved signature events that reflect the enduring legacy of the late Honorable Sylvester Turner and his unwavering commitment to community. Now proudly carried forward by his daughter, Ashley Turner Captain, both events have become long-standing traditions in Acres Homes, a historically under-resourced Complete Communities neighborhood in Northwest Houston.

Our Impact

$172,864

Grants provided to youth programs

9,500

Number of disadvantaged children and youth served

GNYHA provided a total of $172,864 in grants to youth programs and activities serving over 9,500 disadvantaged children and youth throughout Houston. We’ve successfully formed collaborative partnerships with several area schools and more than 40 community based youth organizations and programs aimed at providing prevention and intervention activities for at-risk youth.

Our Story

In Loving Memory of Our Founder, The Honorable Sylvester Turner

The Greater North Houston Youth Alliance (GNHYA) was born from a simple yet powerful belief: every child deserves access to opportunity, support, and joy—regardless of where they come from.

Founded by The Honorable Sylvester Turner, GNHYA exists because of his unwavering love for his community and his deep commitment to investing in its future—its youth. Long before he held office, Sylvester was a young boy growing up in Acres Homes, a neighborhood in Northwest Houston known for its close-knit families, rich culture, and deep-rooted pride—but also for its lack of resources and investment. That upbringing shaped him. It gave him a vision and a mission that he carried with him throughout his life.

He saw how small community-based organizations—many operating with limited funds but limitless heart—were stepping in to provide after-school programs, school supplies, and enriching experiences for kids ages 8 to 18. They were doing the work. But they needed help. And Sylvester was determined to give it.

GNHYA became his way of doing just that.

He used his influence not for status, but for service—raising funds, forming partnerships, and creating a network of support that empowered over 40 grassroots programs across Greater North Houston. With grants ranging from $250 to $5,000, and partnerships with seven area schools, GNHYA touched thousands of young lives—helping them grow educationally, socially, and culturally.

His love for community was especially evident in the signature events he created. Family Fun Day in the Park, held annually in Acres Homes, was a free day of joy for the entire family—filled with music, food, games, and community resources. The Juneteenth Parade became another celebration of culture and pride, where youth played a central role in bringing the event to life. These moments weren’t just about fun—they were about belonging, representation, and legacy.

Sylvester Turner didn’t just build an organization. He built a movement—a living, breathing extension of his lifelong belief that if we invest in our children, we change everything.

Though he is no longer with us in body, his legacy lives on in every backpack handed out, every youth-led performance, every grant awarded, every dance at Family Fun Day, and every drumbeat in the Juneteenth Parade.

At GNHYA, we are committed to honoring his legacy by continuing the work he started. Because he showed us that when you pour love, resources, and belief into young people, the ripple effect lasts for generations.

We are the Greater North Houston Youth Alliance. And we are here because one man believed we could be greater—together.