Local Youth Group Brings Power to the Teens

San Angelo now has a resource specifically for teens: Youth Empowerment in Action (YEA), a youth-led program founded by Sierra Mullan that aims to fill a gap in teen-specific support and leadership opportunities in the community. 

Origin Story

YEA was launched in 2024. It started with a brainstorming session, and weekly groups have met ever since. 

Sierra’s background in social work and college research on empowerment-based youth development shaped the organization’s strengths-based approach. Her belief is that leadership should be accessible for everyone – including teens, who are often left out of community service planning. She also wants to give teens a place to feel like they belong. 

“I think a lot of the time youth feel like ‘no one wants to listen to me,’” she said. “Now, they’re being told, that your voice matters here.”

What It’s All About

YEA follows a for teens, by teens model. The program serves ages 13-18, teaching leadership skills and empowering participants to take meaningful action in their communities. 

“We teach these skills that help build empowerment on an individual level,” Sierra said. “But we want to bring that to a community-wide angle, too.”

Foundational pillars of the organization include:

Lead and Learn: leadership development, team-building, community building.

Support and Strengthen: teen-led events and creating a sense of belonging. 

Voice and Vision: leadership in advocacy and decision-making.

Sierra credits the teams of teens and specific contributors, such as Natasha Gurrola, Alex Robles, and Gladys Vallejo.

Mullan said that future events and projects include parent/teen trivia nights, along with preliminary plans for open mics and other creative projects. Volunteer work with Mad Mouse Zoodio at the Chicken Farm Art Center, or with Concho Valley Paws; and says that several members of the group already volunteer their time in coalitions around town such as the Youth Advisory Group and Methodist Healthcare Ministries Community Council.

Looking Forward 

The organization is working toward its 501(c)3 status and hopes to have the board fully built in the coming months. Future ideas for the team include community projects, a possible young adult version of the program, and a formal youth action committee.