Hidalgo County is entering one of the most transformative chapters in its history. From explosive economic growth to major investments in education, healthcare, and industry, the Rio Grande Valley is standing on the edge of extraordinary opportunity.
But with opportunity comes responsibility, and as our region evolves, so should our understanding of who deserves a voice in shaping its future.
And that includes our youth.
Recent demographic data reported by the Rio Grande Guardian, based on figures from Allied Consulting Group, tells a powerful story.
This is not a community waiting for its next generation to arrive. That generation is already here.
Despite this reality, young people remain underrepresented in the rooms where long-term decisions about our county are made. While youth are often described as the “leaders of tomorrow,” the truth is that many are already leading today. The question is whether they will be invited to help shape the future they will inherit.
This may also be the key to unlocking one of the region’s most pressing civic challenges: low youth engagement in our democratic process.
National research from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University highlights the consequences of community disconnection among young people. Among youth who did not vote:
Sixty-one percent reported rarely or never interacting in person with their community, compared to 47 percent of those who did vote. Across seventeen different civic activities studied, young people who rarely spend time in community were consistently less likely to participate in civic life.
The data goes even further. Seventy percent of young people who frequently interact with their community say they believe they can make a difference locally.That number drops to 45 percent among those who rarely engage in person, and to just 29 percent among those who never do.
Only 16 percent of young people nationally believe American democracy is working well for their generation. Yet among youth who regularly spend time in community, that number rises to 24 percent. Higher levels of in-person engagement are also associated with greater trust in civic institutions, and research shows that institutional trust strongly correlates with voter participation.
The lesson is clear: civic participation begins with connection.
When young people feel disconnected from their communities, they disengage not only from voting, but from volunteering, organizing, donating, and participating in civic life altogether. Online tools alone are not enough to compensate for a lack of meaningful in-person connection. In fact, young people who rarely interact in person are also less likely to engage online.
If Hidalgo County wants to strengthen democratic participation for the long term, we must begin by strengthening youth connection to community and local institutions.
That is why Hidalgo County should consider establishing a Youth Task Force.
A Youth Task Force would not simply be an act of symbolism. It would be a deliberate, forward-thinking investment in the future of the region. It would give young leaders a formal platform to analyze county issues, offer grounded recommendations, gain civic literacy, and develop the skills needed for meaningful public service. Most importantly, it would create a structured space for connection, mentorship, and institutional trust to grow.
Our region is changing rapidly. The expansion of the UTRGV School of Medicine and its new Cancer and Surgery Center is bringing unprecedented medical opportunity to Hidalgo County. Meanwhile, companies like SpaceX have reshaped the economic landscape of neighboring Cameron County, placing the entire Valley under national and global attention. Politically, the region has become a focal point of competitive elections and shifting demographics, attracting significant outside investment that will shape our long-term policymaking and identity.
Young leaders deserve to be part of these conversations now, not after decisions are already made for them.
But the most important lesson for any young leader is this: it is not enough to demand a seat at the table simply because you are young. You must define why your perspective matters.
A meaningful voice adds relevance, depth, and insight. A meaningful voice brings something to the table that cannot be found elsewhere. That is the responsibility of a young leader, to articulate why their voice is valuable, not simply that they want to be heard.
This is precisely what a Youth Task Force would cultivate. It would help young people define their voice, discover their leadership purpose, understand who they represent, and learn how to contribute strategically to the county’s decision-making process. In return, the county would gain perspectives grounded in the lived experiences and aspirations of an entire generation.
Hidalgo County’s past, present, and future must work together. The leaders who built the institutions we rely on today once took their own first steps into public service. All young people need is the same opportunity: a chance to contribute, a chance to be challenged, and a chance to serve.
Empowering young people is not a radical idea. It is a practical one. A county with nearly half its population under the age of 25 cannot afford to leave those voices out of its planning. If we want a prosperous and unified future, we must create intentional structures that allow young leaders to connect, contribute, and grow.
A Youth Task Force would be that structure.
And it would send a clear message: Hidalgo County believes in the potential of its next generation.
The Valley is changing. The future is approaching. The only question left is whether we will invite our young people to help shape it.
The answer, I believe, should be yes. And the time to begin is now.
Editor's Note: The above guest column was penned by Skyler Howell, president of the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO) at UT-Rio Grande Valley. The column appears in the Rio Grande Guardian with the permission of the author.
