By Loretta Fulton

It’s a natural fit for Ben Siburt, a longtime former minister at Highland Church of Christ.

As executive director of Youth Voice, a drop-in center for Abilene teens, Ben is answering the call to serve that he first experienced as a youngster.

“I grew up in a family with parents that used their lives to serve others, and it is all I have really known,” he said.

Youth Voice, a nonprofit agency, is housed in the former fire station—later an events venue—at 140 Mulberry St. Youth Voice originated in the old Thrifty Nickel building at 1634 N. 1st St., which it still owns, but obtained the former events center on Mulberry Street in the summer of 2023.

The public got to see the building and meet the teens served by Youth Voice during an open house in early December. The Youth Voice website has an extensive outline of the agency’s mission and purpose, but it can be boiled down to one simple statement made by Ben:

“Our hope is that teens at Youth Voice come to feel their worth, fuel their purpose, and find hope.”

Mary Claire Siburt, Ben Siburt, and Judy Siburt enjoy an open house at Youth Voice in December. Ben is executive director of Youth Voice. Photos by Loretta Fulton

Ben Siburt Bio
Current position: Executive Director Youth Voice
Hometown: Tyler, Texas (Lived in Abilene 28 years total, so it is home too)
Family: Wife Emme Siburt (Abilene High Principal); Caroline 19, freshman at Baylor; Mary Claire 15, sophomore at Abilene High School
Education: Bachelors Abilene Christian University, Master of Divinity ACU, Doctor of Ministry (Church/Nonprofit Leadership) Southern Methodist University
Previous professional employment: Church Ministry 2004-2021. 2011-2021 Highland Church in Abilene
Community involvement: Youth Voice is the main involvement now because to manage nonprofits in Abilene well means to engage the community in a myriad of ways. 

Q You have an obvious call to service. At what age did that calling become evident to you?
A I grew up in a family with parents that used their lives to serve others, and it is all I have really known. My father as a professor, minister, therapist, and regular member of nonprofit boards. My mother as a guidance counselor in local schools. In high school our youth minister on a mission trip to Mexico pulled me aside to encourage me to work with helping people because I could connect with them with ease and intentionality. As a 20-year-old, I worked as a chaplain intern in the medical center in Houston. That summer of serving people in crisis, several supervisors that I worked for pulled me aside to encourage me to work helping people. I always find the deepest meaning and calling in the self-emptying work of Jesus. In that work you find yourself by losing yourself for the sake of others. 

Q What process did you and others go through to determine a need for Youth Voice?
A During 2020 one of our board members began the process of listening to service providers across our city and our state that worked with housing and food insecure teenagers. Those individual voices formed a chorus that sang the same song. Teenagers in Abilene needed a safe and loving place that they could regularly attend. A place that would care for them and meet needs and also hold them accountable to step into the best versions of themselves and into a positive and hope-filled future. One truth learned in that process, that is still true, is that teenagers below the age of 18 that experience the loss of a safe and stable house have very few, if any, options of places to stay. 

Q Where were you originally located? When did you move into your current location?
A We were originally located at 1634 N. 1^st St. (old Thrifty Nickel building). We still own that building. The current building at 140 Mulberry became available during the summer of 2023 and our board moved to secure it. 

Q What ages are eligible to come to Youth Voice?
A Middle school and high school students experiencing crises in their lives or food or housing insecurity. 

Q How did you identify teens to reach out to? (AISD, other nonprofits?)
A AISD staff (social workers, crisis counselors, administrators, and teachers) all refer teens that could benefit from joining the Youth Voice family. The teens also will invite their friends and family members. Local nonprofits and the juvenile justice system will also occasionally refer teens to Youth Voice. 

Q How did you reach out to them? (For example, through school counselors, law enforcement?)
A We held a series of meetings where over 30 providers or organizations that work with teens in Abilene were invited. We listened, developed relationships, and shared what we hoped for the drop-in center. That network is how we spread and reached out to teens. After the first group of relationships were formed, then new teens are connected to Youth Voice consistently through the methods described earlier. 

Q Are any teens allowed to come or do they need to go through an application process?
A So far, any teen that aligns with our mission is allowed to come. We might reach capacity soon and will have to establish a temporary waiting list until we can expand our capacity. 

Youth Voice board member Madelyn Hutson distributes information during open house in December.

Q What programming do you offer, if any? (For example, life coaching, how to apply for a job, how to write a resume.)
A We offer regular programming through groups that discuss social skills, addiction prevention, Bible studies, testimonies, etc. We make school a priority and will help all teens with school work. We help connect our older students to jobs, and also help with transportation to and from work. 

Q Is there a set schedule every day or is there free time?
A Yes, we have a set schedule every day. It is consistent and yet not rigid. The students get to the center between 3:30 and 5 depending on their schedules. They will get snacks and enter into school work, time with friends, arts and crafts, or outside games. Groups will begin around 5 to 5:15 and go until 6 when dinner is served. After dinner there will either be free time for video games or board games. Sometimes we use that time for other programming like a guest sharing their personal journey. 

Q What recreational facilities are available?
A We have a basketball goal and games that the teens can engage with. 

Q How do teens get to the center if they need transportation?
A Teens are able to ride school buses from their campus to the drop-in center. The Youth Voice van picks up around 15-20 teens each night from their campuses. We also take them home in the evenings. Some are brought by their guardians. 

December open house at Youth Voice.

Q How are you funded? Do you have any fundraisers coming up?
A We are funded by private donations and by local foundations. We are also a United Way organization and receive funding from them. The next fundraising event will be Abilene Gives day hosted by the Community Foundation of Abilene. 

Q Do you have plans for expansion, either in physical size or programming?
A We hope the station building at 140 Mulberry gives us the capacity to continue to grow and help the hundreds of teens in the demographic we are working to serve. The growth will also mean additional adult volunteers and mentors to help grow in productive ways. We also hope in the future to add facilities for overnight beds to help houseless teens in crisis. 

Q Anything else you wish to add: We chose the name Youth Voice because the voice of the teens is primary to our mission. The teens finding their own voice as well as finding a loving community that honors their voice. Our hope is that teens at Youth Voice come to feel their worth, fuel their purpose, and find hope.