Houston: reVision

What Houston: reVision does

Houston reVision is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2011 and headquartered in the Gulfton neighborhood of Houston, Texas. Its mission is to break the cycle of juvenile justice involvement and homelessness among youth in Harris County by connecting disconnected adolescents with mentors, positive peers, and life-changing resources. The organization delivers services through a portfolio of interconnected programs covering the school-to-prison continuum: the Keeping Kids in School program operates inside Houston Independent School District campuses; Community Programs provide out-of-school-time support at a Drop-In Center in Gulfton; Justice-Based Programs partner with the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department on the Credible Messenger Pilot Program and serve youth detained in juvenile facilities and the adult prison system; reVision LAB uses breaking (breakdancing) as a culturally responsive engagement track; reVision FC fields four soccer teams including one in the UPSL; and Camp Good News provides a free summer camp for children of incarcerated parents. Service delivery rests on the Credible Messenger methodology and trauma-informed care, with a staff of approximately 20 of whom 13 are themselves former clients, creating a self-reinforcing pipeline of mentors with lived experience.

The business model is grant- and donation-funded rather than fee-based, with all youth-facing services provided at no cost. Revenue is assembled from federal sources (HUD Youth Homeless Demonstration Project), state sources (Office of the Governor Criminal Justice Division, Texas Juvenile Justice Department, Texas Department of Criminal Justice), county sources (Harris County Juvenile Probation Department and other Harris County agencies), foundation grants (Episcopal Health Foundation, Impact 100 Fund), and corporate and individual donations (Comcast NBCUniversal, Hess Corporation, Memorial Hermann, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP, among others). Annual reach includes 1,100+ youth served and approximately 450 volunteers engaged, with operational infrastructure hosted at St. Luke's United Methodist Church Gethsemane.

Strategically, reVision operates as a single-city, community-led organization with no disclosed expansion beyond Houston, though its website signals an intent to enable replication through a "start a reVision chapter" pathway. Recent milestones include two State Championships in US Youth Soccer in 2023, the Impact 100 Fund grant award in 2023, the Women of Substance Fundraising Campaign beneficiary selection in 2024, and selection of reVision youth for the FIFA World Cup 26 Player Escort Program. Leadership is anchored by CEO Charles Rotramel, who has worked with disconnected youth since 1985, and COO Carrie Leader, appointed full-time by the United Methodist Church Texas Annual Conference.

Name

Houston: reVision

Legal name

Houston reVision

Website

https://houstonrevision.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Houston reVision is a Houston-based nonprofit founded in 2011 that uses the Credible Messenger methodology and trauma-informed care to connect disconnected youth in Harris County with mentors, peers, and resources across school, community, and juvenile justice settings, serving 1,100+ youth annually free of charge.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Social Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Wraparound Student Support & Case Management Services (At-Risk K–12) (EDAJAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Court/Community School Programs (Diversion, Probation-Linked, Community Day Schools) (EDAJAEAI), Transition Programs (Reentry, Workforce Readiness & Life Skills for At-Risk Youth) (EDAJAEAF), Wraparound & Community-Based Behavioral Support (ABA-Adjacent) (EDAKAHAO)

Keywords

• Youth mentoring services
• Juvenile justice diversion
• Community-based social services
• Trauma-informed youth programs
• Homeless youth outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and Funded Programs: Primary funding from government grants including Criminal Justice Division/Office of the Governor, Texas Juvenile Justice Department, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Youth Homeless Demonstration Project (HUD), and Harris County agencies. Also receives funding from foundations such as Episcopal Health Foundation and Impact 100 Fund.
2. Individual and Corporate Donations: Funding from large individual donors, corporate partners including Comcast NBCUniversal, Hess Corporation, Memorial Hermann, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP, and others. Includes in-kind donations from partners like Gittings Photography.
3. Community Partnerships: Partnerships with churches (St. Luke's United Methodist Church Gethsemane as founding partner hosting offices and drop-in center), schools, and community organizations provide operational support and resources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Houston reVision is a nonprofit that runs community-based mentorship and diversion programs to break the cycle of juvenile justice involvement and homelessness among disconnected youth in Harris County. Core offerings include school-based diversion, Credible Messenger mentoring, a drop-in center for unstably housed youth, breaking dance and soccer programs, and a free summer camp for children of incarcerated parents. All programs are provided at no cost to youth participants.

Product overview

Houston reVision is a nonprofit social services organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs designed to break the cycle of juvenile justice involvement and homelessness among youth in Harris County. The core offerings include: the Keeping Kids in School Program (school-based diversion), Community Programs (out-of-school-time support), Justice-Based Programs (juvenile justice intervention), reVision LAB Breaking Dance/Sport Program (culturally responsive engagement), reVision FC Soccer Program (athletic mentorship), Camp Good News (summer camp for children of incarcerated parents), Drop-In Center services, and CommUnity Nights (prison mentorship). These programs operate through a community kinship model connecting youth with mentors, positive peers, resources, and artistic/athletic opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Camp Good News: A summer camp for children aged 10-15 free to children of incarcerated parents, founded by the Episcopal Diocese of Texas and coordinated by Houston reVision.
• Keeping Kids in School
• reVision LAB
• reVision FC

Products and services

• Keeping Kids in School Program School-based diversion program partnering with Houston Independent School District (HISD) and Harris County Juvenile Probation Department to keep high-risk students engaged in education and out of the juvenile justice system through mentoring, counseling, restorative justice circles, and clinical therapy.
• Community Programs (Out-of-School Time) Out-of-school programming at the Center providing academic assistance, community resource connections, medical appointment scheduling, nutritious meals, and support services for youth ages 16-24.
• Justice-Based Programs Prevention and diversion services for youth involved with or at risk of entering the juvenile justice system, including partnerships with Harris County Juvenile Probation Department and Credible Messenger approach mentoring.
• reVision LAB (Breaking Dance / Sport Program) Culturally responsive breaking (breakdancing) program that uses dance as a school engagement strategy to promote confidence, creativity, discipline, belonging, leadership, and self-regulation for students who may not connect with traditional arts or sports.
• Camp Good News Free summer camp for children aged 10-15 of incarcerated parents, held at Camp Allen in Navasota, Texas, featuring activities including zip lining, archery, swimming, canoeing, and horseback riding.
• reVision FC Soccer Program Soccer program with four teams including one in UPSL for over-18s and three for school-aged youth, with two teams winning State Championships in US Youth Soccer in 2023. A girls' soccer team is also being developed.
• Drop-In Center (Lifeline) Lifeline Drop-In Center for unstably housed youth providing food, clothing, and other basic necessities, operated in the Gulfton neighborhood of Houston.
• CommUnity Nights Monthly youth group experience for young men aged 15-17 in the adult prison system, held on the first Friday of every month.

Quantifiable outcome

• Contributed to steep decline of youth incarcerated in Harris County since 2011
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

39 partnerships are on record, tiered founding partner, core and supporting.

• St. Luke's United Methodist Church Gethsemanefounding partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner hosting Houston reVision offices, drop-in center, and soccer field. Provides critical operational infrastructure for the organization.
• St. Martin's Episcopal Churchfounding partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner providing ongoing support to reVision programs.
• Harris County Juvenile Probation Department (HCJPD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary partner for over ten years. reVision is the primary partner of HCJPD and has contributed to the steep decline of youth incarcerated in Harris County. Collaborates on Credible Messenger Pilot Program.
• Houston Independent School District (HISD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey school district partner for Keeping Kids in School program, helping change disciplinary protocols and adopt programming to keep students in school and out of juvenile justice system.
• Episcopal Diocese of TexascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports Camp Good News for children of incarcerated parents. Founded Camp Good News and coordinates with reVision for program delivery.
• Houston Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides nutritious meals for youth at the Center through Houston Food Bank partnerships.
• BEAR (Be A Resource)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey community partner supporting mentorship and youth services.
• Houston SymphonysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports Mentorship program at Lamar High School through arts engagement.
• St. John the Divine Episcopal ChurchsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports mentorship program at Lamar High School and other reVision initiatives.
• Comcast NBCUniversalsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered with Soccer Forward to deliver grants to Houston reVision, including $600,000 in grants.
• Telemundo Station GroupsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered with Comcast NBCUniversal and Soccer Forward to deliver grants to Houston reVision.
• Texas Juvenile Justice DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner providing referrals and funding for youth diversion programs.
• Texas Department of Criminal JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner providing referrals for youth programs.
• Texas Child Protective ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner providing referrals for at-risk youth services.
• Harris County Children's Services DivisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner providing services to children and families in Harris County.
• Harris County Department of EducationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner supporting educational programs and initiatives.
• Harris County Health DepartmentsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment health partner providing health resources and referrals.
• Houston Health DepartmentsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity health partner providing health resources and referrals for youth.
• Harris County Resources for Adults and ChildrensupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing resources for youth and families.
• Houston Galveston Area Council of GovernmentssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional planning partner supporting community initiatives.
• Covenant House of TexassupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth services organization providing support and referrals.
• YMCA of Greater HoustonsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner hosting community open practice sessions for breaking program at Bellaire Blvd location.
• Connect YMCAsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Houston reVision for ReUnion Breaking Event, hosting Winter Jam 2025.
• South Texas Youth Soccer AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEO Charles Rotramel serves as President; supports youth soccer programs.
• US Youth SoccercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoverning body for youth soccer; reVision teams compete in state championships.
• Common GoalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner referenced in World Football Giving Day collaboration.
• Gittings PhotographysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn-kind donor providing headshots for staff and team members.
• The Way Home Continuum of CaresupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing and homeless services collaborative partner.
• The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDDsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health services partner providing support for youth.
• Legacy Community HealthsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing services and referrals.
• The Montrose CentersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLGBTQ+ community center partner providing support services.
• Workforce SolutionssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment services partner helping connect youth to jobs.
• The Alliance for Multicultural Community ServicessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRefugee and immigrant services partner supporting Gulfton neighborhood youth.
• Partnership for the Advancement and Immersion of Refugees (PAIR) of HoustonsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRefugee services partner supporting immigrant and refugee youth.
• CKW Luxe MagazinesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner supporting women-focused fundraising events.
• Dynamo/Dash CharitiessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSoccer charity partner supporting youth soccer programs.
• Houston Arts AlliancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts funding and support organization.
• Second ServingssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood rescue organization providing meals.
• The Houston Furniture BanksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFurniture assistance for youth transitioning to housing.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Covenant House: National nonprofit providing housing, drop-in services, and wraparound support for homeless and at-risk youth. Direct peer to reVision's Lifeline Drop-In Center and unstably-housed youth programming.
• Roca: Massachusetts-based nonprofit working with justice-involved and high-risk young people using a transformational, relationship-driven model (including elements of credible messenger / lived-experience mentoring). Closest structural peer to reVision's Credible Messenger + trauma-informed approach.
• The Fortune Society: New York-based nonprofit providing comprehensive reentry, mentoring, and supportive services for justice-involved youth and adults. Comparable to reVision's justice-based programming and reentry/transition support.
• Communities In Schools: National nonprofit that embeds site coordinators inside K-12 schools to provide wraparound case management, mentoring, and basic-needs support for at-risk students — directly comparable to reVision's Keeping Kids in School and case-management model.
• YMCA of Greater Houston: Houston-area community youth-services provider and a current reVision partner; offers after-school programming, sports, and youth development that overlaps with reVision's community-based programming footprint in the same geography.
• Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO): National nonprofit providing employment, reentry, and wraparound support for justice-involved individuals. Comparable to reVision's transition, workforce-readiness, and reentry services for justice-involved youth.
• CASES (Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services): NYC nonprofit offering alternative-to-incarceration, juvenile justice diversion, and youth-focused behavioral health programs, closely overlapping reVision's diversion and justice-based offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth-development nonprofit offering after-school sports, arts, mentoring, and case-management-style programming. Overlaps with reVision's Community Programs, reVision LAB breaking program, and reVision FC soccer teams.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: Largest youth mentoring nonprofit in the U.S. While broader in scope (community-based 1:1 mentoring), it directly competes for the same mentor-driven, at-risk youth outcome funding and donor pool as reVision.

Regional players

• Houston Area Urban League: Houston-based regional affiliate providing youth education, workforce, and social services in the same geography as reVision, including mentorship and wraparound case management for at-risk youth.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/revisionhouston
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/houston-revision

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Houston: reVision