Day 2
Partner Convening + Explore Brownsville
Thursday, October 22, 2026 | Brownsville, Texas
Come Early Enough to Go Deeper
Day 2 moves beyond a traditional conference schedule. Registered Summit attendees can take part in focused stakeholder conversations, Experience Brownsville, local site visits, and close the day with an evening centered on culture, remembrance, art, and connection in our Noche de Cultura.
Important: Day 2 activities are for registered VOCES Health Summit attendees.
Some activities require advance sign-up due to limited space. After registering for the Summit, attendees will receive a separate Day 2 sign-up form for the morning stakeholder sessions and nonprofit/community site visits.
Early Arrival + Summit Check-In
Out-of-town attendees can arrive, settle in, and complete early Summit check-in before Thursday activities. Additional check-in will also be available at certain sessions.
Everhome Suites Brownsville
October 21, 2026
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
3215 Galeno Crossing,
Brownsville, TX 78526
Nonprofit Site Visits
Go beyond the meeting room and see community work in action. VOCES will offer a curated series of small-group visits highlighting local history, public health, community development, wellness, nonprofit leadership, and arts and culture.
The Downtown Brownsville Walking Tour is tentative and will be added to registration once confirmed.
Brownsville + surrounding community sites
October 22, 2026
12:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
| Time | Site / Building | Host | Address | What attendees will experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00–12:30 PM | UTRGV Cueto Building | UTRGV Nonprofit Resource Center | 1301 E. Madison St., Brownsville, TX 78520* | Visit the historic Cueto Building and learn more about the story and significance of the space, its connection to Brownsville, and its role in UTRGV’s community-facing work. The visit will be hosted by the UTRGV Nonprofit Resource Center, which supports the growth and sustainability of nonprofits throughout the Rio Grande Valley. University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley |
| 12:00–1:00 PM | Proyecto Juan Diego | Proyecto Juan Diego | 3910 Paredes Line Rd., Brownsville, TX 78526 | Meet the team behind Proyecto Juan Diego and learn how this community-based nonprofit works with families through health and wellness, education, family support, civic engagement, and other services. The visit will provide an inside look at its community-centered model and the populations it serves. Proyecto Juan Diego |
| 1:00–2:30 PM | BTX HEALTH Center | City of Brownsville Department of Health, Wellness & Animal Services | 1325 E. Ringgold St., Brownsville, TX 78520 | Explore BTX Health and learn more about the City of Brownsville’s approach to health and wellness. The visit will highlight how the City has translated lessons from the COVID-19 response into a broader focus on prevention, wellness, chronic-disease risk, and supporting a healthier workforce. Brownsville, TX |
| 1:30–2:30 PM | Cannery Public Market | Brownsville Wellness Coalition | 1700 E. 6th St., Brownsville, TX 78520 | Tour the Cannery Public Market and hear from the Brownsville Wellness Coalition about the history and process behind bringing the Cannery to life, its vision for the future, and its role in expanding healthy-food access, wellness programming, community connection, and local resources. Brownsville, TX |
| 3:00–4:00 PM | Brownsville Performing Arts Academy / George Ramirez Performing Arts Academy (1912 Stegman Building) | Revival of Cultural Arts (ROCA) | 543 E. 11th St., Brownsville, TX 78520 | Experience one of Brownsville’s cultural spaces and learn about ROCA’s work using music, dance, visual arts, performance, and cultural programming to engage and strengthen the community. The visit will showcase both the organization’s work and the historic space it calls home. Revival of Cultural Arts |
| 4:30–5:30 PM — TENTATIVE | Historic Market Square Event Hall / Downtown Brownsville Walking Tour | Host TBD | Market Square / Downtown Brownsville — exact meeting point TBD | Take a guided walk through the Market Square area and surrounding downtown streets, exploring Brownsville’s history, culture, architecture, public art, and murals. This experience is still being finalized and will be confirmed separately. Brownsville Historical Association already maintains a Downtown & Market Square walking-tour route, which may be useful context as the final route is developed. Brownsville Historical Association |
Advance sign-up required.
Site visits are small-group experiences with limited capacity. Because several visits overlap, attendees will be able to select the experiences that best fit their interests and schedule. Space will be confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Transportation:
Attendees are responsible for transportation to and from site visits unless otherwise noted. Additional arrival, parking, and meeting-point instructions will be provided to confirmed participants before the Summit.
Explore Brownsville
Make Brownsville part of your Summit experience. Attendees can use the Explore Brownsville Visitor Guide and Downtown Passport to discover local dining, small businesses, cultural and historic destinations, and other community experiences at their own pace.
For attendees not participating in morning sessions, Explore Brownsville can begin as early as 9:00 AM. Those attending morning sessions can continue exploring afterward.
No additional RSVP is required for the self-guided Explore Brownsville experience.
Downtown Brownsville + participating locations
October 21, 2026
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Download the BTX Downtown Passport to learn more and experience Brownsville!
BTX Downtown Passport is a guide to exploring the most interesting aspects of Brownsville, TX. Sign up is available.
Executive Sessions + Community Leadership Roundtables
Start the day with focused, facilitated conversations bringing together stakeholders from public health, healthcare, academia, nonprofit organizations, government, community-based organizations, and other sectors. These sessions are designed to move beyond presentations and create space to identify shared priorities, exchange what is working, surface gaps, strengthen relationships, and explore strategic next steps.
The morning will include a dedicated public health department conversation as well as multi-sector leadership sessions with guided activities and prompts.
*Thank you to the UTRGV Nonprofit Resource Center and BCIC for allowing us to use their venues.
UTRGV Cueto Building & eBridge Center
October 21, 2026
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
1301 E. Madison St.,
Brownsville, TX 78520
Noche de Cultura
The experience is designed to honor the people, stories, and legacies that continue to shape our families and communities – while creating space for Summit attendees to experience Brownsville through culture and community.
RSVP: Attendees indicate interest in the ROCA evening experience during Summit registration. No additional Day 2 RSVP is required. Approximate capacity: 100 attendees.
Community Altar Submissions: Registered attendees and community members may submit a photo and name of someone they would like honored in the VOCES Community Altar.
ROCA 629 Collective
October 22, 2026
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
629 E. 11th St.,
Brownsville, TX 78520
More Than a Conference
Day 2 is for attendees who want to go deeper.
Use Thursday to:
- Meet peers before the main Summit begins
- Have longer conversations than a conference break allows
- Compare approaches across organizations and sectors
- Learn what other communities and institutions are trying
- Discover ideas worth bringing back to your own work
- Build relationships with potential collaborators
- Experience the community and culture surrounding the Summit
You are not coming to Brownsville to solve someone else’s problems.
You are coming to learn from people doing meaningful work, share what you have learned in your own organization, and leave with stronger relationships and new perspectives.
Plan Your Stay in Brownsville
Make the most of your time at the VOCES Health Summit. Explore our official hotel accommodations and discover restaurants, attractions, tours, and more throughout Brownsville.
Your official discounted hotel partner and booking instructions.