Mar 01 2026 - May 31 2026
Keep Texas Beautiful Conference
Who:
Attendees include KTB affiliate staff and volunteers, rural recycling communities, city and county government staff, corporate partners, and anyone interested in learning more about making a positive impact in their community!
What:
The Keep Texas Beautiful Conference is the primary statewide educational event for community leaders to network, gain knowledge on environmental issues, recycling, and litter prevention, and recognize community excellence in creating healthy and sustainable places to call home.
The KTB Conference supports connections to others working in the field and high-quality professional development for KTB community partners (staff and volunteers) government staff, elected officials, and industry leaders.
The KTB Conference:
- Celebrates and honors the achievements of community leaders of all ages, along with civic groups, businesses, and government entities
- Offers a variety of educational sessions that present adaptable, innovative strategies for community beautification, waste reduction, and litter prevention, empowering participants to enhance their surroundings
- Provides exceptional networking opportunities and dynamic presentations from experts and passionate advocates for community improvement and environmental sustainability
When:
May 12-14, 2026
Where:
Online for all Texans
Pricing:
$150 Early Bird Jan 21 – Mar 6
$175 Regular Mar 7 – May 5
$210 Late May 6-14
Presenting Sponsor
Schedule at a Glance
Tuesday, May 12th
8:00 – 8:30 am OPEN
8:30 – 9:30 am WELCOME & KEYNOTE
9:40 – 10:40 am BREAKOUT SESSIONS
10:40 – 10:50 am BREAK
10:50 – 11:50 am BREAKOUT SESSIONS
11:50 am – 12:00 pm BREAK
12:00 – 12:30 pm CLOSING SESSION
Wednesday, May 13th
8:00 – 8:30 am OPEN
8:30 – 9:15 am AFFILIATE RECOGNITION
9:15- 10:15 am NETWORKING
10:20 – 11:20 am BREAKOUT SESSIONS
11:20 – 11:30 am BREAK
11:30 am – 12:30 pm BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Thursday, May 14th
8:00 – 8:30 am OPEN
8:30 – 9:30 am PLENARY SESSION
9:30- 9:40 am BREAK
9:40 – 10:40 am BREAKOUT SESSIONS
10:40 – 10:50 am BREAK
10:50 – 11:50 am BREAKOUT SESSIONS
11:50 am – 12:00 pm BREAK
12:00 – 12:30 pm CELEBRATE GCAA WINNERS/CLOSING SESSION
Designing the Texas Outdoors: Parks that Work for Communities
Every Texan carries a story about the outdoors—whether it’s a childhood park, a stretch of creek behind a neighborhood, or the trees that shade a city block in summer. These places shape us quietly, becoming part of our memories, our health, and our sense of home. And yet, more than 9 million Texans live without a park close enough to reach on foot. Their stories are still waiting to be written.
For Molly Morgan, landscape architect and Texas State Director of the Trust for Public Land, this gap is both a challenge and an invitation. Her work asks a simple but transformative question: What changes when every person in a community has access to a nearby greenspace?
Over the past decade, Molly has helped create more than 20 parks across Dallas, many in neighborhoods that had been overlooked for generations. Through these projects, she has seen how a thoughtfully designed greenspace can calm a street, cool a hot block, spark a gathering place, or become the first safe outdoor space a child discovers. She believes that parks are not amenities—they are everyday infrastructure that shape health, safety, and connection.
In this keynote, Molly will take us inside the process of designing parks with communities, not just for them. She will share stories from projects like the Judge Charles R. Rose Community Park, where nature-based design, neighborhood leadership, and long-range vision converged to bring more than 4,000 residents within a 10-minute walk of a park for the first time. She will also preview the upcoming Woody Branch Park project, offering a glimpse into how public space evolves when local priorities, environmental solutions, and cultural identity align.
Her message is simple: when we expand access to the outdoors, we expand what’s possible for Texans—no matter their zip code.
About Molly Morgan
Molly Morgan is the Texas State Director and Associate Vice President at the Trust for Public Land. A trained landscape architect, she leads award-winning greenspace projects rooted in deep community partnership and environmental design. Her work across Dallas has been recognized for advancing public health, safety, and economic opportunity while strengthening the connection between people and place. She continues to champion innovative park design throughout Texas, ensuring that every community has access to a welcoming and meaningful outdoor space.
Sessions
Tuesday, May 12
8:30 – 9:30
Through projects across Dallas, Molly Morgan explores how equitable access to parks strengthens health, connection, and community life.
Keynote presenter: Molly Morgan, Trust for Public Land
Plenary Session
9:40 – 10: 30
Breakout Sessions (Choose One)
Explore how schools are transforming cafeteria waste through compostable materials and environmental education. Featuring the Hernandez Elementary pilot, this session shares how a simple shift from styrofoam to compostables reduced waste while engaging students in real-world sustainability—and how similar partnerships can be replicated in other communities.
Presenters: Greg Behl, Texas Disposal Systems and Amy Thomaides, City of San Marcos/Keep San Marcos Beautiful
Breakout Session
See how the Waco Green Business program grew from idea to impact, supporting local businesses while advancing sustainability goals. Participants will gain practical insights on designing programs that businesses want to join—and that strengthen both the local economy and environmental outcomes.
Presenter: Carole Fergusson, Keep Waco Beautiful
Breakout Session
10:50 – 11:50
Breakout Sessions (Choose One)
Explore how Keep Texas Beautiful affiliates are developing creative programs that make a difference in their communities. This session features real-world examples, lessons learned, and a panel discussion with affiliate leaders—offering practical ideas you can adapt and bring back to your own work.
Presenters: Amanda Maron, Keep Fort Worth Beautiful and Megan Childers, Keep Friendswood Beautiful
Breakout Session
Communities can support biodiversity by planting native species and rethinking everyday landscapes. This session introduces the Homegrown National Park initiative and shares practical tools and ecological principles to inspire local action.
Presenter: Krista De Cooke, Homegrown National Park
Breakout Session
12:00 – 12:30
Texas has some of the highest shoreline litter levels in the country—and young people are helping lead the response.
This session shares insights from the EPA-funded Making WAVES campaign, including youth focus groups and litter research, and previews a statewide art and slogan contest designed to spark a student-led cleanup movement across Texas.
Presenter: Kirsten Sorensen, Keep Texas Beautiful
Plenary Session
Wednesday, May 13
8:30 – 9:15
Join us as we celebrate the outstanding work of Keep Texas Beautiful affiliates across the state. This session honors communities that have gone above and beyond—recognizing Gold Star and Silver Star affiliates for their commitment to excellence, impact, and continued leadership in keeping Texas beautiful.
Plenary Session
9:15 – 10:15
Connect with fellow attendees from across Texas in a relaxed, informal setting. This networking session offers the chance to share ideas, spark new partnerships, and build relationships with others passionate about keeping Texas beautiful.
Plenary Session
10:20 – 11:20
Breakout Sessions (Choose One)
Explore Youth Action Central, a new platform designed to empower students in grades 6–12 through interactive environmental resources. This session includes a guided walkthrough and practical ideas for integrating youth engagement into local programs and partnerships.
Presenter: Katie Felberg, Keep America Beautiful
Breakout Session
Discover how communities can move from a “use and discard” model to a more circular approach to waste. This session explores innovative partnerships, brand-funded recycling programs, and practical strategies to expand access and reduce hard-to-recycle materials.
Presenter: Eric Ascalon, TerraCycle
Breakout Session
11:30 – 12:30
Breakout Sessions (Choose One)
Go beyond basic recruitment to build a volunteer program that lasts. This session explores strategies for engaging and retaining volunteers, with practical tools and communication approaches that turn participants into long-term advocates.
Presenter: Cindy Harris, City of Grapevine Parks & Recreation Department and Executive Director of Keep Grapevine Beautiful
Breakout Session
Learn how shared school and park spaces can expand access to green space through strong partnerships. This session highlights the City of Austin’s work with Austin ISD, including lessons learned, operational challenges, and strategies for equitable community access.
Presenter: Melody Alcazar, Austin Parks & Recreation Department
Breakout Session
Thursday, May 14
8:30 – 9:30
Join Leslie Uppinghouse of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center to explore the big picture of land stewardship and what it means to care for the landscapes around us. Drawing on more than 25 years of ecological research, this session examines land management practices such as prescribed fire and mowing—and how these approaches can be adapted into scalable strategies for caring for the land in your own community.
Presenter: Leslie Uppinghouse, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Plenary Session
9:40 – 10:40
Breakout Sessions (Choose One)
Hear directly from Texas affiliates about how their youth programs are making an impact in local communities. Panelists will share real-world examples—from Green Teams to cleanups to scholarship programs—along with free resources you can use to strengthen your own efforts.
Presenters:
- Jonathan Chitty, Keep Mesquite Beautiful
- Emily Young, Keep Pearland Beautiful
- Carole Fergusson, Keep Waco Beautiful
- Ricardo Valverde, Young Texan Ambassador (KTB)
Breakout Session
The RETREET program is helping communities recover from disaster by replanting lost trees. This session features affiliate pilot communities, alongside Keep America Beautiful, with insights on adapting the toolkit and getting involved locally.
Presenters: Jerí Irby, Keep America Beautiful and Julie Masters, Keep Dickinson Beautiful
Breakout Session
10:50 – 11:50
Breakout Sessions (Choose One)
Explore how communities can leverage the Texas Parks and Wildlife Local Park Grant Program to fund playgrounds, green spaces, and destination parks. This session shares real-world examples, partnership strategies, and tips for building competitive grant applications.
Presenter: Kara Escajeda, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Breakout Session
12:00 – 12:30
Celebrate this year’s GCAA winners and the inspiring work happening in communities across Texas. This closing session honors their achievements and offers a moment to reflect on the connections, ideas, and momentum built throughout the conference.
Plenary Session
Thank You
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Upcoming Events
May 01 2026 - Jun 04 2026
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May 02 2026
Spring Clean-Up – Richwood Community Garage Sale
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