Hillsboro teens and young adults can earn community service hours, grab free meals and help shape a 50-year regional plan at Future Fest on Saturday, Aug. 15, at Portland State University.

The Hillsboro School District posted the event on its news feed Wednesday, Aug. 12, encouraging local youth ages 14 to 24 to register for the free, all-day gathering. Input collected at Future Fest will feed directly into Oregon Metro's Future Vision, a long-range plan covering land use, transportation, housing, climate and the economy across the three-county region that includes Washington County.

That means the ideas Hillsboro students bring Saturday could influence policies affecting their own schools and neighborhoods for decades.

The event runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in PSU's Smith Building, 3rd floor, 1825 SW Broadway, Portland. Organizers say participants don't need to stay the full day but recommend attending either the complete morning or afternoon session.

The morning includes a "Headline the Future" workshop. Afternoon deep-dive tracks cover housing and community stability, youth voice in decision-making, climate and nature, and culture and belonging. Live art by muralist Alex Chiu, theater performer Liz Hayden and music by DJ Luvjonez round out the day alongside a screen printing station.

Free catered breakfast, lunch and snacks are included.

Metro's charter, approved by voters in 1992, requires the agency to adopt a Future Vision covering at least 50 years. The last one was published in 1995. The new version's public engagement process runs through May 2027, and Future Fest is one of the first youth-focused events in that effort.

Metro Councilor Juan Carlos González, who chairs the Future Vision Commission, framed the stakes in March when Metro launched the project: "Think about how much our home has changed in the last 50 years — what do we want it to be in 2077?"

Hillsboro sits in Washington County, one of three counties under Metro's regional planning authority. Decisions shaped by the Future Vision will directly affect local land use, transit routes and housing policy.

Registration is required at oregonmetro.gov. Spanish-language registration assistance is available by calling Gloria Pinzon at 971-865-0559. Language interpretation and ADA accommodations can be requested on the registration form.

The event was planned by Metro's Future Vision Youth Committee in partnership with Next Up Oregon and Blueprint Foundation.