-
From theCEO
At Think Together, we have always been guided by a simple yet powerful mission: to partner with schools to change the odds for kids. Over the past year, this mission has taken on even greater importance as we embarked on a journey to amplify our impact and ensure that every student in California has access to the opportunities they deserve.
This year marks a pivotal moment for us. In June, we completed our new Strategic Impact Plan, setting the course for Think Together to evolve beyond expanded learning programs into a force that drives systemic change across school districts. Our vision is clear: that demographics will no longer determine student outcomes, and all students in California—particularly those from historically marginalized communities—will graduate with all life options available to them.
To realize the full potential of our vision, Think Together has set bold goals to achieve by 2029—doubling our footprint and reach of expanded learning programs across California while scaling our impact portfolio to reach more students to make a lasting positive change to entire communities of children and youth.
As we constantly reflect and evolve, we’ve refined our program design to foster student agency, adventure and academic achievement while promoting equity, connection and well-being among peers.
With Orenda Education, led by Dr. Robin Avelar La Salle, we work together with educators to build equity-driven systems that ensure all students have access to a premium education. Our new initiatives, including the launch of a new leadership institute led by Dr. Paul Gothold, will equip district leaders to create equity-driven school systems. This is complemented by the work of the California Schools Talent Collaborative (CSTC), which addresses staffing shortages in districts, enabling thousands of students to access essential programs. Through these and other efforts, we are helping schools meet the conditions that foster supportive, student-centered environments.
None of this work would be possible without partnership, trust, and generosity. As we reflect on the progress we’ve made, we are more energized than ever to continue building a world where every student has the chance to thrive.
Randy Barth
Founder and CEO
-
From theBoard Chair
It has been quite a remarkable stretch at Think Together. Since the pandemic, the organization has tripled in size, creating both challenges and opportunities. We’ve also seen the challenges our students face increase significantly.
In response to this, the board of directors is in the process of refining its focus on how it supports the organization, as together we seek to meet this moment.
With a clear focus on the next five years through the recently adopted Strategic Impact Plan, we are committed to scaling our programs, expanding our partnerships, and reaching even more students across California to drive positive educational outcomes.
As Think Together continues to evolve, we find ourselves at a defining moment—one where embracing change is essential to expanding our impact, while remaining steadfast in our mission. Change brings new challenges, but it also opens doors to innovation, partnership, and growth that can help us reach even more students across California.
As Think Together continues to grow, now is the time to double down on our efforts. With your support, we can provide essential resources, enhance academic outcomes, and create opportunities for students to graduate with a full range of life options. Together, we are building a future where every child has the chance to thrive, regardless of circumstance or background.
Thank you for partnering with us on this journey and for your commitment to changing the odds for the next generation of students.
Dan Young
Chair, Board of Directors


A Year in Review
-
Over the past year, Think Together embarked on an intensive strategic planning process to define our impact over the next 25 years. This plan has already launched changes in the organization’s infrastructure and business process to allow Think Together more efficient and effective ways to deliver on our mission.
-
Think Together is grateful to our donors for their generosity this past year. It is critical to our mission to engage the philanthropic community to allow us to truly close the opportunity gap for kids in our schools. New this year was a partnership with AT&T whose innovative platform, The Achievery, provided programming to older youth, a segment that is typically granted fewer public resources. Also, we continue to thank and honor the generous contributions of partners like Honda, LA84 Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, and Boeing.
-
In 2023, Think Together launched the California Schools Talent Collaborative, a staffing services organization to support K-12 districts. With the expansion of state funding such as the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, districts expressed the desire for help staffing large-scale programs that served more students. In its first year, Talent Collaborative partnered with Santa Ana Unified School District to successfully hire, train, and manage a staff that provided programs to 1,800 students, moving them off after school program waiting lists. Seven new district partners have been engaged in the new fiscal year.
-
Think Together continues to innovate and scale programs to engage students and increase attendance for schools struggling with chronic absenteeism. Programs—such as Think Together’s Enrichment Accelerators in subjects like STEM, arts and sports—provide state-wide access to regional expertise, including Orange County School of the Arts, Street Soccer USA, and more.
-
Digital platforms, AI, and remote workspaces are the future, and Think Together embraces the opportunity. The organization is building a stronger, scalable foundation of digital tools that add value to our in-person programs and elevate the digital space to reach more educators efficiently with expertise in equity-driven systems change. We are building an improved technology experience for our staff and partners to fulfill our mission.
-
Think Together continues to innovate ways to close the opportunity gap for students in California. We have a renewed focus with our Strategic Impact Plan with the goal to impact more students and ensure that all of life’s opportunities are available to them upon graduation from high school.

Our Reach

CA State Map 2024

Bay Area
Santa Clara County
Think Together
- Alum Rock USD
- San Jose USD
- Oak Grove SD
Orenda District
- Campbell Union HSD
Alameda County
- Newark USD
Monterey County
Orenda District
- Salinas City ESD*
San Joaquin County
Orenda District
- Lincoln USD
Santa Barbara County
Orenda Districts
- Lompoc USD
- Santa Maria Joint UHSD
- Guadalupe USD*
- Santa Maria Bonita SD*
KERN COUNTY
Orenda District
- Mojave USD
San Bernardino County
San Bernardino West Region
- Central ESD
- Ontario-Montclair SD
- Mountain View ESD
- Cucamonga ESD
San Bernardino Northeast Region
- Colton Joint USD
- Rialto USD
- Victor ESD
- Hesperia USD
Orenda Education Districts
- Upland USD
California Schools Talent Collaborative Districts
- Fontana USD*
Ventura County
Orenda District
- Oxnard USD
Los Angeles County
La Metro Region
- Alliance College-Ready Public Schools
- Alta Public Schools
- Camino Nuevo Charter Academy
- City Language Immersion Charter Schools
- Discovery Charter Preparatory School
- Fenton Charter Public Schools
- Grenada Hills Charter School
- Los Angeles College Prep Academy
- Magnolia Public Schools
- Montague Charter Academy
- New Designs Charter Schools
- New Heights Charter School
- New Horizons Charter Academy
- Pacoima Charter Elementary School
- PUC Community Charter Elementary
- STEM Preparatory Schools
- Vista Charter Public Schools
- YPI Charter Schools
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY REGION
- Allegiance STEAM Academy
- Arcadia USD
- Azusa USD
- Baldwin Park USD
- Chino Valley USD
- Duarte USD
SOUTH EAST LOS ANGELES REGION
- Compton USD
- Lynwood USD
- Paramount USD
SANTA FE SPRINGS REGION
- Bassett USD
- Bellflower USD
- El Rancho USD
- Hacienda La Puente USD
- Little Lake City SD
- Mountain View SD
- Puente Learning Center
- South Whittier SD
Orenda Education Districts
- Montebello USD
- Newhall SD
- Norwalk-La Mirada USD
- Castaic USD*
California Schools Talent Collaborative Districts
- Long Beach USD*
- Pomona USD*
Riverside County
Riverside Northeast Region
- Hemet SD
- Moreno Valley USD
- Temecula Valley USD
- Val Verde USD
- San Jacinto USD
- City of Moreno Valley
Riverside Southwest Region
- Jurupa USD
- Lake Elsinore
- Perris Elementary SD
- Perris HSD
Palm Springs Region
- Palm Springs USD
Orenda Education Districts
- Riverside USD
- San Jacinto USD
California Schools Talent Collaborative Districts
- Temecula Valley USD*
Orange County
- Newport-Mesa USD
- Orange USD
- Shalimar Learning Center
- Shalimar Teen Center
- Vista Charter Public Schools
Orenda Education Districts
- Santa Ana USD*
- Westminster SD*
California Schools Talent Collaborative Districts
- Santa Ana USD
- Westminster SD*
- Newport Mesa USD*
San Diego County
Orenda Education District
- Fallbrook UHSD
- Vista USD*
California Schools Talent Collaborative Districts
- Vista USD*
Imperial County
Orenda Education District
- Calexico USD


Our Focus Areas
Early Learning
A child’s education journey begins at birth–that is why Think Together programs include Early Learning. We support the youngest of learners, from infancy to four years of age, by working with family day-care providers and offering high quality preschool experiences to ensure students get off to a good start.
Watch our Early Learning Program in action
TK-8 Expanded Learning Programs
Think Together’s traditional after school program remains at the core of our services for students. Each school day, we ensure all students receive homework help, a healthy snack, physical activity, enrichment, and social-emotional support from caring adults.
District partners, students, and families also benefit from Think Together’s before school programs and a variety of enrichment programs designed to ignite student interest and increase their engagement with school.
Watch to learn more about our Expanded Learning Opportunities Program
High School
High School programs at Think Together are designed to be flexible and responsive to meet the interests and needs of our older youth students. Through mentorship and focused supports, our programs are geared toward building future readiness.
Key program features include: an AVID-aligned college & career continuum, including college tours, FASFA completion and support with college applications; life and employability skill development, with “Find Your Grind” career exploration, workforce readiness workshops, internships, and financial literacy; and enhanced enrichments including arts, coding, gaming, and cosmetology. Student participants also receive targeted academic supports, including grade checks, tutoring, and credit recovery to keep them on track to graduating with all life options available to them.
Watch how our STEM program is empowering students
Think Summer
Think Together had its biggest summer yet in 2024! Rather than spending their time on screens or inactive indoors, our K–8 students enjoyed nine weeks of summer enrichment that kept them engaged all day. Think Summer incorporates math, English language arts and STEM into its curriculum, along with fun activities and experiential learning. Through ELO-P funding, schools can extend their school year by up to 30 days through summer and other breaks for a total of up to 210 days.
Watch our Think Summer video here
School Improvement

Watch our partnership video here
Talent Collaborative
California Schools Talent Collaborative is proud to support the following partners in 2024-2025:
- Fontana USD
- Long Beach USD
- Newport-Mesa USD
- Pomona USD
- Santa Ana USD
- Temecula Valley USD
- Vista USD
- Westminster SD

-
From theStudentStory
Navigating middle school is no easy feat, especially when it’s a challenge to stay organized and have confidence in yourself to be the best you can be. These are difficulties that 8th grader Think Together student, Jose, has had to overcome.
Jose has participated in Think Together’s afterschool program throughout middle school, and it’s been a journey to get to where he is now. He started as very closed off and didn’t have the self-confidence to realize how bright he is. It wasn’t because Jose didn’t want to do it, but he simply didn’t know how.
With the support of his Think Together program leaders and site program manager, Jose has been thriving socially, emotionally and academically. He has made huge strides in his academic journey, upping his grades from D’s and F’s to A’s and B’s.
Much of that positive change can be credited to the supportive Think Together staff, but more importantly, to the AVID* lessons that are aligned to Jose’s school day and taught during the Think Together program at his school.
Due to this exclusive partnership between Think Together and AVID, Jose has developed strong organizational skills and has learned to take more efficient notes during class. Those same strategies are reinforced after school during his Think Together program.
“I like coming to the program to be around my friends. They help me finish my homework, so that way I don’t have to go home and do it,” Jose shared. “When I don’t get my homework right, I get frustrated, but I’ve learned that there are easier ways of how to do the work, so it’s not that hard as it used to be.”
-
From theA Tribute toShalimar
In 2024, Think Together made the difficult decision to close the doors of the Shalimar Learning Center and Shalimar Teen Center, a decision prompted by declining enrollment.
Thirty years ago, several mothers in Costa Mesa’s Shalimar neighborhood met with community volunteers to address the need for a safe place where their children could go after school to receive help with their schoolwork. The children were bused to and from school but returned to the neighborhood with nowhere to go and little to no constructive activities to occupy their time
In response, volunteers from St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church (including Randy and Mary Barth), St. Joachim’s Catholic Church, and Women of Vision, along with the Shalimar mothers, established the Shalimar Learning Center for elementary students and eventually the Shalimar Teen Center for middle and high school students. The centers quickly became a success.
I was one of the early students who benefited from the Learning Center, and it profoundly shaped my life in ways I’m still discovering decades later. I recently spoke of the experience of becoming a father and how I was confronted by thoughts that I didn’t have capacity to reflect on before that experience. The most profound of those realizations was how different my son’s life will be from the one I had. The opportunities he will have are the result of the opportunities I benefited from. My involvement with Think Together and Shalimar brought me where I am today.
I’m very optimistic about the future and excited to continue serving thousands of students statewide, expanding opportunities like the ones offered at Shalimar at scale through Think Together.
Think Together, along with the original volunteers and dedicated donors who built and sustained Shalimar throughout the years, can be proud. Their vision and hard work led not only to supporting students like me, but also to policy shifts that now make similar programs accessible to high-need students throughout California.
Thank you.
Paolo Leon
Shalimar Learning Center Alumni
Think Together Board Member
Partner, AO Architects
Watch our tribute to Shalimar here
Our Partners, Donors, And Statement of Activities

“Each leader, each choice, each action at Think Together contributes to a vision that is bigger than any one of us.”
— Tia Dwyer
COO, Think Together
