Think Together, Author at Think Together

Students of Compton Unified and Lynwood Unified School districts had the opportunity to have Los Angeles Dodgers players and alumni read to them as part of LA Reads, an initiative to promote a lifelong love of reading.

Los Angeles, Calif. (Sept. 22, 2023) – Today marked the culmination of Think Together’s month-long work with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation to support LA Reads, their literacy program with engaging programs and educational resources that make reading fun for everyone. In partnership with Compton Unified and Lynwood Unified School Districts, nearly 150 second-grade students across four schools participated in readings by Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, former pitcher Dennis Powell and former outfielder Al Ferrara.

“We’re incredibly thankful for our longstanding partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, which continues to provide enriching experiences for our students,” shared Randy Barth, founder and CEO of Think Together. “When organizations join forces like this for our youth, it truly underscores the presence of caring individuals in their lives and creates memories that will last a lifetime.”

Think Together serves more than 5,500 students in Compton Unified and up to 3,000 students in Lynwood Unified with afterschool and expanded learning programs. These students receive enriched programmatic experiences, in addition to core academic afterschool programing, thanks to partnerships like the one with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation.

Think Together and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation have partnered since 2015 to provide students with increased access to literacy programs, Coding for All initiatives, college and career readiness and social emotional learning. In 2023, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation awarded Think Together a $20,000 grant to create trainings for Think Together’s middle school program leaders around social emotional learning and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs.

“LA Reads is making significant strides in tackling the literacy crisis in Los Angeles, and we are optimistic that through these community events, reading will become more engaging and synonymous with success for underserved youth,” said Nichol Whiteman, CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation.

To learn more about Think Together, visit www.thinktogether.org.

To learn more about the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, visit:

www.Dodgers.com/LADF.

To learn more about Compton Unified School District, visit:

https://www.compton.k12.ca.us/

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About Think Together

Think Together partners with schools and communities to pursue educational equity and excellence for all kids. As a nonprofit organization, Think Together innovates, implements and scales academic solutions that change the odds for hundreds of thousands of California students. Think Together’s program areas include early learning, afterschool, school support services and leadership development for teachers and school administrators. For more information, call (888) 485-THINK or visit www.thinktogether.org.

Lesley Martin, a dedicated member of Think Together, has received a nomination for the 2023 Leaders of Influence: Nonprofit & Philanthropy by the Los Angeles Business Journal. This award is given to trailblazing individuals who have pioneered the path in showcasing the importance of creating powerful partnerships – and constructed strategies that address the diverse needs of the community.

Upon learning of her nomination, Lesley expressed a deep sense of humility and appreciation. “I feel humbled and deeply appreciative of this nomination,” she shared. “I was completely surprised to hear the news and I am grateful to the Los Angeles Business Journal and all involved in the nomination.”

Lesley’s journey with Think Together began in 2009 when she joined as a program leader within Ontario Montclair Unified School District. Demonstrating exceptional dedication and drive, she quickly advanced to the role of site coordinator with the Covina-Valley Unified School District. After her time in the Inland Empire, Lesley moved onto Think Together’s Southeast Los Angeles region. There she assumed roles such as Quality Assurance Coach, Director of Program Operations and currently serves as General Manager.

Lesley and her team at Compton High School being recognized for their hard work.

Lesley is a prime example of how every leader within Think Together can grow within the organization. “The best part of the leadership journey from program leader to general manager is the ability to expand reach from a single classroom to a whole community of students and families,” Lesley shared. “This is why I encourage all leaders to find and embrace their purpose and use it to light a path for others.”

Think Together takes immense pride in having dedicated staff members like Lesley on its team. Her unwavering commitment and hard work are why the Los Angeles Business Journal describe her as someone that is, “passionate about the social and emotional well-being of the students, staff, and communities she serves.”

Lesley’s nomination serves as a reminder to all of us at Think Together that an individual’s dedication, passion and willingness to collaborate can truly transform lives and communities. The entire Think Together community is eager to see how Lesley will continue to change the odds for kids and the rest of her community.

Meet forever learner, Loree Propheter. Loree has been with Think Together for 16 years and currently serves as a quality assurance coach in the San Gabriel Valley region. In her region and across Think Together, she is known for staying positive through change, being a team player, and often going above and beyond to provide support. Although she is considered a “veteran”, Loree is always open to learning new things and adapting to be the best leader she can be. We are excited to give you the opportunity to learn more about Loree!

What is your Think Together “why?”

My “why” has always been the students. I grew up in an era when there weren’t any afterschool programs. Growing up, I observed many of my peers engage in not-so-healthy choices. I feel that if they had been given access to outlets like Think Together in after school hours, their outcomes may have been different.

 What is one thing you are proud of your team accomplishing this school year?

My team of amazing site coordinators creates opportunities for students year-round! My team has hosted middle school dances, facilitated field trips for our high school students, and led exciting fun Friday activities. Parents and students echo their appreciation for the Think Together program daily.

Is there a student story that has stuck with you?

When I was a substitute program leader at Torch Middle School, there was a group of young ladies that loved the program. They even dressed as program leaders for Halloween. Years later I was working as a site coordinator in Baldwin Park when I received a call from our staffing team. One of those students had applied to work for Think Together! When asked her reason for applying, she said it was because she loved being in the program as a student and the staff she interacted with. It was such a full-circle moment that has stayed with me over the years!

What part of your weekly work routine gives you the most joy right now?

My favorite part of the week is visiting our programs and seeing the hard work, systems, routines, and student engagement in action! When I go onto a school site, I am reminded of the true impact we have on the students, parents, and community.

What advice would you give yourself when you started with Think Together 16 years ago?

To enjoy the little moments and to highlight them in your memory. I would tell myself that these moments will get you through the harder days.

What are the professional goals you are hoping to accomplish in 2023?

Perfecting my craft! I am a forever learner and love growing in my leadership capacity.

Outside of work, what do you do for fun? 

Enjoying time with family and friends.

Think Together is proud to once again partner with Bank of America to provide Inland Empire high school students with access to career pathways through the Workforce Readiness Education Program (WREP). This year, thanks to additional grant funding from BofA, the program is expanding to Desert Hot Springs High School in the Palm Springs Unified School District, bringing the total number of high schools offering the WREP program to four, with programs at Perris High School and Heritage High School in Perris, Eisenhower High School in Rialto and now Desert Hot Springs. The program will now provide as many as 400 students with access to important career pathways. This will be Think Together and Bank of America’s 12^th year working together to implement WREP programs at high schools in the region.

Students will learn essential job skills like resume building, interview preparation, and workplace conduct and financial literacy, while getting first-hand work experience through paid internships.

Through the program’s financial literacy training students learn how to break into today’s competitive economy with skills such as basic budgeting and money management, helping to set them up for success as they start earning paychecks. “I learned about how to save money. That I can set up my own bank account with a parent and know how to budget my own money,” shared John, a 12^th grade student at Eisenhower High School. “I also learned about the process of connecting with banks at the age of 17.”

“Going through the WREP program, provided by Think Together, helped me gain the confidence to speak out and refine my skills for the workforce. As a sophomore I always wanted to get a job and I did not know what the first step was into getting a job or how to prepare for an interview,” said Kimberly, a student and Desert Hot Springs who recently went through the WREP program.

In addition to their paid employment stipend, students receive bus passes, if needed, and additional program incentives.

Since 2002, Bank of America has been a strong corporate partner to Think Together and the communities it serves providing ongoing financial literacy to both students and staff, as well as community engagement and support. Over the last three years, Bank of America served as the title sponsor of the Inland Empire Workforce Summit and has been one of several business that have worked with Think Together students to offer internships, job training and scholarships.

What’s it like being an intern at Think Together’s home office? What better way to learn than by asking our own wonderful interns! They’ll be shedding light on the different ways Think Together’s internship program has helped them prepare for a brighter future. From writing blogs to contacting legislators, our interns play an important role in the behind-the-scenes work that helps Think Together continue changing the odds for kids.

How did you hear about the Think Together internship?

Curriculum Design Intern, Kayla Laramie-Morris.

Kayla Laramie-Morris, our curriculum design intern for the program design team, shared that she found her position through her college, California State University, Fullerton (CSUF). Think Together is a proud partner of CSUF and works closely together with the college to provide opportunities for aspiring young professionals. In fact, all our current interns are CSUF Titans!

“I am currently getting my master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, so our program leader shared Think Together’s flyer for the position of curriculum designer with our cohort during the spring semester. It seemed like a great experience to me and one that closely aligned with what I am studying,” Kayla said.

What is the coolest, or most interesting project or experience you’ve had at Think Together?

Think Together strives to ensure that our star interns gain educational yet fun experiences. Doing that means giving interns meaningful roles in projects that will make a difference in our program.

“Through my internship with the marketing and communications team, I was able to interview students about their experiences. With our scholarship winners, I was able to hear how much it benefited students as they shared how they work through their life obstacles and still make higher education a priority. Listening to the students’ testimonials firsthand made our mission statement even more powerful and solidified my choice in this internship,” said Alexis Cruzé, communications intern now a communications associate.

Our production intern from Think Mart, which is where all of Think Together branded program collateral and materials are created, said one of their most exciting projects was working on Think Mart’s catalogs. They said it was a great opportunity to put their skills to the test and tackle a big project on their own.

While visiting the Think Together home office in Santa Ana, our Think Together kids got the chance to see our Production team hard at work!

How has the internship prepared you for your career?

For most of our interns, it is their first time ever working in a professional setting. Communications intern, Diana Sierra, explained how her internship experience has prepared her for a career in the future.

“My internship has prepared me for my career in many ways. I think the most notable way is the amount of confidence that has been instilled in me since joining this team,” Diana said. “I came in thinking I didn’t know enough and that I wouldn’t be able to keep up. Fortunately for me, it wasn’t like that. I had skills to offer and ideas that did help our team.”

What are your daily responsibilities within your internship?

As Think Together grows, so do our department’s responsibilities and that is no exception when it comes to our outstanding interns who all have vastly different roles.

Communications intern, now communications associate, Rose Mendez, outlined what a typical day can look like when helping run Think Together’s social media and blogs.

“My daily responsibilities are to create content for our social channels, write blogs that update our readers on what our students and staff are up to, and create content that brings awareness to grants we have received,” Rose shared. “For example, this summer our team went out on field trips and school sites to gather content of the kids and staff having fun while learning. I also work collaboratively on various projects and make sure Think Together’s most public portfolio is looking sharp.”

For Kayla, her day is a bit different compared to Rose. She works collaboratively with the program design team to create lesson plans for students, create content, and assist her team as needed to keep our students proactively learning. To prepare for fall, she and her team designed more than 1,000 lesson plans for our program field staff to use to guide students on their educational journey in the hours after school.

Do you have prior experience with the Think Together Program?

Think Together has impacted the lives of many children over the years, even some of our interns!

Rose told us her story about how she used to be a Think Together kid herself and even remembers a field trip to Boomers. Now Rose is back as a Think Together employee, where she can lend a hand in changing the odds for kids.

Diana’s introduction to Think Together involved becoming a volunteer for the program. As a volunteer, Diana fell in love with interacting with the kids, and getting the chance to entertain them through literature.

“My favorite thing to do was being able to read stories to the kids and watch their faces light up. It was a great time,” she said.

What was the most challenging moment during your internship experience and how did you overcome it?

New experiences come with new challenges. Think Together is not afraid of challenging their interns with new work experiences to help them grow and learn.

For Kayla, she struggled with learning how to use Think Together’s software.

“The most challenging moment at Think Together was in the beginning where I was learning to navigate the various software and company-specific resources,” Kayla said. “What helped was asking my team questions and having them show me how to utilize the application I was unfamiliar with.”

With Alexis, it was about learning how to effectively communicate and be flexible when it came to interviewing students and working with her team.

“I had to collaborate with the other intern Rose to make sure we kept our days, interviews, and students organized. We had to coordinate with students’ schedules and our work obligations to get their testimonies,” Alexis said.

What advice would you give to those looking for an internship and wanting to jumpstart their career?

Diana, Rose and Alexis were all smiles at their team outing!

Getting an internship can be intimidating for some, so here is a list of tips our interns shared with us:

Ask questions.
Be prepared.
Never stop trying.
Do your research.
Don’t doubt your skill.

The internship experience is more than a temporary role. It’s a transformative journey that will equip young professionals with skills, friends and experiences that will stay with them throughout their career. Much like our mission to change the odds for kids, Think Together also wants to change the odds for young adults.

Interested in learning more about our internship program? Check out Think Together’s careers page to learn more about internship and job opportunities.

In just one year with Think Together, Myisha Griffin soared from substitute program leader to interim site coordinator at Glen Avon Elementary School in Jurupa Valley. Every step of the way, Myisha has put the youth and community impacted by her work first. In her role, Myisha has built strong relationships with the school day staff and developed a strong culture with her staff and students in the afterschool program. Myisha is a leader in every environment she is put into and continues to strive for excellence. We are thrilled to give you the opportunity to get to know Myisha more.

What is your Think Together “why?”

I am inspired in my work at Think Together because I know that I can make a difference in the lives of others and be a part of something bigger than myself. Our youth are the voices of tomorrow. Having the opportunity to plant seeds of confidence, creativity, self-motivation, open-mindedness, and many others is such a blessing.

Is there a student story that has stuck with you over the years?

It’s hard to pick a specific experience! The collective interactions I’ve had with students over the years have shaped my willingness to be open-minded. All the students helped me to understand that we are all different and to treat everyone as individuals.

What is one thing you are proud of your team accomplishing this summer?

This summer, my team worked so well together to make this summer experience amazing for our students. We not only serviced students from Glen Avon Elementary but many others from schools in Jurupa Valley ranging from kindergarten through eighth grade. This summer was fast-paced, but the team stepped up without missing a beat, embraced the change, and sustained an amazing summer culture with many fun experiences for the youth in the program.

What is your favorite summer memory?

I will never forget the day we had an In-N-Out truck on-site. An older student started a team chant that I taught to them at the beginning of summer, and all the students joined him. At that moment I was able to step back from the business of the day to take in the laughter and happiness of all the youth. I am so grateful I was able to be a part of creating a fun culture for these kids.

If you could give one piece of advice to a student nervous about starting school, what would you say?

I would tell them that they are not alone because everyone else is just as nervous as them. They may express it differently because we are all individuals, but if they remember to smile and always BE YOU, this year will be a great one.

What are the professional goals you are hoping to accomplish in the new school year?

This school year, my goal is to develop and motivate my team to bring their talents into our program. Personally, I also would like to grow out of my interim site coordinator role and become a permanent site coordinator at Think Together.

Outside of work, what do you do for fun?

Outside of work, I love being a mom, spoken word poetry, painting, roller skating, and doing outreaches with my church family.

Thank you, Myisha, for changing the odds for the voices of tomorrow!

As the sun starts to set on summer, let’s have a look back at all the fun and exciting things our students did during Think Summer 2023.

It was our biggest summer yet, with over 300 of our sites offering summer programs and support to our Think Together students and parents. This year, students visited a variety of interesting places such as Dodger Stadium, Topgolf, Discovery Cube, Think Together’s Think Mart, Knott’s Berry Farm and so many more!

There was also a lot of fun learning happening right in the classroom. Student curriculum ranged from building their own toy motorbikes to “traveling” for a day to different countries and learning all about the culture and food.

Catch up with all the activities and trips each of the regions were up to this summer below.

San Bernardino Region

Our Cucamonga and Central Unified School Districts had a summer packed with activities. In the classroom, students cultivated their own butterfly garden, participated in an egg drop challenge and enjoyed cold treats from Kona Ice.

Outside the classroom, students visited both Discovery Cube where they learned about science and Topgolf to learn the basics of golf and aimed for hole-in-ones. Sixth grader Eli shared that at Topgolf he learned how to properly hold a golf club. Other students, like sixth grader Emalia explained how she learned to be genuine and to always keep trying her best.

“You don’t need to be embarrassed by the people who are watching you. If you miss or do something wrong, don’t worry about it and be yourself,” Emalia said.

San Gabriel Valley Region

Baldwin Park Unified School District students were busy bees this summer with fieldtrips to places like SoFi Stadium where students got the chance to tour the Los Angeles Rams locker room and play on the field.

They also went under the sea at the Aquarium of the Pacific to learn about sea life and traveled back in time at the Natural History Museum to see dinosaurs! The learning continued inside the classroom for DeAnza Elementary School where they competed in their version of The Amazing Race. They completed various challenges and worked as a team. Fifth grader, Gonzalo couldn’t contain his excitement when talking about the activity.

“It’s so fun! We go to different continents and countries to play games that represent their culture. Our team is in the lead by a lot!” Gonzalo said.

Orange County Region

Vista Heritage Global Academy was panning for nuggets of gold at Knott’s Berry Farm this summer. Students traveled back in time and became gold prospectors for a day while learning about the California Gold Rush.

Southeast Los Angeles Region

It was an adventure around the globe in the classroom for Tibby Elementary School in Compton Unified School district. Students created passports and “traveled” to destinations like Hawaii and the continent of Africa. They learned all about the culture through crafts, activities and food.

The excitement didn’t stop there! Our sites at Lynwood, Paramount, Compton and Bellflower Unified School District enjoyed the SoCal sunshine at Dodger Stadium. Two Think Together students, Aaliyah and Tyler, had the opportunity to throw and catch the first pitch of the game! Think Together Southeast Los Angeles Region General Manager, Lesley Martin expressed the importance the program is for students over summer.

“The impact is huge. You see it in their smiles and their excitement, it’s some of their first time going to a sporting event. Just today seeing our students out in the field throwing the first pitch, probably the highlight of my summer so far,” Lesley said.

Riverside County Region

Stone Avenue Elementary School from Jurupa Unified School District took a trip to Think Together’s Home Office and visited Think Mart where all of Think Together’s swag is created. Students got the chance to create their own posters, collect some Think Together goodies and see how the Home Office functions. La Jolla Elementary School from Moreno Valley Unified School District also joined in on the summer excitement and had an inflatable sky dome at their school where they entered the world of space!

Los Angeles Metro Region

LA Metro headed for over sea pirate quests at Pirates Dinner Adventure, dived into the physics of how rollercoasters work at Knott’s Berry Farm and saw different animals up close at the OC Zoo! Students also got to work on their team building and collaboration skills in the classroom by working together in the tower challenge. They had to build a tower using only uncooked spaghetti and marshmallows!

Santa Fe Springs Region

Mountain View School District was having their own fun in the sun with a foam party and icy treats from Happy Ice, right at their schools. Students at Little Lake City School District created catapults from popsicle sticks and had a Magic of Science show where they learned all things science.

Off to the farm Bellflower Unified School District went! Students visited Tanaka Farms for a variety of fun activities. They toured around in a wagon pulled by a tractor, ate some juicy watermelon and got to meet some goats and donkeys. Site Coordinator, Esther Gonzales, explained how important it is to keep student’s minds engaged over the summer.

“It’s important to just keep them busy. Making sure that they’re having fun, not getting into trouble, keeping them safe, and teaching them also to help their brains grow a little more,” Esther said.

And that is a wrap on summer for Think Together this year! We can’t wait to see what next year brings and the adventures our students will go on, either inside or outside the classroom!

It was Blue Heaven on Earth for Think Together students from the Compton, Lynwood, Paramount and Bellflower Unified School Districts as they watched the Dodgers take on the Toronto Blue Jays during a Think Summer field trip.

Students started their day at Dodger Stadium with a parade around the warning track, beginning in the outfield near both bullpens, passing by the Dodgers’ and visitors’ dugouts, and ending behind home plate in front of players from both teams as they warmed up.

Once they rounded the bases, they took their seats in the left and right field pavilions. Fans battled the sweltering heat to attend the game, with this field trip being the first time some students have attended a professional baseball game.

General Manager, Lesley Martin, who overseas Think Together programs for Compton, Lynwood and Paramount said that the kids were happy to cheer on the boys in blue. “The impact is huge, you see it in their smiles, you see it in their excitement. This is some of their first times going to a sporting event.”

The most exciting play of the game, however, was when Think Together kindergartener Aaliyah had the once-a-lifetime opportunity to throw out the first pitch, while fifth-grade student Tyler caught the ball. The duo was all smiles as they took the mound and home plate to represent Think Together and the 1,000 students in the home stands.

Aaliyah was chosen to throw out the first pitch for being the most outgoing student at her school, shared Quality Assurance Coach Lisbeth Espinoza. Aaliyah attends Roosevelt Elementary School and is a first-year Think Together student.

“She has a very contagious personality so when I was told about this opportunity, I knew Aaliyah would do a great job,” said Lisbeth. “She has been practicing her baseball throwing and catching skills with her site coordinator, and she was the best selection to represent Think Together at the game.”

Tyler, who attends Thurgood Marshall Elementary School, has been a part of Think Together since he was a kindergartener. He was thrilled to have the chance to catch the ball for Aaliyah’s first pitch. He never thought a day at Think Summer would end with him being on the field of Dodger Stadium. When asked what his favorite moment of Think Summer was, Tyler didn’t hesitate to share, “Being on the field at Dodger Stadium.”

Think Together’s yearly $2,000 Good to Great scholarships are awarded to exceptional students who, through their diligence, have improved their grades and shown ambition for higher education and a career. This year, Think Together awarded seven Good to Great scholarships and we are proud to present them to Daniela, Daisy, Jacquese, Astrid, Dennis, Kaiya and Think Together alumna Ruth.

Since 2018, Think Together has awarded over $140,000 in scholarships to help high school seniors jumpstart their college career. Think Together serves 33 high schools all over California and has impacted 4,019 high school students through our high school after-school drop-in programs. Scholarships can play an important role in supporting students to stay focused on learning and can relieve the stress of paying for college.

“Scholarships are one way Think Together helps change the odds for our students. Scholarships reward students for all their amazing hard work while alleviating the financial burden higher education may bring. I view scholarships as the fastest way to bring equity to our students, to give them an opportunity they may not have otherwise ever had,” shared Emilio Pena, College and Career Resource Specialist, Los Angeles Metro region.

Get to know our seven amazing scholarship recipients by reading a bit about them and their Think Together journey.

Daniela Moreno Estrada

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Daniela came to the United States and had a hard time adjusting to her new environment and overcoming a language barrier. When she joined Think Together, she found the support she needed to overcome these challenges and became part of the student leader program. Her goals for the future are to become a psychologist and open a shelter for those in need and make a difference in her community.

Daisy Ly

A Think Together veteran of eleven years, Daisy has slowly learned to come out of her shell and taken advantage of the programs and support provided to her. She started a Dungeons and Dragons club with her friends at school and participated in various clubs. Daisy has a bright future ahead of her as she gets ready to attend the University of California, Santa Cruz. She will be majoring in Arts and Design with hopes to one day be a video game designer.

Jacquese Anye Napier

During his time at Think Together, Jacquese was able to cross one thing off of his bucket list and that was getting to fly drones with The Boeing Company! One major way he hopes to make a difference in his community is by encouraging young people, like him, to be the best they can be. He wants to help steer them in the right direction that leads to higher education. Jacquese plans to continue his higher education at the California State University, Dominguez Hills and double major in Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science.

Dennis Alejandro Lopez Mendoza

Despite being new to the country and learning a new language, Dennis was ready to face these challenges head on with the help of Think Together. He was able to achieve a grade point average of 3.9 and form strong bonds with the afterschool program youth leaders, especially his site coordinator. Dennis is currently part of the Turner-UCLA Allied Health Internship and aspires to become a doctor one day. He will be attending California State University, Long Beach and be majoring in Biology.

Kaiya Edmond

Juggling multiple classes and being on the volleyball team, proved too much to handle for Kaiya, and as a result, her grades began suffering. It wasn’t until she joined Think Together that she was able to find that balance between school and extracurricular activities. She now had time to create friendships and figure out what her next step after high school would be. Kaiya has decided she will be continuing her education at California State University, Dominguez Hills while majoring in Sociology. She hopes to one day have a career where she can help Black and impoverished communities.

Ruth Judith Gutierrez Granados

One thing that sets Ruth apart from the other scholarship recipients, is that she is a Think Together alumna. She has already started her college career at California State University, Fullerton and is working towards a degree in business with a concentration in accounting. During her time with Think Together, Ruth was a trailblazer for promoting Hack club, a club that exposes students to all things computer science. She was leading workshops and advising other branches of Hack club on how to lead a successful program.

Astrid Mazariegos Medina

It was a difficult time for Astrid when she returned to school her junior year after being online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her grades weren’t the best and she was grieving the loss of a loved one, but once she was able to get in the motion of things, Think Together was there to support her in any way possible. It was a safe place where she felt supported. Astrid aspires to work towards double majoring in child development and business because one day she hopes to run her own daycare program and help her community.

Leaving high school and venturing on to college can be a big adjustment, so Good to Great recipients not only receive an award amount but also a mentor to support them during their first year of college.

Our graduating seniors and alumni have excelled through their dedication to student leadership and academic goals. As they prepare to take those first steps into their college career or continue to traverse the ups and downs of college life, Think Together cheers our scholarship recipients on.

Please join us in giving our seniors and alumna a huge congratulatory round of applause for all their hard work and achievements!

Family fun does not have to break the bank this summer when there are so many free activities happening all over California! There is something for everyone whether it’s reading, science or music. Continue the learning outside of the classroom with these free family fun activities all summer long.

Bay Area

Fine tune your family gardening skills with Bean Sprouts Family Days in San Francisco’s Botanical Garden hosted by Kaiser Permanente. Until August 5, families can grab free tools to dig, water, pick, build and explore the garden. Open Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturdays 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Tackle tech in Santa Clara at the Intel Museum with free field trips daily. Families can plan free self-guided tours or guided tours to learn about Intel’s history and technology through interactive exhibits. Reservations are suggested for smaller parties and available every day.

Orange County

The Heritage Museum in Santa Ana is hosting Summer of Civil Rights to showcase Harriet Tyler’s collection that documents the experiences of African Americans in Orange County for the past 50 years. This free exhibit is open every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. until August 20.

Music lovers can enjoy Costa Mesa’s Concert in the Park free event. Starting July 11, Fairview Park will host bands ranging from Savor to Tijuana Dogs every Tuesday. The concerts are free of charge for all ages and will host vendors and raffles.

Families can enjoy learning about rescued sea lions at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach every day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission lets kids learn about different sea mammals through interactive displays, marine mammal artifacts, and their Treasure Trove gift shop.

Los Angeles

For all art and history lovers, The California Science Center offers free admission to all permanent exhibits. One of the permanent exhibits, “World of Life”, examines the living world on a grand and microscopic scale. Permanent Exhibits are open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and require no reservation.

Teens have a space for fun at Baldwin Park Teen Center. Rock climbing, pool, computer labs and gaming stations are available for teens every day at no cost. Next to the teen center is a skateboard park free for teens who want to practice their kickflips all summer long.

Learn more about Latino culture through Lynwood’s Latino Expo on July 29. This festival will have live music, cooking demos and resource booths. The Latino Expo will be open from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Inland Empire

Riverside County partners with Empower You Edutainment at Bourns Youth Innovation Center for Acting for the Camera Summer Camp. The camp runs Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Aug. 17. Confidence, creativity, and stage presence are built into the program. Kids and teens are encouraged to join at any time.

Summer fun is not just for the little ones because San Bernardino public libraries are offering teen poetry club, book reading club and teens talk club. The fun does not stop there as teens can enjoy family time on bingo night, game night, and maker Monday. Everyday hosts one of these activities and occurs weekly so pick any day for fun!

For all the gamers out there, Anthony Munoz Community Center in Ontario offers Power Up! Esports every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is a competitive league where kids and teens can battle each other solo or on teams through their favorite esports. Join the free league and create a community of gamers!

Coachella Valley

Grab a basketball and head down to the grand opening of the Bagdouma Courts in Coachella. Bagdouma park is unveiling their new basketball, pickleball and tennis courts with a city block party. This event starts at 7:30 p.m. and will host free food trucks, live pickleball demos, and giveaways to celebrate.

Summer is the perfect time to take up a new hobby. The Palm Springs Public Library offers Chinese Mah Jong open play every Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. New students are welcomed and encouraged! For younger students, the art class, Find Your Voice Summer Crafts, is offered every Thursday starting at 3:30 p.m. Every week kids can learn a new DIY craft based on different themes.

Summer fun doesn’t have to be outside of the home either. Think Together has activities parents and siblings can do at home to keep the learning going all season long. Learn more about Think Together fun here.

Think Together and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Host LA Reads Storytimes with Los Angeles Dodgers greats Clayton Kershaw, Al Ferrara and Dennis Powell