Think Together, Author at Think Together

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.

As a new site coordinator, Laura Píno-Flores has already demonstrated her dedication to Think Together’s mission at Hubbard Media Arts Academy. Before becoming a site coordinator in Think Together’s Bay Area region, Laura worked as a program leader for five years. Today, she uses her extensive experience working directly with students to create an afterschool space that is safe and supportive of students’ needs. Laura is known in her region for going above and beyond to ensure she and her team deliver a high-quality program that changes the odds for kids.

What is your Think Together “why?”

I have always loved working with kids and giving back to my community. I began tutoring younger students when I was in the fifth grade and loved the feeling of helping them achieve their goals. When I heard about Think Together, I thought it was a perfect fit for me. Watching the students progress and building relationships with them is my “why.” I love making a positive impact on students at Think Together and I continue to be inspired to do my best for them.

What is one of your proudest moments that connect to your “why?”

One of my proudest moments this year was our culminating visual and performing arts event. With the help of our enrichment instructors, we were able to showcase what the students accomplished this year. The first through third graders showcased the artwork they created in their murals class and the fourth through eighth graders performed a short play from their theater class. It was really nice to see the students get recognition from parents and stakeholders! The event made me feel proud of them for working hard to put on an amazing show.

What is your favorite memory from the school year?

My favorite memory this school year was during our Spring Break Camp at Hubbard Media Arts Academy. I met so many different students from other schools in our Alum Rock Union School District. Although it was only a one-week program, the students really enjoyed it. I had many students asking me if I was going to lead a Think Summer program. A middle school student also told me how when he first found out his mother enrolled him in a program over spring break, he was a little bummed out. But, once he arrived, he fell in love with all the activities. This student became a student leader and helped set up the carnival event to end the week and said he had never experienced anything like it before. Hearing all the positive comments from the students really warmed my heart and reminded me why I love what I do.

What one word would you use to sum up your experience working for Think Together?

Rewarding. Despite all the stress, time, and consistent effort that it takes to run a quality program for the students, at the end of the day it is so rewarding to see the students’ progress.

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

My goal is to keep learning and improving the afterschool program at Hubbard. I want to provide the best program I can for the students as well as look for ways that students can lead and take initiative in the program. Another goal I hope to accomplish is to provide more coaching support for incoming staff. Now that I have become more comfortable in my role, my goal is to work on providing them with support and helping them become their best self.

Outside of work, what do you do for fun?

One thing I like to do for fun outside of work is looking for new places to eat. I love trying different foods, going to new restaurants, and enjoying new food with my family and friends.

Thank you, Laura, for changing the odds for kids!

Think Together middle schools across Azusa, Baldwin Park, and Duarte Unified School Districts were granted a $5,000 grant from Quality Custom Distribution in Los Angeles through the GSF Foundation, which allowed the schools to purchase 80 pairs of Varsity Spirit shoes for their cheerleading programs. In total, eight San Gabriel Valley middle school cheerleading squads benefited from the program.

For many students, the donation opened the door to try a new sport. Olive Middle School has been running its cheerleading program for four years and for the first time, 25 students were thrilled to receive Varsity Spirit shoes to fuel their passion for the sport.

“The quality is amazing and I’m glad that we got the shoes donated,” shared Jacqueline, a seventh-grade student at Olive Middle School.

Jacqueline has been cheerleading on the Olive Middle School squad at Think Together for two years since sixth grade and plans to continue into eighth grade.

At Valley View Academy, the cheer program started in the middle of the fall semester in 2022 and was the first to be rolled out. The program is led by program leader and cheer coach Jocelyn, who spent three years on her own high school cheerleading squad.

“It’s an honor and great help that our cheer team got a grant,” shared Jocelyn. “With the grant, the team has opportunities to attend more events, and our cheer team would be looking more uniformed. This would be a motivation to work harder and expand the team.”

It’s Jocelyn’s first-time coaching cheer and she hopes that by next year, Think Together can secure enough grants to add matching uniforms and bows to bring the look fully together. Her experience has inspired her to pass on her enthusiasm to the next generation of cheerleaders.

Valley View Academy’s Site Coordinator Gabrielle Manuit expressed her appreciation for the grant and already sees the impact it has on the students.

“Since the team is so new and small compared to other cheer teams they’ve seen, I know the students want to be taken seriously as a squad and having a grant like this is a good reminder to them and the staff that there are always people out there who appreciate their efforts and want to see them succeed. We’re super grateful and will strive to make the most of it!”

Many students like Silvia are new to the cheer team at Slauson. Silvia shared she’s excited to try new things like cheer. “It’s a new experience and with the new shoes I can continue to cheer,” shared Silvia.

Another member of the cheerleading team, Vanessa embraces the new experience of cheerleading, thanks to donations from our generous partner the GSF Foundation.

“Here at Think Together I tried something new and having the whole team have a positive mindset through cheer helped me want to try it in high school,” remarked Vanessa.

The GSF Foundation has been a supporter of Think Together since 2020 with their generous donations of 125 backpacks to the Shalimar Learning Center in the fall of 2020, followed by a $5,000 grant to our programs in Orange County. This past fall, the GSF Foundation donated $7,500 towards STEM kits at our Orange County schools.

Think Together and our partners strive to make new opportunities available to students to expand their horizons and create more exceptional occasions for students in and out of the classroom by changing the odds for kids.

Follow Think Together on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tik Tok as well as signing up for our emails with student impact stories from across the state.

About 950 students from Jurupa Unified School District kicked off the end of the school year with a home run field trip. They came out for a day of baseball and bonding as they rooted for the Inland Empire 66ers, a minor league affiliate for the Los Angeles Angels. Students from grades third through eighth represented 20 elementary and middle schools, traveling by bus to San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino.

To empower the students with real-world skills, each attendant was given $20 in Bernie Bucks to spend on merchandise or at the concession stand. This unique opportunity allowed them to practice budgeting and collaborating with friends to get the most value for their money. Witnessing the students analyze their options and make choices was an exciting experience for both students and staff and demonstrated their growth and decision-making abilities.

Think Together uses every opportunity to infuse fun into learning to create an environment where students can learn and apply skills that they’ll use in and out of the classroom.

“It was a great opportunity for students to attend a baseball game and not worry about if they had enough money to get food from the concession stands or merch from the team store since we were able to provide all students with Bernie Bucks to purchase whatever is the need,” said Riverside County General Manager Chris Miree. “Think Together staff did an amazing job making our kids feel welcome and safe. It was a good time, and we can’t wait to do it again in September.”

To add to the fun, graduating eighth graders in attendance were invited to sit in the VIP section in celebration of their promotion to high school and their last day in program.

The VIP treatment was a great highlight in the eighth graders’ lives with one student sharing they were happy and “felt rich” from the experience.

From the exclusive VIP Suite to valuable lessons in financial literacy, this game winning day brought together learning, fun, and unforgettable memories.

“We are happy to partner with Jurupa Unified to give students unique opportunities,” said Riverside County Region Director of Operations Kerinda Frith. “It was amazing to see students manage their Bernie Bucks at the snack bar, staff try their hardest to catch foul balls, and for students in the suite to be in awe with the experience. We want to thank the FACE and Expansion Team for all of their support to get us there.”

Follow each homerun these Think Together students hit all summer long by following Think Together on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tik Tok as well as signing up for our emails with student impact stories from all over the state.

“When we talk about race, we honor who children and teens are as learners. A conversation with a caring adult allows children to feel safe and ask questions instead of drawing conclusions about race and racism based on implicit and explicit messaging from the world around them and their own limited knowledge. Reading is a powerful way to nurture a child’s sense of curiosity and build a foundation for having bigger conversations about race over time.” – Smithsonian

Juneteenth is an opportunity to pause, recognize, and cement this moment in our nation’s history. June 19, 1865, is the date that Union Soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas with news the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free, two and half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.

The holiday is also known as Freedom Day and has been officially celebrated as early as 1866 by the African American communities recently freed from enslavement in Texas. The holiday quickly spread nationwide and has been commemorated annually by African Americans for over 150 years. Early celebrations included the singing of spirituals and prayer meetings. Into the 21^st century, Juneteenth observances grew to include festivals with parades, food, musical performances, family reunions, and rallies to honor African American culture.

We join in the celebration of Juneteenth to promote and cultivate knowledge and appreciation of African American history and culture. It’s a celebration of freedom and achievement and encouraging others to work on continuous self-development and respect for all cultures.

Over the month of June, Think Together staff will engage students in lessons about the importance of Juneteenth to our nation, the meaning behind the day, and will then apply their learning by holding celebrations!

What does that curriculum look like?

Think Together’s K-5^th grade students will learn about what the Juneteenth flag symbolizes, decorate the Juneteenth flag, and wave it proudly! Our students will talk about the injustice done to enslaved people in Texas, whose message of emancipation was delayed for over two years. As the students wave their Juneteenth flag, they will be equipped to teach their family and friends about the importance of Freedom Day.

Our 6^th-12^th grade students take a deeper dive into learning about Juneteenth. After watching informative videos, staff and students answer a set of questions together. They ask, “Why are there two Independence Days?” “How does it make you feel that there were over 250,000 enslaved people that received the news that slaves were free 2 ½ years after it actually happened?” and “Why do you think it’s important to acknowledge and celebrate Juneteenth?”

Think Together embraces daily curricula that center and celebrate diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging for our students. To commemorate Juneteenth, students and staff at Think Together will encourage respectful dialogue, unlearn implicit bias, and educate ourselves on different perspectives, backgrounds, and cultures. It is equally important to continue these conversations at home to facilitate a growth mindset and encourage continuous learning.

We hope that you will join us in learning more!

Try the “Juneteenth Flag” Lesson for K-5^th grade students.

Try the “What is Juneteenth?” Lesson for 6^th-12^th grade students.

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It was a seemingly ordinary end of the year celebration at Compton High School.

Students gathered near the teen center on campus for a Culmination Carnival, complete with Kona Ice, popcorn, cotton candy, and games.

Think Together’s Compton High School program serves nearly 100 students daily and this day was no exception as youth lined up to check in for the event.

Once inside, students participated in wellness activities like yoga and cornhole. The drone club demonstrated how students coded their drone flight paths and took their learning to new heights. And, right around the corner, a celebration of the program’s student leaders took place inside the multi-purpose room.

One by one, student leaders of the Compton High School Think Together program were called up to the stage and recognized for their achievement. High schools operate a little differently than Think Together’s elementary and middle school programs. Students are encouraged to take leadership positions and run clubs that interest them. Represented among Think Together student leaders were organizers of Compton High School’s Beauty and Brains Club, music production, and culinary arts club.

After each student was called to the stage, Jacquese, a graduating senior asked everyone for their attention. With all eyes on him, Jacquese made a grand impromptu speech to personally congratulate his schoolmates for graduating and express his profound gratitude for Stephany, the school’s Think Together site coordinator, for all she did to help support their goals and ambitions.

“I would like to thank our site coordinator Stephany for pushing us all out of our comfort zones with Boeing, Lights On, and all the other events. We are all grateful for the things you put us through.”

Jacquese is an example of how Think Together students take an ordinary day in program and make it extraordinary. But it’s not without the support and mentorship of Think Together site coordinators like Stephany who come to school sites each day with the shared purpose of changing the odds for kids.

There was one more surprise in store for attendees. As the roar of applause for Jacquese settled, Randy stepped back to the center of the stage to recognize one more outstanding leader-Stephany Garcia.

“Stephany has shown an unparalleled commitment to creating a safe, fun, and inclusive environment for all who attend Think Together’s Teen Center here at Compton High School,” shared Randy.

Stephany has been with Think Together since August of 2021 and has shown persistence and resilience in building the flourishing program at Compton High School since the start of her tenure. Among the clubs, she has worked with her students to lead Drivers’ ed, Elite Triangle Fitness, Champion’s Nutrition Club, among many others.

Following Randy’s recognition of Stephany, Senior Field Representative, Aide Castro representing the offices of Assemblymember Mike Gipson of the 65th district, honored Stephany with recognition from the California State Assembly for her exemplary commitment to youth in Compton.

“Assemblymember Mike Gipson was honored to recognize Stephany Garcia, of Think Together. Her leadership as an agent of change was evident by the participation of the students. She has been able to engage the students of Compton High School by creating a safe space for expression and socializing, and we are grateful for her efforts.”