Think Together’s New Year News Round Up

College campus tours are powerful opportunities for students to see the physical campus, get a sense of the college experience, and potentially imagine the next four years of their life there. It’s also an effective way to see how students and faculty engage with each other, as well as find out about on-campus opportunities that you can’t fully grasp online. 

Last December, over 150 students from Think Together’s Los Angeles Metro region toured six colleges including: 

• University of California, Santa Barbara (UC Santa Barbara) 
• California Polytechnic State University, San Louis Obispo (Cal Poly) 
• California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) 
• University of California, Santa Cruz (UC Santa Cruz) 
• University of California, Berkley (UC Berkley) 
• University of California, Merced (UC Merced)

Before the three-day trip up the coast, students prepared by attending college and career readiness workshops, researching the colleges on the itinerary, and interacting with staff as well as Think Together’s College and Career Resource Specialists to help make their visits fun and productive. 

College and Career Resource Specialist Rogelia Mata reflected, “Seeing the campus firsthand really helps solidify whether or not students like it…Especially for the seniors, it helped them solidify their choices for when they receive those acceptance letters.” 

Hop on the Bus  

The four buses were filled with seniors looking forward to visiting the schools they had applied to, as well as sophomores and juniors who have more time to explore the paths available to them beyond high school. For many students, this was also their first trip to northern California and for some their first time outside of Los Angeles.

Students traveled their first 100 miles north and visited UC Santa Barbara on Friday afternoon. A UC Santa Barbara student ambassador led students around lecture halls, campus buildings, and the performing arts center on campus. 

Next, students headed to Cal Poly, one of California’s nationally ranked universities. While visiting Cal Poly, sophomore Anahi was struck by the soccer stadium on campus. Just starting her high school journey, Anahi says she is not sure about her college and career plans. But, as a member of her school’s soccer team, seeing the field sparked a huge interest in college and the possibilities available to her. 

After touring Cal Poly, students continued their travel north and marveled at the deep green scenery all around them.  

Early on Saturday morning, the tour buses set their destination for CSUMB. With 50% of CSUMB’s students living on campus, they are one of the most residential universities in the CSU system. 

Angel, a high school senior with plans to study fashion design, admitted that while the college tours taught him about the benefits of college, they also helped him understand common challenges, like housing. “Overall, I learned that college life is scary!” Angel said. Angel could be the first in his family to go to college, and while college life can be intimidating, Angel adds, “I also learned that if you search for help you will find it.” For seniors like Angel looking to their future, the college tour guides helped them become aware of all the support available at university. 

The students ate lunch in the CSUMB Dining Commons before heading to the north side of Monterey Bay and their next stop, UC Santa Cruz. Located beside Redwood state parks and protected forests, students had a chance to see California’s towering trees while exploring the UC Santa Cruz campus. 

The trip wasn’t all college campuses. A fun treat for students was to explore San Francisco’s famous Pier 39, eat at Hard Rock Café and take in the city views.  

On the final day of the college tour, the four buses split into two groups. The first group stayed locally in the Bay Area and visited the oldest school in the UC system, UC Berkley. Students enjoyed the grand historic buildings mixed with contemporary campus life and academic opportunities. 

The second bus traveled to the newest campus in the UC system, UC Merced. Another senior on the trip, Jasmine, had applied to UC Merced, but wasn’t sure what to expect. She reflected that she applied to UC Merced because it looked cool online but didn’t think of the school as a top choice. After visiting the school, getting a sense of the opportunities on campus, and interacting with the student ambassador, Jasmine fell in love. Jasmine expressed, “I really hope I get accepted to this school…I really want to hear back from them now!” 

Going Home, and Looking Ahead 

When the tours were complete, each bus started the journey home on Sunday afternoon. “This was my first time to the Bay Area” said high school senior Quinn. Entering the last semester of high school this Spring, Quinn has already applied to many top universities on the itinerary. “I’ve always planned to go to college…seeing the campuses and everything, really helped me visualize my future there!”  

The Think Together team is grateful to provide eye-opening opportunities like these to students on their journey to college and career. Students expanded their horizons, gained an understanding of their options, and secured confidence in the resources available to support them. Good luck to the class of 2023 and beyond! 

After over 6 years working as a program leader in the Santa Fe Springs region, Aimee Rodriguez joined the San Gabriel region to share her expertise and learn new skills as a family and community engagement coordinator. Aimee does not shy away from making connections with everyone she meets and is known for jumping right in to help in every way possible. As Aimee and Think Together start 2023, we are excited to give you the opportunity to learn about her and her goals in her role for the new year! 

What inspires you about the work you do? 

Growing up in El Monte I wanted to give back to the same community that helped me thrive. Working at Think Together has given me the opportunity to be a positive role model to the students around me. I have seen the impact Think Together has on the students we serve through small acts of kindness and showing up for them. These experiences have driven the passion I have.  

What are you most excited for your team to accomplish this year? 

I am excited to be part of a collaborative team in San Gabriel Valley. I work closely with so many awesome teams and lend myself as an expert to support enrollment increases. It’s so exciting to see the increase in services available and more students taking part in the program! 

What would you say to encourage a student, family, or Thinker who is nervous about what 2023 will bring? 

We have a family here at Think Together and the support is endless! The future is bright at Think Together. 

What are you hoping to help Think Together accomplish in 2023? 

My goal and hope are that all our programs reach more and more students and families with the amazing learning support and opportunities we can provide. I also hope to continue to grow with San Gabriel Valley region. 

What professional goals are you hoping to accomplish in 2023? 

My professional goals in 2023 are to continue to increase my knowledge and leadership skills. I’ve learned so much with Think Together and am excited to elevate my ability on every level. 

Outside of work, what do you do for fun?  

I enjoy concerts, going to Disneyland, Dodger baseball games, movies, and the gym. I am a collector of many things including Star Wars, Marvel, and Disney swag. 

Thank you, Aimee, for changing the odds for kids and families!

As 2022 ends, Think Together students have been busy thanks to some fun opportunities with our community and foundation partners.

This month kicked off with Think Together high school students receiving the incredible opportunity to participate in a World Cup event sponsored by Adidas. Students played in a series of round-robin soccer matches in addition to watching a World Cup match on the big screen.

The Ontario Clippers basketball team collaborated with Think Together for the second year in a row to provide gifts to students in San Bernardino at Ontario Center Elementary School. The gifts ranged from STEM kits to board games with every student leaving with a smile. The students were so excited to receive gifts and meet basketball players!

Golden State Foods Foundation is helping Think Together students step confidently into the new year with some sweet new shoes! 100 Think Together students in Orange County will be receiving new shoes as part of Golden State Foods Foundation community support initiatives. In addition to the shoes, Golden State Foods gave a $7,500 grant to help fund Think Together programs in Orange County.

Think Together is always excited to bring these fun opportunities to students, but we also know that the best gift is a robust education. It’s through the relationships we build with our corporate and community partners that Think Together can change the odds for kids.

If you are interested in becoming a partner in 2023, visit https://thinktogether.org/corporate-support/ for more information.

We’re off to see the Wizard at Dickison Elementary in the Compton Unified School District! In late November, fourth and fifth grade Think Together students transformed themselves into Toto, Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, and Glinda the Good Witch to perform their blended rendition of the 1939 classic, The Wizard of Oz and its 1978 reimagining, The Wiz. Long before the curtains could open, students, teachers, families and Think Together staff were hard at work preparing for the show. 

At the start of the 2022-2023 school year, Ms. Gales, the program leader of the fourth and fifth grade group shared with the Think Together team about productions she had managed with students at Dickison in the past. The Think Together team and students loved the idea and started envisioning their first performance. 

Visual and performing arts give students the opportunity for self-expression, teamwork, risk-taking, concentration, creativity, and fun. Each student, from the lead actor to the backstage crew, prepared, developed themselves, overcame their nerves and put on a stunning performance for their families, teachers and classmates. For many of the students, this was the first time performing or participating in a play.  

Ease on Down the Road

Starting in October, the group of 25 students picked their roles and began preparation. Program leader and play manager Ms. Gales worked with the students every day after school to memorize lines, understand the play, and work on their stage acting skills! 

Alongside the rehearsals, Think Together students learned the ins and outs of storytelling and performance. The Think Together team hosted open discussions about the play at the students’ snack time. Students in every grade learned about the different parts of a story, how to identify main and secondary characters, and the many roles involved with putting on a performance. 

Working alongside Ms. Gales, site coordinator Ms. Mone’t gathered costumes, set pieces, and volunteers from the school and community to transform Dickison Elementary’s multi-purpose room into the wonderful land of Oz. Ms. Mone’t, reflecting on their work after the performance, said “I was so excited for them. It was a big commitment, but they came each day prepared to rehearse. I was really impressed with them.”  

Families also worked with their children to memorize their lines and give them the courage they needed to play their part and “ease on down the road.” 

We’re Off to See the Wiz! 

On the day of the performance, parent volunteers, Dickison Elementary staff, and Think Together team members worked on the finishing touches. Ms. Mone’t worked closely with the school staff to guide the student stage crew while one of the parent volunteers gave each cast member stage makeup to fully get into their part! 

The Scarecrow, Tinman, Lion, Glinda, Wicked Witch of the West, citizens of Oz, Crows, Munchkins, Dorothy and even Toto were ready to make their debut! 

Breaking through their apprehension, students delivered their lines, hit their marks, and felt all their hard work pay off as the audience broke out into applause. Ms. Gales was so proud of all the students and how much they had grown from the experience. “The kids grew so much in their ability to articulate. They also learned the importance of working as a whole to make sure that their performance was great and to motivate not only themselves but also their peers” she shared after the performance. 

Stay Tuned! 

While the curtains may have come to a close on this production, the Think Together program at Dickison plans to put on an entire set of performances with the other students. Coming up next for the Think Together program at Dickison Elementary is a rendition of Rainbow Fish presented by the Kinder through second grade students as well as The Lorax by the third and fourth grade students. We are so excited to see what these performers shine! 

As a whole, Think Together is excited to leverage the renewed funding for the Visual and Performing Arts in our programs across California.  

After joining Think Together as a program leader 13 years ago, Linda Ramirez went on to serve in the roles of site assistant, site coordinator, and program coordinator and now as the quality assurance coach in the Riverside County region. Linda is known in her region for going above and beyond to support her team of site coordinators so that they can better lead their programs. She is passionate about having quality programs that support the students she serves and puts her heart and soul into what she does. We are excited to give you the opportunity to get to know more about Linda. 

What is your Think Together “why”? 

I work for Think Together to make a difference in the lives of our students by adhering to our mission: to partner with our schools to change the odds for kids. What inspired me to become a program leader was the meaning of the acronym “THINK” in “Think Together”. Ever since my first position with Think Together, it is my passion to Teach, Help, Inspire and Nurture Kids in my community and the local neighborhoods that I serve. 

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

I have many proud moments and success stories that have connected me to my core passion at Think Together. One example is the collaboration we have with our wonderful Moreno Valley Unified School District (MVUSD) partners. The leaders and educators of MVUSD share the same goals of supporting students’ academic success as individual growth. MVUSD has been a shining partner with us as we provide various academic and social-emotional lessons as well as fun activities, academic growth, a safe environment, and a space to be with their peers through winter, spring, and summer Think Together programs. 

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

I am proud of my team’s leadership skills and teamwork. They are quick to lend a helping hand to each other and other teams at Think Together. Everyone collaborates to make decisions and act together. This year, I am especially proud of my team for taking initiative in new projects and taking hold of opportunities to keep growing as professionals. I love watching them grow and reach their individual goals. Watching my staff grow and move into new professional roles, whether that is through promotions within Think Together or beyond, keeps me content and motivated. 

What is the best piece of advice you have received that you like to share with others? 

The best piece of professional advice that I have received was to always persevere and to take each day as a learning opportunity. Additionally, I have learned to set my own goals to keep me motivated and enhance my leadership skills.  

As we wrap up 2022, what is your New Year’s Resolution for your work at Think Together in 2023? 

In 2023, I want to welcome the new year by embracing a fresh new start. I aim to learn a new skill and manage my workload more efficiently to achieve a better balance between work and personal time. I feel that engaging in self-care is important and necessary to be focused and excited for new projects coming my way.  

Outside of work, what do you do for fun?  

I enjoy visiting the local wineries, binge-watching documentaries on Netflix, going to the nail salon, and of course, spending time with my family.  

As part of Think Together’s afterschool program, students participate in the Invention Adventures curriculum created by our partners at Lemelson MIT. Invention Adventures is a global K-12 invention education program that teaches students problem-identification, problem-solving, entrepreneurship, and creativity skills which culminate with progressive conventions that begin at the site level and progress to statewide, national & global competitions.

“We were really looking for solutions that address the K-12 out-of-school space that was very rigorous and could offer a new opportunity for Think Together and give us new launching pads for our students to be successful in the world beyond school,” shared Mark Bayaua, Think Together Director of STEM Innovation Programs.

Think Together students are challenged to find a problem in their own lives, family, or community. Then, students invent a solution using the curriculum over the next ten weeks. Through this process, Think Together staff encourage students to think outside of the box and create something that can benefit their world.

Think Together had 200 students participate in this program during the 2021-22 school year and become inventors. 10 Think Together inventions, from six individuals and four team pairs, qualified for the state competition! One of those students, Neilah, went on to represent California at the national level. 

Neilah has been a part of the Think Together afterschool program since kindergarten. “I like Think Together because we always do fun activities,” Neilah shared.

Watch the video below to learn more about the Invention Convention and Neilah.

The next round of the Invention Convention curriculum begins later this month with our internal Invention Convention scheduled for February 21, 2023. Stay tuned to see our Think Together students’ newest round of inventions.

What happens when private foundations and leading corporations invest in students? Kids play team sports after school. High schoolers participate in internships designed to help them build a solid career pathway. Elementary students do hands-on STEM learning activities that cultivate their curiosity and problem-solving skills. And Think Together staff optimize systems designed to serve students efficiently and broadly. 

These are just a few of the opportunities unlocked by private philanthropy. In October, we gathered to celebrate our corporate and foundation partners in Los Angeles. These champions of education are leading efforts to make sure every kid has access to expanded learning opportunities, especially in light of the setbacks caused by the pandemic. 

As innovators in that space, funders heard from a panel of educational leaders including Dr. Gudiel Crosthwaite, Superintendent of Lynwood Unified School District; Lindsey Rojas, Director of Expanded Learning at Camino Nuevo Charter Academy; Dr. Robin Avelar La Salle, Founder & CEO of Orenda Education; and, Tommy Brewer II, Deputy Chief of Innovations and Partnerships at Think Together. The panel was moderated by Dr. Dorothy Fleisher, Sr. Program Director for the W. M. Keck Foundation, headquartered in Los Angeles and investing in communities throughout Southern California.

“Whereas 2 million students were below grade level before the pandemic, we estimate now that between 2.5 and 3 million students are on the wrong side of the achievement gap,” explained Dr. Avelar La Salle. “The need is very great, but the opportunity is great as well.” The other panelists echoed that focus on what CAN be done and what we have collectively learned about meeting those needs.

Both Dr. Crosthwaite and Ms. Rojas expressed a shared spirit of innovation as they shared stories from their communities. “Think Together has never said no to any of my ideas,” Dr. Crosthwaite joked. “They’ll think about it and process it and we’ll work on it together. One of the things I look for is people who really believe in what we’re trying to do. People whose vision aligns with the vision we have as a district and are committed to doing the heavy lifting to do the right thing by kids.” 

“There’s no way we are going to meet the needs of students without expanded learning,” Ms. Rojas emphasized. Heads around the room nodded in agreement. 

Dr. Fleisher concluded the session with a wonderful reflection: “There’s a lot of opportunity to think differently and work together to make things happen for our communities. We leave here with hope.”

Thank you to all our visionary funders for the impact you have on kids’ lives!

Emily Espinoza began her journey with Think Together as a program leader in the Bay Area region after hearing about the impact her sister was making on the Think Together team. To continue her professional growth, Emily took on the role of site coordinator at one of Think Together’s new programs in the Newark Unified School District. Emily is known in the Bay Area region for her passion and embodiment of Think Together’s mission. You can find Emily supporting the success of her site or reinforcing her neighboring sites when needed. We look forward to seeing Emily continue to change the odds and are excited to give you the opportunity to find out more about her! 

What is your Think Together “why?” 

What inspired me to work for Think Together was my sister. When she started working with Think Together, she would tell me stories every day about how she was helping students prepare for their future. Her experience made me want to help, inspire, and motivate students so they can be the best they can be for their future. Doing this for the kids is my “why” and keeps me motivated to continue coming to work. 

Is there a specific story that always connects you to your “why?” 

When I was in high school, I always knew that I wanted to work with kids to help them grow and prepare for their future. A story that always connects me to my “why” is from when I used to volunteer at a homeless shelter. These two boys would always be at the shelter trying to get help with their homework. Every Tuesday, I would sit with the boys for an hour doing homework help. A couple of months later the boys let me know they were going to move to another state, and told me that because of the time I spent with them doing homework they were going to keep trying their best.  

What are you most thankful for this school year?  

I am thankful for the opportunity to be at a new school as a site coordinator, meet new students, and share my knowledge with them. I am also very thankful to my quality assurance coach and fellow site coordinators for sharing their knowledge with me to help my site grow and succeed.  

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

If I had to choose one word to sum up my experience working for Think Together it would be “inspiring.” I come to work every day with a purpose which is to impact and change the odds for the students.  

What is one area you hope to professionally grow in this year? 

This year, I hope I gain more skills, knowledge, and experience. It’s never a bad thing to gain new skills because it only helps you grow as a professional and individual.   

Outside of work, what do you do for fun?  

Outside of work, I love to go on hikes with my two dogs. My favorite place to go hiking is Coyote Hills because there are so many different trails to explore.