Meet our 2022 Faces of the Future

In April, Think Together announced our three Faces of the Future awardees during our Raise A Hand celebration. Each awardee received a $2000 scholarship and a new laptop for college, funded by the generosity of Bill and Mary Lynn Coffee. 

Each year, Think Together is so impressed by these young minds who are ready to enter the next stage of their education. We had the opportunity to get to know this year’s winners, Gabriel, Katrina and Fernando, and are excited to allow you to get to know them as well. 

Meet Gabriel

During high school, Gabriel was incredibly involved with several clubs including speech and debate, and a mentorship program that he co-founded. The mentorship program connected upperclassmen to underclassmen to support them as they enter high school. He is a first-generation college student and will attend Dartmouth this fall with plans to study computer science and political science. 

Learn more about Gabriel by watching this video. 

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Meet Katrina

Katrina has been part of her school’s Think Together program since her freshman year. “I found Think Together because they offered study hall as one of their programs. Think Together helped me to get out of my comfort zone by emphasizing involvement. I used to be so introverted and now I feel like I’m more social than I’ve ever been.” Katrina is looking forward to attending University of California, Riverside and studying biology.  

Learn more about Katrina by watching this video. 

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Meet Fernando

Fernando has been part of Think Together since 6th grade. “My time in Think Together was really welcoming. They helped me build the foundation within myself to be more productive and more social with other people.” While in high school, Fernando participated in Think Together’s Workforce Readiness Education Program and interned as a tutor to support younger Think Together students. On top of that, Fernando took classes that counted towards college credit to get ahead with his general education classes. Fernando is currently at community college and making plans for the next stage of his education. 

Learn more about Fernando by watching this video. 

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May is dedicated to celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage as well as recognizing the contributions and influence that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have had on the United States.

According to Pew Research, more than half of Asian Americans ages 25 and older (54%) have a bachelor’s degree or more education, compared with 33% of the U.S. population in the same age range. And although this community is earning higher education degrees at a faster pace than their peers, Asian Americans still must overcome challenges in pursuit of equitable education opportunities.

While there are many inspirational people to feature, we would like to highlight these six figures who have helped AAPI communities’ success despite societal barriers.

Patsy Mink – Attorney & Politician

Patsy Takemoto Mink, during her 24 total years of service in U.S. Congress, introduced one of the landmark laws promoting educational equity in K-12 schools: the Women’s Educational Equity Act. Mink was the first woman of color and, as a third-generation Japanese American, the first Asian American elected to U.S. Congress. 

Born and raised on the island Maui, Hawai’i, Mink served six consecutive terms in her first tenure from 1965 to 1977, and another 6 from 1990 to 2002 representing Hawai’i. This bill, among many others Mink supported, promoted gender equity in schools and increased educational and job opportunities for women. 

Mink was a lifelong champion for women, saying, “It is easy enough to vote right and be consistent with the majority . . . but it is more often more important to be ahead of the majority and this means being willing to cut the first furrow in the ground and stand alone for a while if necessary.”

I.M. Pei- Master Architect

One of the most revered architects in the world, Ieoh Ming Pei is most famously known for designing the glass pyramid at the entrance to the Louvre in Paris and the National Gallery of Art’s East Building in Washington, D.C. Born in China, he lent his style of modernism to many urban projects in New York and beyond, including the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, and the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar. He passed away in 2019 at the age of 102.

“Life is architecture and architecture is the mirror of life.”

Kalpana Chawla-Aerospace Engineer & Astronaut

Kalpana Chawla was an aerospace engineer and the first Indian American woman in space on NASA’s 1997 Columbia space shuttle mission (STS-87) as a robotic arm operator.

Chawla was a mission specialist on the Columbia shuttle’s STS-107 mission in 2003 and died alongside her seven crewmates when the shuttle disintegrated upon re-entry after its 16-day flight. Her legacy has inspired others to pursue careers in spaceflight and STEM.

“The path from dreams to success does exist. May you have the vision to find it, the courage to get on to it, and the perseverance to follow it.”

George Takei- Actor and Activist

George Takei is best known for his portrayal of Mr. Sulu in the acclaimed television and film series Star Trek. He is also a social justice activist supporting several causes. One of those is the Human Rights Campaign, the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender political organization. Takei is also Chairman Emeritus of the Japanese American National Museum’s Board of Trustees; a member of the US-Japan Bridging Foundation Board of Directors; and served on the Board of the Japan-United States Friendship Commission under President Bill Clinton. In recognition of his contribution to the Japan-United States relationship, in 2004, Takei was conferred with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, by His Majesty, the Emperor of Japan.

With the outbreak of World War II, Los Angeles, California-born Takei, and his family were placed behind the barbed-wire enclosures of United States internment camps along with 120,000 other Japanese Americans. Inspired by this difficult chapter of American history, Takei developed the Broadway musical Allegiance, which premiered at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego in 2012, won multiple awards, and was followed by a Broadway run in 2015-2016.

“We should indeed keep calm in the face of difference, and live our lives in a state of inclusion and wonder at the diversity of humanity.”

Auliʻi Cravalho- Actress

Auliʻi Cravalho is a Hawaiian actress and singer who made her acting debut as the voice of the titular character in the 2016 Disney movie “Moana.”

She is currently a student at Columbia majoring in environmental science and is also using her platform to highlight the importance of being your authentic self.

“I’m a very happy person. I’m happy where I’m at, where I’ve been and with everything I’ve gone through. I know being happy will only take me further in life, and I’d love to share this passion I have with others.”

Adora Svitak- Author & Advocate

Adora Svitak, the daughter of a Chinese immigrant, began her career as a prolific writer: She had written 300 short stories by the age of 7, and went on to pen three books, including a novel.

In 2013, she became internationally famous for her TED Talk, “What adults can learn from kids,” which was viewed by millions and translated into more than 40 languages. Since then, she’s become an eloquent champion of kids across the world: She spoke at the UN’s Economic and Social Council’s Youth Forum, served as a Verizon Foundation Literacy Champion, and delivered the Girl’s State of the Union. “Our words can have power that we don’t think we have in everyday life – anyone can make a difference.”

For more information about AAPI Heritage Month and resources visit these links:

  • Celebrate and be inspired by individuals within the diverse AAPI community by attending events with the Chinese American Museum in May.
  • Unpack the origins, meaning, and contemporary impact of the term “Asian American Pacific Islander” and collect resources to teach about AAPI history and culture to kids during the Learning for Justice webinar.
  • Enjoy this web series, “Heritage IRL” that engages Asian Pacific American heritage “in real life,” in progress, across a range of media and communities.

Jhon Carro has been a part of the Think Together team for the last seven years and currently works as the site coordinator at Olive Middle School in San Gabriel Valley Region. Jhon has a big and enthusiastic heart when it comes to giving his students a space to not only succeed but to thrive. We are thrilled to give you an opportunity to get to know Jhon more.

Could you share with us your “why” for working at Think Together?
My “why” is that I believe that we have the power to guide our students on the right path not only academically but also as they grow into young adults.

How do you feel like you are changing the odds for kids?
It’s the little things that make me feel I change the odds for kids. From walking the campus and having students wave to me, telling me, “See you after school Mr. Jhon,” or a student telling me, “I brought my grades up, Mr. Jhon.” Also, I feel like I’m making a difference when I receive parent phone calls thanking me for helping their student bring up their grades.

Is there a student who has stuck with you all of this time? Why?
Yes, he’s now a senior in high school. When I met Leo, I remember it was very difficult for him to stay focused on his academics and playing sports at the same time. I was able to convince Leo to join Think Together and we helped him with his academics so that he can continue to play soccer for his club.

What is one of the pieces of advice you would give to a program leader who is just starting at your site?
Every student is different, and they learn differently. Be patient and turn your heart on when you are here at Think Together.

What really helped you be successful as a site coordinator?
To be present and be in the moment. As a site coordinator, we wear different hats which can get overwhelming at times. Realizing that I can only control how I react has helped me be in the moment and embrace whatever comes my way, whether it be admin or program related.

Outside of work, what do you do for fun?
Outside of Think Together, I am a Professional DJ. I also enjoy singing, eating and visiting new places with my wife and son.

What is one of the goals you want to accomplish in 2022? 
At work, to continue to change the odds for our students. Personally, to purchase a home.

Thank you, Jhon for being a strong role model and guide for students. You are changing the odds!

Think Together honored the City of Moreno Valley and the Moreno Valley Unified School District with our annual Champion of Change award for their extraordinary efforts in changing the odds for kids.

The award is part of Think Together’s Raise A Hand 2022 event, where Think Together launched its celebration of 25 years of impacting students through partnerships like the one with Moreno Valley.

Since partnering with the City of Moreno Valley and the Moreno Valley Unified Schools District, Think Together has served thousands of students with academic enrichment, physical activity, and social-emotional learning.

Ten years ago, the City of Moreno Valley came to Think Together to be the city’s expanded learning provider serving students enrolled in the two school districts: Moreno Valley Unified School District and Val Verde Unified School District.

The unique partnership would allow the City of Moreno Valley to be the recipient of the After School Education and Safety (ASES) grant awarded by the California Department of Education and augment the grant funds to ensure every student within its borders had access to expanded learning programs.

“When we began our work together more than ten years ago, I knew as an educator this partnership had real potential to make a difference in the lives of students,” said Dr. Yxstian Gutierrez, Mayor of Moreno Valley. “There’s no greater investment than the one you can make in the future of our students and this one has been no exception. It is an invaluable asset for our community.” 

Over the last decade, this unique partnership has grown in both size and scope, altering the trajectory of thousands of students’ lives and trailblazing new programs that support student learning. In the 2021-2022 school year alone, this has equated to an estimated 6,000 students and has evolved to serve youth and their families with expanded learning programs, helping to provide a safe place for kids to be during typical working hours for caregivers.

Moreno Valley Unified knew students fell behind academically, socially, and emotionally over the course of the pandemic. When the state announced it would be making additional investments into expanded learning, the district was one of the first Think Together partners to tap into Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P) funds to offer full-day summer, winter, and spring break programs.

“Think Together is so impressed with the leadership and collaboration the City of Moreno Valley and Moreno Valley Unified foster to serve students in their community,” said Think Together Founder and CEO Randy Barth. “When new investment opportunities or program innovations become available, they’re the first to lead the way, trailblazing new programs that support student learning and inspiring others to do the same.” 

This spring break was a massive success, with students having a space to have fun with their friends and enjoy enrichment lessons to keep the learning going.

Thank you to the City of Moreno Valley and the Moreno Valley Unified School District for your exemplary work in expanded learning and educational equity.

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March 20-23 was an exciting few days for Think Together! Leaders from the organization attended the National AfterSchool Association’s convention in Las Vegas where they connected with other afterschool professionals from across the country. At the convention, Think Together Family and Community Engagement Coordinator Hernan Sanchez was honored as one of 20 National AfterSchool Association’s (NAA) 2022 Next Generation of Afterschool Leaders. 

Hernan Sanchez joined Think Together in January 2021, quickly gaining recognition among his peers before celebrating his one-year anniversary with the organization. In his role, he helps connect families and communities to resources that help support their children in school, such as library memberships, program enrollment, financial literacy, and more. Hernan earned accolades from leadership throughout the industry for his ability to connect with others on a personal level, despite the unprecedented challenges educators and afterschool professionals have faced during the pandemic.

“When you think of the next generation of afterschool leaders, you think of someone who not only looks at the impact on kids and their community but also sees that expanded learning is a complete support system for our families,” said Think Together Executive General Manager Johanna Lizarraga. “This comes down to innovation and thinking outside the box. Hernan doesn’t see afterschool as just supporting the student. He sees it as fortifying their support system in and out of the classroom.”

The Family and Community Engagement Team at Think Together is a new department cultivated during the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic when Think Together saw that families needed additional support connecting to resources such as the internet, technology, school supplies, and meal services.

Their work has since evolved to give families the tools to support the student’s school day as well as pave a path to college and career readiness and assist with literacy and related educational development services. Think Together has a Family and Community Engagement Team coordinator supporting each of the organization’s nine regions. 

“We are so proud of Hernan for his passion and commitment to Think Together’s mission,” said Founder and CEO of Think Together Randy Barth. “In his short time with the organization, he is making an impact that makes us excited to see what he will accomplish next with us.”

Think Together is thrilled to have Hernan join the ranks of previous honorees of the Next Generation of Afterschool Leaders. In 2021, Helen Welderufael, then Regional Operations Analyst for Think Together’s San Bernardino Region, received the award and has since assumed the role of Talent Acquisition Operations Manager. In 2018, Alberto Bajaras, then Quality Assurance Coach for Think Together’s San Bernardino Region was awarded and has since climbed the ranks to Director of Program and Operations for the region. Stacy Galdamez, Executive General Manager for Think Together, was named in 2017 and was also a Quality Assurance Coach at the time of her recognition. 

In selecting its 2022 Next Generation of Afterschool Leaders honorees, the National AfterSchool Association sought to highlight emerging young leaders under the age of 30 who are active in the broader afterschool community, demonstrate contributions that have started to influence beyond individual programs to entire organizations and communities, are actively engaged in efforts to elevate the afterschool field, have a proven passion for the development of themselves and others, and demonstrate persistence in their work to grow within their roles. 

“This group of leaders represents the creativity, dedication, and commitment of the best of our next generation of the afterschool profession. We are honored to recognize them because we know the important role strong leadership plays in promoting positive outcomes for children and youth,” said Gina Warner, President and CEO of the National AfterSchool Association.

An estimated 10.2 million young people participate in afterschool programs each year and the industry employs an estimated 850,000 professionals and leaders. The National AfterSchool Association is a professional membership association that fosters positive youth outcomes by supporting, developing, and advocating for afterschool professionals and leaders.

Honorees were profiled in the Spring 2022 issue of NAA’s AfterSchool Today magazine. A digital edition of the magazine may be viewed here.

Think Together, in partnership with the Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce, recently hosted the 2022 Inland Empire Education and Workforce Summit at the Historic Ioamosa on March 9, bringing together nearly 200 leaders in the public, education and nonprofit sectors.

The event aimed to create cross-collaboration and constructive solutions to ensure students impacted by COVID-19 are equipped with the necessary academic, technical, and soft skills needed to succeed in today’s economy. Think Together has understood how vital it is to provide high schoolers with resources and opportunities to explore their options.

Bank of America, a longtime supporter of Think Together’s workforce readiness programs, was the lead sponsor and one of the presenting speakers at the event.  BofA provides funding for Think Together’s Workforce Readiness and Education Program (WREP) which helps students develop crucial workforce skills before placing them in internship opportunities.

“We are still learning the exact impact that the pandemic will have on this current generation of students and their futures,” said Randy Barth, founder and CEO of Think Together. “What we do know is we need to focus on supporting students academically, as well as supporting them emotionally and giving them the tools they will need in college, career and beyond in an ever-evolving job market.”

Bansree Parikh, Bank of America president for the Inland Empire shared a powerful testimonial with the audience about her journey from student to workforce leader. 

“Mastery of a trade or job skill can have as significant an impact on lifetime earnings as a college degree, with millions of underskilled workers having the potential to increase their income by as much as 70% if they receive skill or education accreditation,” said Parikh. “This is why Bank of America – not only as a major employer ourselves but as a community leader – heavily invests into workforce education programs and summits like this one that help create pathways to careers in the region.”

Other speakers at the event were California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, who spoke on the current affairs of workforce readiness in California and what the state is doing to support college and career readiness from early learning to high school, and Dr. Angelo Farooq, Chairman of the California Workforce Development Board, followed providing his unique perspective on how solutions can be found when business and government work collaboratively.

Bank of America’s Inland Empire Market Executive Cathy Paredes led a panel to showcase regional perspectives on how the pandemic has changed the workforce landscape and what educators are doing to prepare students for today’s job market. Panelists included Dr. Angelo Farooq, Chairman at California Workforce Development Board, Ted Alejandre, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Ruth Perez, Deputy Superintendent of Schools at Riverside County Office of Education and Randy Barth, Founder and CEO of Think Together.

Think Together recorded the entire summit, and we encourage you to take the time to watch the full video. Within these conversations are keen insights on how afterschool and expanded learning can better help support high school students as they transition into adulthood. 

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“From STEM careers created to address climate change, to education jobs leading the next generation of trailblazers, the state applauds the work of public and private leaders across the state collaborating to create 21st-century jobs for our young people,” said Treasurer Ma. 

The 2022 Inland Empire Education and Workforce Summit was proudly sponsored by Bank of America with San Bernardino County, Small Business Majority, Clearworld and the Otis Academy as supporters of the event. 

Learn more about Think Together and how you can change the odds for student in the Inland Empire at: 

www.thinktogether.org/get-involved. You can also contact Lawrence Gustafson, Sr. Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at Think Together at [email protected].

Awardees were recognized during the NAA22 Convention in Las Vegas, March 20-23, 2022.

Santa Ana, Calif. (March 28, 2022) – Think Together, California’s leading nonprofit provider of afterschool, expanded learning and school improvement programs, is proud to announce the National AfterSchool Association (NAA), has named Think Together Family and Community Engagement Coordinator Hernan Sanchez as one of the National Afterschool Association’s (NAA) 2022 Next Generation of Afterschool Leaders. Hernan was recognized and celebrated alongside 19 other NextGen Leaders during the NAA22 convention in Las Vegas, March 20-23. 

Hernan Sanchez joined Think Together in January 2021, quickly gaining recognition among his peers before celebrating his one-year anniversary with the organization. In his role he helps connect families and communities to resources that help support their children in school, such as library memberships, program enrollment, financial literacy and more. Hernan earned accolades from leadership throughout the industry for his ability to connect with others on a personal level, despite the unprecedented challenges educators and afterschool professionals have faced during the pandemic.

“When you think of the next generation of afterschool leaders, you think of someone who not only looks at the impact on kids and their community, but also sees that expanded learning is a complete support system for our families,” said Think Together Executive General Manager Johanna Lizarraga. “This comes down to innovation and thinking outside the box. Hernan doesn’t see afterschool as just supporting the student. He sees it as fortifying their support system in and out of the classroom.”

The Family and Community Engagement Team at Think Together is a new department cultivated during the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic when Think Together saw that families needed additional support connecting to resources such as the internet, technology, school supplies, and meal services.

Their work has since evolved to give families the tools to support the student’s school day as well as pave a path to college and career readiness, assist with literacy and related educational development services. Think Together has a Family and Community Engagement Team coordinator supporting each of the organization’s nine regions. 

“We are so proud of Hernan for his passion and commitment to Think Together’s mission,” said Founder and CEO of Think Together Randy Barth. “In his short time with the organization, he is making an impact that makes us excited to see what he will accomplish next with us.”

Think Together is thrilled to have Hernan join the ranks of previous honorees of the Next Generation of Afterschool Leaders. In 2021, Helen Welderufael, then regional operations analyst for Think Together’s San Bernardino Region, received the award and has since been assumed the role of talent acquisition operations manager. In 2018, Alberto Bajaras, then quality assurance coach for Think Together’s San Bernardino Region was awarded and has since climbed the ranks to Director of Program and Operations for the region. Stacy Galdamez, executive general manager for Think Together was named in 2017 and was also a quality assurance coach at the time of her recognition. 

In selecting its 2022 Next Generation of Afterschool Leaders honorees, the National AfterSchool Association sought to highlight emerging young leaders under the age of 30 who are active in the broader afterschool community, demonstrate contributions that have started to influence beyond individual programs to entire organizations and communities, are actively engaged in efforts to elevate the afterschool field, have a proven passion for the development of themselves and others, and demonstrate persistence in their work to grow within their roles. 

“This group of leaders represents the creativity, dedication, and commitment of the best of our next generation of the afterschool profession. We are honored to recognize them because we know the important role strong leadership plays in promoting positive outcomes for children and youth,” said Gina Warner, President and CEO, National AfterSchool Association.

An estimated 10.2 million young people participate in afterschool programs each year and the industry employs an estimated 850,000 professionals and leaders. The National AfterSchool Association is the professional membership association that fosters positive youth outcomes by supporting, developing, and advocating for afterschool professionals and leaders.

Honorees were profiled in the Spring 2022 issue of NAA’s AfterSchool Today magazine. A digital edition of the magazine may be viewed here.

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.

Media Inquiries
Elena Bosch
(714) 824-8136
[email protected]

In partnership with Think Together and the Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce, the event gathered 200 education and business leaders to address the need to prepare students for college and career.

Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (Mar. 14, 2022) Think Together, California’s leading nonprofit provider of afterschool, expanded learning and school improvement programs, in partnership with the Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce, hosted the 2022 Inland Empire Education and Workforce Summit at the Historic Ioamosa on March 9, bringing together nearly 200 leaders in the public, education and nonprofit sectors.

The event aimed to create cross-collaboration and constructive solutions to ensure students impacted by COVID-19 are equipped with the necessary academic, technical, and soft skills needed to succeed in today’s economy.

The summit opened with Bansree Parikh, Bank of America president for the Inland Empire who shared a powerful testimonial with the audience about her own personal journey from student to workforce leader.

“Mastery of a trade or job skill can have as significant an impact on lifetime earnings as a college degree, with millions of underskilled workers having the potential to increase their income by as much as 70% if they receive skill or education accreditation,” said Parikh. “This is why Bank of America – not only as a major employer ourselves but as a community leader – heavily invests into workforce education programs and summits like this one that help create pathways to careers in the region.”

The event’s first keynote speaker was California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, who spoke on the current affairs of workforce readiness in California and what the state is doing to support college and career readiness from early learning to high school.

“From STEM careers created to address climate change, to education jobs leading the next generation of trailblazers, the state applauds the work of public and private leaders across the state collaborating to create 21st century jobs for our young people,” said Treasurer Ma.

Keynote speaker Dr. Angelo Farooq, Chairman of the California Workforce Development Board, followed providing his unique perspective on how solutions can be found when business and government work collaboratively. “Students today need the social emotional intelligence and intrinsic support from our business leaders to guide them on the road to success. The pandemic has contracted opportunities for young people to get the hands-on experience they need to enter the workforce and it’s up to us to give those back to them.”

Bank of America’s Inland Empire Market Executive Cathy Paredes led the panel to showcase regional perspectives on how the pandemic has changed the workforce landscape and what educators are doing to prepare students for today’s job market. Panelists included:

  • Dr. Angelo Farooq, Chairman at California Workforce Development Board
  • Ted Alejandre, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools
  • Dr. Ruth Perez, Deputy Superintendent of Schools at Riverside County Office of Education
  • Randy Barth, Founder and CEO of Think Together

“We are still learning the exact impact that the pandemic will have on this current generation of students and their futures,” said Randy Barth, founder and CEO of Think Together. “What we do know is we need to focus on supporting students academically, as well as supporting them emotionally and giving them the tools they will need in college, career and beyond in an ever-evolving job market.”

The 2022 Inland Empire Education and Workforce Summit was proudly sponsored by Bank of America with San Bernardino County, Small Business Majority, Clearworld and the Otis Academy as supporters of the event.

Those interested can watch the Inaugural Inland Empire Education and Workforce Readiness Summit on YouTube. Those looking to get involved with Think Together can visit: www.thinktogether.org/get-involved.

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.

About the Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce (IERCC)

The Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce (IERCC) supports commerce and economic prosperity throughout Riverside & San Bernardino Counties. The IERCC provides a platform for business executives to engage, network, and conduct business with like-minded individuals from all over the Inland Empire region. Learn more about the IERCC visit www.iechamber.org.  

Media Inquiries
Elena Bosch
(714) 824-8136
[email protected]

The prestigious grant enables the organization to scale its highly effective, data-driven education equity model, Teach Lead Counsel (TLC), by transforming it into an accessible digital platform

Santa Ana, Calif. (Mar. 8, 2022) Orenda Education, the school improvement division of Think Together, California’s leading nonprofit provider of afterschool, expanded learning and school improvement programs, announced it has been selected as an Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Grant recipient from the U.S Department of Education.

The prestigious grant awards Orenda with $4 million over five years to innovate their highly effective, data-driven school improvement model, Teach Lead Counsel (TLC), by developing an online platform that can transform their approach into a digital format that is equally impactful and highly scaleable.

TLC provides equity-based systemic changes to schools, so improvement is continuous and sustainable.

  • TEACH builds a powerful teaching and learning system by designing grade-level curriculum, common assessments and instructional strategies while enabling educators to reflect and reassess their methods.
  • LEAD builds the capacity of site and district leaders through a scholarly and technical approach to support the school conditions for staff and students to reach achievement targets.
  • COUNSEL builds the student support services division of the school community where staff use actionable data via an early warning and monitoring software to measure student progress. 

“We are thrilled to be awarded this EIR grant, which allows us to accelerate our work to ensure every student, regardless of circumstance, experiences the premium education that only some have historically received,” said

Dr. Robin Avelar La Salle, Orenda CEO & Founder. “School systems want to provide a true, right and just education for all kids and this new platform will help do just that.”

The TLC model currently serves schools with a high-impact, in-person, systems-driven approach to improve academic achievement for underserved students. The methodologies use data to guide teachers, administrators, and school counselors to ensure that students are mastering grade-level curriculum and are on-track to graduating high school, prepared for college and career ready.

The TLC approach uniquely targets interventions to all levels and professions within a school, district, or charter, not only to teachers, which is more common in the field. This “nested” approach is one of the keys to success towards sustainable, systemic improvement for the entire district.

“The pandemic cast a spotlight on the need to improve student outcomes, especially for our most vulnerable communities who have been hit hardest over the last two years,” said Think Together Founder and CEO Randy Barth. “Teachers, administrators and counselors have the best shot at ensuring these kids have a bright future and I am so proud that Orenda’s refined approach has been vetted through this grant to help all educators serve students in a way that gives youth an equitable education.”

With the number of districts performing below standards, especially in light of the learning loss following COVID-19’s impact to schools, the time is right for a school improvement platform that can reach schools that need less-intensive interactions or those that require geographic flexibility. Orenda will roll-out the new TLC platform to a select group of five “treatment school” cohorts each year, reaching over 5,000 students in year one of the grant and more than 16,000 students by end of year five. To support these cohorts, Orenda plans to digitize the TLC model into a multilayered learning management system, to alleviate the need for intensive staff support.

In partnership with Orenda, the San Diego, Ventura, and Monterey County Offices of Education have committed to help identify and recruit schools compatible to test the platform for this newly funded initiative. Dr. Paul Gothold, Superintendent of San Diego County Office of Education, was an early adopter of Orenda’s work as the former superintendent of Lynwood Unified School District.

Under Gothold’s leadership, Lynwood Unified worked with Orenda to improve students’ math and English test scores, increase graduation rates to 90.8%, and decrease student drop-out rates to 2.5%. Lynwood Unified was named the 2017 National AP District of the Year and Lynwood High School was ranked a 2020 Best High School by U.S. News and World Report.  

“Orenda provides the technical expertise for true district turn-around. The systems approach and professional development modules to build staff capacity ensures all leaders have the tools and resources to be equity leaders for all students,” said Gothold. “Through our work together, we were able to achieve incredible outcomes for students and we’re thrilled to continue working with them on this pivotal program.”

To implement this program, Orenda is looking to immediately hire a Head of Product, Orenda Software, to develop and lead a plan for taking Orenda’s existing software tools to a single solution that any school, district or charter can access. The organization will also be recruiting for data/technology leads, education software developers, data collection analyst and achievement specialist as the work continues to scale.

As the pandemic forced school closures, Orenda seized the unique opportunity to work with schools in a virtual environment, laying the foundation for digitizing the TLC model. Orenda has since increased its impact from 49,000 students reached in 2019-2020 school year to more 90,000 students reached in 2020-2021. In addition, Orenda has steadily grown across California and now partners with districts and schools in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Kern, Sonoma, Imperial, and Santa Barbara counties.

About Orenda Education

A Think Together affiliate since 2014, Orenda Education’s primary focus is to support school and district leaders to provide the right conditions for all students to experience a world-class education, so they are prepared for college and career. This group of highly experienced educational equity warriors partner with school districts to identify research-based equity-grounded solutions for closing the Achievement Gap. Orenda’s proven approach dramatically improves student outcomes and creates paths for college and career opportunities. For more information, please go to orendaed.org.

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.

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Elena Bosch
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Think Together, California’s leading nonprofit provider of afterschool, expanded learning and school improvement programs is the proud recipient of a $317,128 grant from the LA84 Foundation, a nationally recognized leader of youth sport programs focused on positive youth development. This grant will allow more students from under-resourced communities to participate in free team sports opportunities. This news has been covered by Redlands Daily Facts, Riverside County News Source, California News, El Excélsior, and Coachella Valley Independent.

Think Together’s funding from the LA84 Foundation previously covered sports for 3,240 students at 81 public schools across Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. This year, the funding is much more extensive, allowing 7,040 students at 88 schools across Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties to gain access to sports programs. The expansion includes schools in Think Together’s newest region, Palm Springs.

“Think Together and the LA84 Foundation are aligned in wanting to promote equity for kids. For Think Together that’s in the classroom, and for the LA84 Foundation it’s supporting positive youth development through sport and play,” said Randy Barth, founder and CEO of Think Together. “The communities we serve are often under-resourced, and we have seen the value of making sure students are exposed to sports and activity for their physical and mental health.”

Depending on state and county health guidelines, Think Together will provide in-person sports programs with three 10-week rotations: basketball program for boys and girls in the winter; boys and girls soccer program in the spring; and flag football and volleyball programs in the fall, each with culminating tournaments.

Sports programming is a crucial element of students’ education and will help them develop socio-emotional skills and identity development. In addition to competitive sports, Think Together will provide Skillastics, an evidence-based curriculum, with in-person modules in martial arts, STEM and sports, yoga, mindfulness and more. If needed, Think Together can also provide the Skillastics curriculum in a virtual environment to engage students in physical activity while teaching them sports skills.

Research from the USC Keck School of Medicine found that children were less physically active and much more sedentary in the early phases of the pandemic. Based on the study, the highest risk group includes low-income and minority students. Regular exercise and sports programs help student social and emotional development as they learn to work as a team and practice strategy and collaborative thinking skills. In addition, regular exercise helps students focus better while in the classroom.

In support of Think Together sports programs, US Soccer Foundation, Adidas and New England Revolution Midfielder Sebastian Lletget recently gave Compton students the experience of a lifetime. Lletget kicked activities off with soccer drills, dribbling and passing the ball to students up and down the field. The former LA Galaxy player still calls LA home and felt proud to give back to the students Think Together serves.

“I know how important sports can be for building relationships and having fun. I want to share that with these kids and give them the proper gear to hopefully spark something in them to continue being active,” said Lletget. “I’m grateful to have the opportunity to do this and want to give a huge thanks to the team at Adidas and Think Together for bringing it all together. I want these kids to know that with hard work, they can be in my shoes one day or go even further than I have.“

Think Together is grateful to have the support of partners to give students access to athletic experiences to stay healthy and keep their minds sharp in the classroom.

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