5 Ways Think Together is helping students explore their creativity

Students enrolled in Think Together receive approximately 540 additional hours of learning each school year, and all that time adds up fast! We pack into those afterschool hours various enrichment and core curriculum activities to expose students to new things and potential career paths.

During the 2022-23 school year, Think Together has expanded our arts program offerings for our K-6 students. Thanks to curriculum partners like Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA), P.S. Arts Academy, Building Beats, Segerstrom Center for the Art’s Arts Teach program, and many more, we are integrating a variety of engaging programs into our students’ afterschool experiences.

Read more below about our current accelerator programs!

DANCE EXPLORATION

This class introduces students to a wide spectrum of dance styles, where students develop and refine dance techniques. Each class consists of warmups, skill introduction, and developing the technique that increases the student’s skills, practice, appreciation, and knowledge of dance.

Choreography is taught through the lens of various dance styles and the students work on their group choreography and performance skills as well. This active class focuses on the love of dance, building confidence, and creating while allowing students to shine.

Through our new partnership with OCSA, students in our Orange County region have enjoyed learning Baile Folkloríco since January and are looking forward to performing for their friends and family on March 15.

THEATRE ARTS EXPLORATION

In this exciting class, participants gain experience and insight into the world of theatre arts through the exploration of acting, character development, blocking, original storytelling, artistic choice, finding their voice, improvisation, scene work, ensemble building, and teamwork. Students learn foundational skills, theatre vocabulary, and the importance of all the roles involved in a theatrical presentation. At the end of the course, students share their artistic growth in a step into the classroom presentation for friends and family to enjoy.

VISUAL ARTS EXPLORATION

In this playful and dynamic visual arts class, participants learn about a variety of visual art-making mediums and experiment with their style. Focus is placed on foundational visual arts skills and the importance of artistic choices through the creative process. Students create original 2D and 3D pieces and show off their work in a “step into the classroom” culminating event.

MUSIC ARTS EXPLORATION

In this fun and dynamic class, participants embark on a musical journey that acquaints students with the foundational skills necessary to understand, appreciate, and participate in making music with their voices, musical instruments, or a combination of both.

Each class incorporates engaging activities to help students along their journey of learning music, which may include introduction and refinement of musical technique, musicianship, and expansion of foundational music skills and understanding. To top it all off, the course concludes with a step into the classroom culminating event featuring all of the students sharing their progress in music, learning, and fun!

MEDIA ARTS EXPLORATION

Through supportive and engaging experiential-based arts activities, Media Arts Exploration introduces students to a variety of building blocks that will help to expand their Media Arts Literacy. A Media arts Exploration Residency may encompass such diverse forms as photography, graphic design, creative writing/dramatic storytelling, video & film production, and /or animation to name a few. With an emphasis on a cross-disciplinary approach, specific topics explored will be contingent on teaching artists’ expertise as well as existing resources and site infrastructure.

Interested in bringing Think Together to your school district? Visit https://thinktogether.org/programs/ to submit an inquiry form.

Meet Daniel Sundah, a lead recruiter for the San Bernardino region of Think Together. Daniel grew up in the San Bernardino community since childhood and has a personal connection to the schools he now serves with Think Together. As a recruiter, Daniel spends time in the community telling people about Think Together and showing them how they can make a difference by joining the team. Since starting his career as a recruiter with Think Together, Daniel has demonstrated the core value of service above self. Daniel is known for bringing a unique perspective and outside-of-the-box thinking to ensure he and anyone who works with him is successful. We are thrilled to give you the chance to get to know more about Daniel! 

What is your Think Together “why”? 

My “why” is that I am a product of afterschool programs. My parents both had to work, and after school activities were a necessity for our family. I attended Reche Canyon Elementary and Terrace Hill Middle, which are both schools Think Together serves today! For me, working with the same schools and community I grew up in is a beautiful full circle. What continues to inspire my work is serving alongside bright leaders such as Holly, Allison, and Rhonda, who all guide me and mentor me as a professional. 

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

Last summer, the team and I attended a community event in Rialto. While we were setting up our booth, a parent came up to us and thanked us for everything Think Together does. Because of Think Together, he was able to work full-time and be confident that his kids were getting their schoolwork done. He also mentioned that his kids could not stop talking about their program leader. This conversation was an impactful reminder of my personal “why” and why it’s important to source our Think Together programs with the right staff. 

What one word would you use to describe your work at Think Together? 

Fun. My job is fun. Every day I get to talk to future “odd changers” and share about the meaningful work we do.  

You work with many teams as a Think Together lead recruiter. What qualities do you think make a good team? 

A strong team is one that is goal-oriented and truly believes in the mission. Also, having a leader that is able to accentuate the individual qualities of each team member supports the making of a successful and well-rounded team.  

What would you say to someone who is thinking about joining the Think Together team? 

I would let them know that at Think Together, they can utilize their strengths and talents, not only to grow professionally but also to impact the community.   

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

Tom Hanks mentioned the quote, “This too shall pass” in an interview, and it stuck with me. On days when it seems hard and stressful, I just remember that “this too shall pass.” Keep moving forward. 

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

To keep developing and learning! I hope to become a better leader for the team and myself. And, of course, stay 99% staffed all year! 

Outside of work, what do you do for fun? 

I have three nephews and a niece that keep me busy on the weekends. I also recently got a new puppy that loves to spend time with us as well! 

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

Think Together is excited to share that we have received a $315,000 grant for student sports in 2023 from the LA84 Foundation, a nationally recognized leader of youth sports programs focused on positive youth development.

This grant allows students from under-resourced communities to participate in free competitive team sports from flag football to volleyball, soccer and basketball. Through repeat grants from the LA84 Foundation, Think Together has been able to expand sports program offerings to every one of its middle school programs across Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, giving over 7,000 students at 88 schools the opportunity to engage in sports.

At one school in Think Together’s Palm Springs region, eighth grader Alanna has been thriving since participating in sports. We interviewed Alanna on the sidelines of their championship tournament about how this experience has been for her.

Alanna, how long have you been a part of Think Together?

I joined last school year; my grades weren’t doing too well. I’m not a homework person, so having the designated time to get my homework done after school meant I could get it done and do the things I wanted to do.

How has Think Together helped you?

Think Together helped me get out of my shell. I joined some clubs and made new friends and discovered new interests like the environment club, art club, student council club and the joining flag football team.

We heard that you are the only girl on your school’s team, can you tell us about your experience with flag football?

As a girl, it was a little intimidating to join a flag football team where there is majority of boys on the teams, but I took the chance and I came to practice every day. I was devoted and my coach recognized my hard work and named me captain.

What skills are you going to take with you from your time being captain?

That’s a hard question because there are so many skills. But being a team captain has helped me develop leadership skills for sure. I used to be on the quieter side, I didn’t like talking to people but joining Think Together and having this experience has helped me put myself out there more and be able to introduce myself.

What are you looking forward to most about high school next year?

I’m looking forward to playing more sports in high school. I want to join the soccer team and wrestling teams and make varsity my freshman year. Go big or go home.

Think Together and the LA84 Foundation have partnered since 2008, and have since served approximately 50,000 students with sports programming, alongside sports and healthy living partners like the LA Dodgers Foundation, US Soccer Foundation and Kaiser Permanente.

We are grateful for their renewed investments in our sports programs and excited to provide more opportunities to help students like Alanna to thrive.

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.