Creating Magic Through the Arts

For Think Together students across Southern California, the arts are more than an afterschool activity; it’s a pathway to confidence and creativity. A unique way Think Together and Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) have showcased how that vision comes to life is through the magic of ballet folklórico at Disney California Adventure.

Think Together and OCSA invited school leaders and educators, both current and prospective partners, to a special evening to witness the wonder of Disney’s Coco Storyteller live performance at Plaza de la Familia in the park. Many of the dancers who bring the Coco performance to life every evening are the same arts instructors who teach ballet folklórico to Think Together students through the partnership with OCSA.

For Melina Marin, a lead Think Together arts instructor by day and a folklórico dancer at Disney California Adventure by night, helping ignite students’ passion for the arts is her top role.

“It fuels and excites me to see students light up when they really start to find their rhythm and groove!” Marin said. “Every school that I’ve been to, there are obviously different personalities, but the passion remains the same. Science, math, and all those other subjects are important and will always be constant, but the arts really do help you gain a sense of identity.”

**Think Together students took to the stage in Paramount Unified School District for their ballet folklórico showcase this past school year.**

OCSA works with the Orange County dance company Relámpago del Cielo to bring highly trained instructors in subjects such as ballet folklórico and mariachi to Think Together students across Southern California. Marlene Peña-Marin, artistic director for Relámpago del Cielo Grupo Folklórico and director of OCSA’s Ballet Folklórico Dance Conservatory, highlights how crucial arts programming is, especially during the afterschool time.

“The biggest gift you can give any young student is a tool to express themselves, to find their voice, and connect them to their culture,” said Peña-Marin. “I believe that the partnership between Think Together and OCSA is going to be up and down the state of California, without a doubt! We’re going to bring this to a level of instruction that is untouchable.”

For many young students, access to high-quality arts at no cost is something they never thought was possible, but with Think Together and OCSA’s growing partnership, over 3,000 Southern California TK-8th grade students have achieved the impossible. For arts instructor Jacqueline Macias, she was once that young student who didn’t know arts education was an option. Now as a ballet folklórico instructor and a Disney Coco dancer, she is proud to unlock that passion within her students and help mold them through a new form of learning.

Together, Think Together and OCSA are inspiring the next generation of artists whether through ballet folklórico, mariachi, culinary arts, media and film, or other creative disciplines yet to come. Through its partnership, both organizations look forward to collaborating with more school districts to expand access to high-quality arts education that empowers students to dream big and express themselves with confidence.

While math and science build knowledge, the arts build creativity and heart. Today’s Think Together students may be tomorrow’s performers on a grand stage like Disney’s, bringing exciting stories to life.

To learn more about Think Together’s partnership with OCSA or about other dynamic Think Together accelerator program offerings, please explore the links below!

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Think Together is once again teaming up with AT&T to support Think Together’s implementation of The Achievery in out-of-school time (OST) programs. This renewed $525,000 investment brings AT&T’s total contribution to Think Together’s digital learning efforts to more than $1 million, to empower youth with engaging content, real-world digital skills and the tools needed to thrive in a tech-driven world.

The Achievery, powered by AT&T, is a free, ad-free digital education platform that offers lessons in STEM, digital literacy, social-emotional learning, college and career readiness, and more. Designed specifically to complement learning during OST programs, it helps students gain relevant skills while engaging with content in ways that feel fresh and meaningful.

In its first year, Think Together was able to create 2,957 accounts; this includes 2,072 staff accounts, 805 student accounts, and 80 parent accounts. In the upcoming school year, the program will serve students at 175 elementary, middle and high schools across seven California counties.

“Our continued investment in bridging the digital divide is part of our commitment to helping ensure that every California community can thrive in the digital age,” said Susan Santana, President, AT&T California. “By dedicating resources to this cause, supporting The Achievery and Think Together’s mission, we hope to empower more people to use these tools and find success in education, employment and innovation.”

The impact in its first year is already noticeable in the lives of students at Compton High School who served as student leaders in Think Together’s program and led lessons for their peers on well-being, connection, and agency using The Achievery. Students also resonated with the social-emotional learning content from Warner Bros. and Find Your Grind, an all-in-on career and future-ready learning solution designed for K-12 students.

“You get to learn how to deal with your own emotions, and I’m able to start learning something new with my team, something that we’ve never really done before,” Compton High School and Think Together student Ameilia shared. “That’s my favorite part, not only just because of the lessons, but the experience that I get with it.”

Student-led presentations aligned with The Achievery have also proven effective in helping youth better understand how they deal with emotions, conflict, and difficult situations. These daily interactions have been deeply rewarding, as reflected in student testimonials collected throughout the program.

Compton High School and Think Together student Walter expressed his appreciation for The Achievery and how it has helped with his confidence in the classroom. “The Achievery helped me present better with projects we’re doing in school. It helps me a lot to figure out what makes things more enjoyable to look at or more pleasing to students.”

Act For Youth reports that 96 percent of teenagers use the internet daily, and 46 percent say they are online nearly all the time. With digital device use increasing among younger generations, it’s important to remain proactive about how we can better support our students.

The new round of funding from AT&T will continue to support expanding access to The Achievery through staff training and technology investments across Think Together programs. This includes purchasing devices and expanding access to digital learning modules for students and educators alike.

Stephanie Garcia, site program manager at Think Together, said her students have become more confident in response to the lessons The Achievery offers. “I’ve seen a huge impact with student leaders who are running The Achievery, since they had never gone up and presented in front of their peers,” Garcia said. “Now they’re able to do so, and they get to decide which specific lesson, so they feel empowered to teach that lesson to their students and make sure everybody’s engaged.”

Think Together and AT&T are creating a learning environment where students feel seen, supported, and empowered. By expanding The Achievery’s reach, they’re not only improving access to digital learning but also inspiring the next generation of leaders and changemakers.

Learn more about The Achievery and its impact in Compton below.

Think Together is excited to continue its partnership with Edison International, thanks to a renewed investment supporting STEM Coding and Robotics programs. With this funding, 900 middle school students in Jurupa Valley, Perris, and Rialto will gain access to technology and interactive STEM opportunities that spark curiosity and build future-ready skills.

These STEM programs will run on three 10-week rotations, totaling 30 weeks. In each rotation, students were introduced to different topics. Starting with an introduction to visual programming, intermediate visual programming and ending with robotics, where students can build and program robots to conduct various experiments. Each rotation builds on the previous one and challenges students to apply what they learned the week before, increasing in difficulty.

Rialto Middle School students previously engaged in a Sphero robotics activity as part of their STEM curriculum, where programming and computer science skills were put into practice to activate BOLT robots, a STEM robot that empowers students to explore their creativity, coding skills, and inventiveness. In a soccer-style competition, students were challenged to navigate their robots across the mat in a straight line or without veering off course.

For many participating in the activity, it was their first time learning about programming and robotics. While challenging, students enjoyed the complexity of the activity as it actively engaged their mind.

Eighth grader Johnathan especially enjoyed his time during the activity. Although he faced some obstacles, he found joy in the experience as his confidence grew.

“This has been a really fun activity,” Johnathan said. “I love everything that has to do with electronics, so even though I made some mistakes, I really liked being able to learn how to fix them and get better.”

As students delved deeper into the program, Think Together program leader Tanisha Finnie, who led the activity, saw the significant impact the experience had on them.

“Sphero allows them to have fun while they learn how to code and how to play competitive soccer with the BOLT robots,” Finnie said. “Not every student has access to technology like an Apple iPad and the robots, so it’s definitely a great experience for them.”

Edison International, the parent company of Southern California Edison, has a 20-year-history with Think Together with generous grants of over $700,000 geared toward STEM programming for students in the Inland Empire. Beyond financial contributions, they have participated as guest judges for the California Invention Convention, a statewide competition with more than 20,000 participants and 400 chosen school representatives who earn recognition for their innovative household inventions.

In addition, Edison International has donated $8.5 million in educational grants in 2023. Edison International believes that education has the power to change lives, and places major emphasis on programs of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in middle school, high school, and college levels, including tutoring, scholarships, and college-access programs.

Together, Think Together and Edison International are bringing innovation to students and helping them build the skills they need for a future full of opportunities.

Discover how partners like Edison are making an impact below!

As Think Together expands its reach across California, we’re deepening our mission to change the odds for kids through new and impactful district partnerships.

In Elk Grove Unified School District, Think Together kicked off its new partnership during the summer, serving 1,000 students across four school sites. This school year, Think Together and Elk Grove Unified launched core expanded learning programming for 384 TK-5th grade students in two elementary schools.

For Think Together staff and students at Vacaville Unified School District, this partnership will serve nearly 600 students across five Vacaville school sites with homework assistance, enrichment in various subjects, and overall healthy youth development for students to achieve endless possibilities towards success.  

Working together with Lodi Unified School District, Think Together will provide 400 students from Joe Serna Jr. Charter School with program enrichment, Sports Academy, and STEAM Academy, offering diverse opportunities for students to explore and grow their interests.

In addition, Think Together is proud to grow its footprint with the following districts:

Rio School District – Serving 1,500 students across 7 schools with Think Together’s CORE, ELOP, Enrichment and Turnkey programs.

Milpitas Unified School – Serving 1,150 students across 10 schools with Think Together’s CORE ELO program,

Oakland Unified School District – Serving 660 students in 4 schools with CORE, ELOP and ASES Replication.

Stockton Unified School District – Serving 160 students across 4 schools with ELOP, ASSETs Replication and High School Program.

Bringing Leaders Together at the 2025 Inland Empire Education and Workforce Summit

In partnership with Think Together and the Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce, the 5th Annual Inland Empire Education and Workforce Summit, brought together business, education, and community leaders to explore innovative high school programs that are shaping the region’s future workforce.

The event featured remarks from Edward Ornelas, Jr., President of the Inland Empire Chamber of Commerce, and Randy Barth, who opened the program. Dr. Guillermo Escalante, Associate Dean at California State University, San Bernardino, provided a higher education perspective on the regional workforce pipeline and introduced program case studies from Desert Hot Springs High School Principal Omar Tinoco and Palm Springs Unified School District Director of Expanded Learning Amber Gascoigne, highlighting career pathways in barbering and fashion design.

The summit also featured a keynote address from Dr. Angelo Farooq, California Workforce Development Board Member, and a panel discussion moderated by Think Together’s Director of District Partnerships, Johanna Lizarraga, with participation from: Dr. Steve Lee, Kaiser Permanente; Amy Foell, San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership; Dr. Stephanie Houston, San Bernardino County Office of Education; and Dr. Heather Williams Riverside County Office of Education.

Click here to read more about the event.

Palm Springs Life Magazine Celebrates the Leadership of Director of Johanna Lizarraga

Palm Springs Life feature on Johanna Lizarraga and her work expanding opportunities for Coachella Valley students.

For 17 years, Johanna Lizarraga has been helping to shape the future of Think Together students in Coachella Valley. As she rose through the ranks of Think Together, she championed the organization’s mission, empowering her fellow leaders to create meaningful learning experiences and build strong relationships with students, parents and the community.

Today as a Director of District Partnerships, she is a leader who is bridging a gap between school districts and communities to ensure all students have access to the tools that will help them succeed.

Thank you to Palm Springs Life for recognizing Johanna’s exceptional leadership!

Changing the Odds Through the Arts with Orange County School of the Arts

Congratulations to Think Together partner, Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) for being featured in the Los Angeles Times! Together we have impacted over 3,000 students across Southern California with dynamic arts education. Through enriching arts experiences led by professional OCSA teaching artists during Think Together’s afterschool, spring break, and summer programs, students gain hands-on learning opportunities in ballet folklórico and mariachi music.

Think Together Recognized in Modern Luxury’s 2025 Philanthropy Awards

Modern Luxury 2025 Philanthropy Awards feature recognizing Think Together for its impact in education and community partnerships.

We are honored to be one of the many outstanding organizations who were featured in the 2025 Modern Luxury Philanthropy Awards. As we continue to grow, we remain committed to changing the odds for thousands of students and communities across California. In Orange County, we are grateful to our school partners who have helped us bring better opportunities to more than 5,000 students, and we look forward to expanding our impact even further. Together, we are creating brighter futures for every student.

Expanding Our Impact Across California with New District Partnerships

As Think Together expands its reach across California, we’re deepening our mission to change the odds for kids through new and impactful district partnerships.

In Elk Grove Unified School District, Think Together kicked off its new partnership during the summer, serving 1,000 students across four school sites. For Think Together staff and students at Vacaville Unified School District, this partnership will serve nearly 600 students across five Vacaville school sites.

Neighboring school district, Fairfield–Suisun Unified School District, will also mirror a similar partnership with Think Together that will leave a lasting impact on nearly 1,000 students across nine schools. Working together with Lodi Unified School District, Think Together will provide 400 students from Joe Serna Jr. Charter School.

Think Together is excited to begin implementing programs that will positively impact the lives of thousands of students. Click here to read about the other districts joining us in expanding access to quality expanded learning opportunities across California.

Celebrating the Impact of Expanded Learning with Lights On Afterschool

On October 23^rd, across California hundreds of Think Together staff, students and families came together to celebrate the power of expanded learning for Lights On Afterschool. It truly takes a village, and Think Together is proud to foster a strong community committed to changing the odds for kids and “Igniting a Brighter Tomorrow” for limitless opportunities. We’re grateful to our corporate partners, donors and supporters who believe in our mission and are committed to keeping the lights on afterschool.

If you missed our live broadcast, watch it here or read all about the event in our press release.

Virtual celebrations underscored the importance of expanded learning programs and their role in supporting student success.

SANTA ANA, CALIF. (October 24, 2025) – Think Together, California’s leading nonprofit provider of afterschool, expanded learning and school improvement programs, held its annual Lights On Afterschool virtual celebration on YouTube on Thursday, Oct. 23. The event, themed Igniting a Brighter Tomorrow, was part of the Afterschool Alliance’s nationwide advocacy event to shine a light on expanded learning programs.

Think Together’s virtual celebration brought together students, families, community partners and staff to share how expanded learning programs are empowering the next generation to thrive in all aspects of life. More than 800 viewers tuned in to learn how afterschool, summer, WREP, enrichment and more help students stay engaged in school, develop new skills, and discover their passions.

“Lights On Afterschool gives organizations like Think Together a platform to showcase what it truly means to invest in the future of young minds through expanded learning,” said Tommy Brewer, Think Together Senior Vice President of Partner Success and Innovation. “With this year’s state budget increasing funding for ELO-P and expanding eligibility, we’re grateful for the progress made and the opportunity to reach even more students across California.”

In addition to the virtual celebration, nearly 400 Think Together sites across California hosted celebrations in partnership with school district partners. School site events ranged from literacy carnivals to craft fairs, STEM nights to fall festivals, each celebrating the unique ways learning can be supported in the hours after school.

At Magee Academy of Arts and Sciences in Pico Rivera, students set up booths to showcase their creative storytelling, robotics and coding, sports and the science behind outer space. State Senator Bob Archuleta and Pico Rivera Mayor John R. Garcia were in attendance and praised the students for their hard work and the impact Think Together has on the community of Pico Rivera.

”Turn on the lights because kids, you are the future of this country,” said Archuleta during his speech at the event. “When I walked around and I saw these displays and what you’ve done, oh my god, I couldn’t believe you did it. The artistic work, the engineering work, the capacity that you have now in space orientation, everything you’re doing, that’s amazing.”

The afterschool programming Think Together provides in collaboration with districts is made possible by funding through the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P), the After School Education and Safety Program (ASES), and the 21^st Century Community Learning Centers Program (21^st CCLC). These programs play a key role in ensuring local education agencies (LEAs) receive adequate state and federal funding for increased learning opportunities, such as expanded access to academic support, extracurriculars, sports and much more.

With Governor Gavin Newsom’s commitment to enabling universal access to afterschool and summer programs through the Expanded Learning Opportunity Program (ELO-P), state investment has increased from about $800 million per year to $4.8 billion per year. This substantial funding has been monumental in expanding access to students who lacked support from expanded learning programs such as Think Together.

As the state continues to prioritize expanded learning access, Think Together remains committed to serving the communities with the greatest need while diversifying its programs and doubling its footprint over the next four years.

“As we look to the future, we’re privileged to have the opportunity to provide meaningful programs that help ensure every child, regardless of their background, has access to high-quality expanded learning,” said Randy Barth, Founder and CEO of Think Together. “Lights On Afterschool reminds us of what’s possible when we come together to invest in kids.”

About Think Together

For over 25 years, Think Together has partnered with schools and communities to pursue educational opportunity 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 each year. Think Together’s program areas include early learning, afterschool programs, staffing, and leadership development for teachers and school administrators. For more information, call (888) 485-THINK or visit www.thinktogether.org.  

Personal stories and experiences fuel the change we want to see for tomorrow. Sylvia Rojas, Site Program Manager for San Bernardino West, watched her mother struggle to balance work and caring for their family of five. So, when Sylvia learned about Think Together and how SHE can be the first step in generational change, she didn’t give it a second thought. Learn more about Sylvia’s story below.

What is your Think Together “why?” What inspired you to work at Think Together and what continues to inspire your work here.

My why comes from my own personal story of seeing my mother struggle to support our family of five while juggling three jobs to provide care and a roof over our heads. A program like Think Together would have hugely benefitted my family back then. Today, I can still see parents and students have the same need and I am glad that I can be a part of the change and work with Think Together to provide a solution. My experience fuels my drive to create opportunities and provide unwavering support for students and families.

What advice would you give yourself 19 years ago on your first day at Think Together? Would you do anything differently?

Be prepared to handle a full classroom of students! Before Think Together I was used to only managing a group of five students or less so upgrading to a classroom of 25+ students was a big step up. But I wouldn’t change a thing. Think Together has given me a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Is there a student story that has stuck with you?

There is not a singular student story but an experience I have often that has stuck with me. I always tell my students that they will always have a spot at Think Together and can have a career helping students and their community too. Former students are now Program Leaders under my guidance. This has been a full circle moment to see my students return and support the same program that helped them.

It’s finally October which means Fall is finally here! What is your favorite Fall or October Activity?

Our annual Light’s On Afterschool dance performance. Students perform during the school’s Fall Festival at our school. I enjoy the dance performance every year because it creates a unity that brings our parents and teachers together watching our students performed.

Do you have a moment during your career at Think Together that has really made an impact on you?

Prior to working for Think Together, I worked in the retail business for many years. After being laid off, I decided to do something different and applied to my school district as a tutor. I loved helping and supporting students with homework. When Think Together was offered in my district in 2007, I applied and started my Think Together career at the Ontario Center School. One of my most impactful experiences at Think Together, was a visit to the Shalimar Learning Center with CEO Randy Barth to see where it all started. This visit brought back my past with my mom. I saw that this company’s roots were to support those families in need and that I was a part of the team that was carrying on that legacy. I was also inspired by Randy’s dream for the future of Think Together, which deepened my commitment to Think Together’s mission. Over the years, I have seen how Think Together is rapidly growing and throughout it all we keep support for students and families at the center of it all.

What is the theme song to your life? Why?

Coming Around Again by Carly Simon. It’s one of those songs I used to always play, and my girls would sing along with me. To this day, whenever I hear this song, it always makes me happy and brings back good memories.

Outside of work, what do you do for fun? 

I have been traveling during the summer months and travel to Greece, Spain, Barcelona and Paris. My next trip plan is Japan.

In partnership with Think Together and the Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce, the fifth annual summit explored solutions for preparing students for college and career success.

ONTARIO, CALIF. (Sept. 30, 2025) – Think Together, California’s leading nonprofit provider of expanded learning, afterschool programs, staffing, and school improvement services, in partnership with the Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce, hosted its fifth annual Inland Empire Education and Workforce Summit at the Ontario Airport Hotel and Conference Center on Sept 30.

Sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, the summit brought together business, education, and community leaders to explore innovative high school programs that are shaping the region’s future workforce. The summit underscores the importance of aligning education with workforce development to meet the Inland Empire’s growing economic needs. Kaiser Permanente, a longtime supporter of Think Together’s initiatives, plays a key role in helping students access programs that foster real-world skills and career readiness.

“Our continued partnership with the Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce, Kaiser Permanente and so many others, allows us to drive innovation in education and provide meaningful access to WREP programs for students,” said Randy Barth, Founder and CEO of Think Together. “With the ongoing support of our community and partners, we can expand programs that engage students and prepare them for a successful future at a time when these opportunities are needed most.”

“Events like the Inland Empire Education and Workforce Summit demonstrate the power of collaboration between education, business, and the community,” said Edward Ornelas, Jr. “By investing in programs that help students explore their talents and career paths, we’re not only preparing the next generation of leaders but also strengthening the Inland Empire’s economic future.”

Through workforce readiness programs and community partnerships, students develop essential 21st-century skills such as coding, robotics, AI and digital literacy, while also sharpening soft skills like problem-solving, empathy and active listening.

With a population of over 4 million, the Inland Empire is one of the fastest-growing economic regions in the state, making continued investments in education and workforce development critical. Private and public partnerships, like those highlighted at the summit, are key to sustaining high-quality programs and ensuring every student in the region is ready to succeed.

About Think Together

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.

For the past year, Think Together has partnered with Arts & Learning Conservatory (ALC) to bring our STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) Enrichment Accelerator, “Behind the Scenes,” to life through an interactive technical theater program designed for students new to the arts.

Professional theater directors from ALC teach students skills like character development, script memorization, auditioning, lighting design, sound engineering, and other key elements of theater production.

To showcase these new skills, Think Together students collaborated with ALC to present productions of “The Wizard of Oz,” “The Lion King,” “Matilda,” “Alice in Wonderland,” and a variety of others at their school sites.

In addition to technical skills, students learn how to interact and work together. For eighth grade Think Together student Nathaly, she learned the value of teamwork within her role in the production of “The Jungle Book” and even made new friends along the way.  

“I like the fact that we have new experiences since we don’t really get a lot of programs like this. It’s been really cool to see how things work in theaters,” said Nathaly. “It helps me build new skills and I’ve learned a lot about teamwork. Even those kids who, like me, were shy, got to experience new things.”

Many students in the Arts & Learning Conservatory program had never participated in or been to a theater production, making this a completely new experience for them.

“Consistently, I’ve seen kids push past embarrassment, push past being silly when it’s not always cool to be silly. They have each shown significant growth just in believing in what they’re capable of,” shared Toni Pelayo, Arts and Learning Conservatory Teaching Artist. “Part of this program has been challenging each and every student to really do something they’ve never done before and do it with boldness.” 

For the 2024-2025 school year, Think Together served over 1,000 students with 70 hours of exposure to the ALC program across 10 weeks of curriculum, with 35% of students saying they feel more confident and interested in school. ALC currently operates their immersive and technical theater program in eight schools in Paramount Unified School District, with more districts beginning in the winter.

“Think Together’s vision is that all students in California, particularly those from historically marginalized groups, are graduating from high school with all life options available. To accomplish this, we work to identify other community partners who can provide exposure to unique program experiences such as this one,” said Jaclyn Aviles, Senior Strategist and leader of the enrichment accelerator initiative for Think Together. “By exploring STEAM, students find passions and talents they didn’t know they had.”

After a successful school year in Compton Unified School District, the ALC and Think Together partnership is planning to expand to additional school districts across Southern California. The ALC program is only a fraction of what Think Together offers within our enrichment accelerators, which expand to sports and dance.

Opportunities like these remind us that when we invest in students, we are also investing in the future. Afterschool programs are more than a place for homework support; it’s a space to discover new talents, explore passions, and foster confidence that carries into every part of students’ lives. That’s why this October 23, Think Together invites you to join us for our Lights On Afterschool celebration, where we’ll be “Igniting A Brighter Tomorrow” to advocate for keeping the lights on afterschool. Tune in to our live YouTube broadcast at 3:30 p.m. and witness how expanded learning programs are opening doors to endless opportunities for students across California!

Think Together is proud to continue our partnership with Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, which has renewed its $100,000 grant that will help bring early literacy and numeracy programs to students in San Bernadino County. With this support, our youngest learners have more opportunities than ever to strengthen their skills, build confidence, and develop a lifelong love of learning.

To celebrate the continued partnership, San Manuel hosted a book reading event at Simpson Elementary School in Rialto Unified School District. As young readers filled the cafeteria, they were greeted with a warm welcome from the San Manuel team. Monique Osorio, program officer for the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, took her seat at the front, ready to bring “The Little Chick” to life.

When the reading ended, the young students made their way to a collection of books spanning a variety of genres. Thanks to the support of Think Together volunteers from the long-standing Book Doctor program, hundreds of books were available for these eager readers to take home.

Reading opens new worlds for young minds, helping them embrace fresh themes and build new skills. “I’ve noticed they comprehend more of the books they read or listen to,” said Site Program Manager Mereesa Cruz. “It sparks their imagination and shows them that learning can be fun.”

During the 2024-2025 school year, this partnership supported more than 3,300 students across 83 elementary schools, helping them develop essential reading and math skills through daily practice and small group instruction. Through the partnership students have dedicated time each day to reinforce classroom learning in areas like letter recognition, phonics, and number sense.

The impact of this partnership goes beyond student learning. The grant also funded classroom technology and professional development, equipping Think Together staff with the tools and training needed to deliver effective instruction and track student progress. With the ongoing support, site staff can create engaging, personalized lessons and monitor growth more effectively.

Since the program began, 88% of parents reported significant improvement in their child’s academic performance, and 94% say that their child feels more confidents in the classroom. These numbers reflect the meaningful impact early literacy and numeracy programs have on students’ growth and self-esteem.

“Our students are our future, and we deeply value the commitment Think Together has taken to work with our district to invest in each student’s education so that they can thrive,” said Agent of Expanded Learning Programs Norberto Perez of Rialto Unified School District.

As we look ahead, this continued investment from San Manuel ensures that even more young learners will have access to high quality instruction, supportive staff, and a future full of possibilities. With dedicated partners like Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, we can open more doors for students and help them reach their fullest potential.