Think Together, Author at Think Together

In this special edition Together We, we want to highlight the tremendous work our Talent Acquisition Team is doing to bring new staff members and leaders into our organization. This has been no small feat and is always ongoing work but they are doing a phenomenal job! Join us in celebrating this team as they share their proudest moments working to bring in the staff needed to change the odds for kids!

Daniel Sundah

Region: San Bernardino

One of my proudest moments was to see the fruit of our labor come to life at the school site. Cucamonga District started off our Summer Program back in May and hearing how much the kids enjoyed their time in the program and their meals throughout the summer made it all worth it. #AHOD

Stephany Debski

Region: Southeast Los Angeles

My proudest moment has been seeing the flourishing synergy saturate itself throughout the Talent Acquisition team. Each member has dug to the deepest depths of determination to staff our regions for summer and while I had no doubt we would be successful, seeing our success come to fruition brings a humble satisfaction.

Dane Bomberry

Region: Riverside

The proudest moment I’ve had since joining this team at Think Together has been watching how all of us on the Talent Acquisition team came together for summer SLR hiring. It was amazing to have the whole team working towards a common goal and being able to support and help each other when things got challenging or overwhelming. I think the experience from SLR made us all a stronger and more aligned team ready for whatever comes our way!

Laura Rivera

Region: Home Office/Orange County

Navigating the dynamic staffing environment TOGETHER and ensuring all of our programs had adequate staff this summer is my proudest moment. The Human Capital team has been working around the clock to reach hiring goals, and I’m proud of the team’s dedication and commitment to changing the odds for kids!

Joanne Tabora

Region: Bay Area

I am #ThinkProud of being part of a diverse Talent Team that achieved the goal of hiring 100% Program Leaders and Site Leaders for the Bay Area’s first Think Summer Program. I am also proud of keeping our children safe by being part of the process to ensure we have child-oriented educators & leaders who understand developmentally appropriate practices.

Stephanie Ayala

Region: LA Metro

All I ever want to do is provide resources to communities like the one I grew up in. At the end of the day for me, it’s about hiring quality staff to support kids. Not many people realize how much of an impact our staff has on these children. My goal is always to provide those mentors for kids.

Jessica Trujillo

Region: Santa Fe Springs

My proudest moments have been watching our candidates fall in love with Think Together’s mission and vision just like I did 10 years ago. For me it was more than just reaching a goal, it was being able to share my journey with candidates and get them excited about their journey they were about to start.

Jenn Ayala, Senior Human Resources Business Partner for our SELA Region, has led this group through this hiring push. Jenn had this to say about the team, “I am beyond proud of the work the Talent Acquisition Team was able to accomplish with staffing this summer. We were able to make a HUGE impact in changing the odds for kids!! The amount of solidarity and perseverance that the team showed needs to be celebrated. We truly have phenomenal staff working in the Talent Acquisition/Human Capital Team department. Thank you everyone for all your hard work! Now on to fall staffing…”

If you know of a friend, colleague, or family member who would be a good fit to join the Think Together team encourage them to apply at thinktogether.org/careers, and our recruiters will take it from there!

Cucamonga School District in our San Bernardino region was remote for the majority of 2020-21 school year, but our connection to the community is as strong as ever. As California has started to reopen, our San Bernardino staff have been able to do something they waited a long time for… to interact with students in person once more.

“It feels great seeing students again, they’ve grown up so much since the last time we saw them,” said Los Amigos Elementary School Site Coordinator Jennie Sanchez.

Toward the end of May, 117 students ranging from kindergarten to fifth grade began their 4-week long Think Summer program at Los Amigos Elementary School filled with fun, friends, and learning recovery. To keep students socially distant, Los Amigos had 25 staff members to support summer learning, breaking most grade levels into two classes. San Bernardino always leads Think Together in kicking off our first summer learning programs, and our team is constantly prepared for surprises.

This year the unexpected came in the form of a need for nutritional services. Three days before the program was set to begin, Think Together was informed that the school district needed Think Together’s support to provide the two meals required each day for students. If Think Together wasn’t able to help with a solution, the summer program could have been in jeopardy.

Think Together sprang into action and, in no small feat, found food vendors willing to work with Think Together to help feed students. The students enjoyed healthy and hearty breakfasts from Corkey’s and balanced and nutritional lunches from Boston Market, Panda Express, Dickie’s BBQ and Papa John’s Pizza.

In addition, Site Coordinators got certified in food handling and safety, becoming Think Together’s first “lunch ladies.” Think Together worked closely with Cucamonga School District’s Food Services Director of their Nutrition Services Department to make sure our staff were compliant with district and state requirements, including adhering to all nutritional, health and safety measures.

“At least 75% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, so ensuring these students got meals over the last few weeks has been crucial,” said Cucamonga School District Superintendent Mike Chaix. “We are so grateful that Think Together was able to go above and beyond to help make this possible.”

Food security is something that many don’t think about when it comes to an afterschool program but providing students with meals is just as vital as providing them with educational programs.

“You can’t focus on an empty tummy,” added Jennie.

Where we normally only support students during after-school hours in the academic year, summer programs run from 8 a.m.- 2 p.m. with a packed schedule. Students had the opportunities to learn core curriculum in STEM, arts and enrichment and physical activity. One fun component this summer has been using Voyagers curriculum to take the students to Ancient Greece.

As our Think Summer programs conclude for San Bernardino, we want to thank all of our partners, staff, and community members for meeting this moment of need and ensuring that students had an amazing four weeks.

“The future is always beginning now.” -Mark Strand

The future is in good hands! We love to celebrate the academic achievements of all of our Think Together graduates, but each year we have the tough decision of whom will receive our Faces of the Future award.

We spoke with three of our Faces of the Future honorees, Jacobo, Habib, and Maria, to hear a little bit more about their experiences in Think Together and what’s next.

Throughout the pandemic, Think Together needed to pivot to meet the needs of our students and school partners. This year especially, we strove to create opportunities for students to connect, learn and lead in ways that they will feel confident and prepared for college and career.

“Think Together has been able to support me every time I join a session. Although it’s on Zoom, I’m able to have human contact and get a sense of normalcy by talking to peers and staff. My motivation did go up and thanks to the support from staff, I was able to pass all my classes,” says Maria.

This school year has been challenging for all, but we have seen that instead of discouragement, these students are motivated to bring about the change they want to see in the world.

“I am motivated to keep working and finding the next obstacle there is for me to tackle. I have worked hard to ensure I find success, and I know that once this is all over and life is back to normal, the world will make more advancements in all aspects than at any other time in history. I am eternally grateful for all who were part of my journey up to this point and hope to make everyone who believed in me proud by always maintaining a positive mindset and persisting through adversity to pursue my dreams,” says Habib.

While we are thrilled to see what is next for Jacobo, Habib and Maria, we are also going to miss them being part of our high school programs. Their leadership and participation in various clubs, tutoring opportunities, and more are part of what makes our programs as successful as they are.

“I love Think Together because it does not feel forced or like school, it feels like a friendship that allows me to be myself and have fun while keeping the professionalism in an educational environment,” Jacobo says. “I know I will continue to reach out while in college because they have helped me so much and they have made it known that they will forever be there for me when I need them.”

Our Faces of the Future recipients have their goals set high and will attend Vanguard University, Oxford College of Emory University and UC San Diego with majors in Criminology, Biomedical Engineering and Political Science.

Faces of the Future award recipients each received a $2,000 scholarship and a new laptop for college. With this extra boost, our students are excited to begin this next chapter in their lives.

We want to thank Pacific Life for sponsoring this year’s Faces of the Future award at our Raise a Hand 2021 virtual event and for helping us celebrate these amazing students.

As graduation season comes to a close, we want you to join us in celebrating all our graduates on our social media!

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

Juneteenth is an opportunity to pause, recognize, and cement this moment in our national history. June 19, 1865, is the date that Union Soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas with news the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free, two and half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Our goal today is to promote and cultivate knowledge and appreciation of African American history and culture. It’s a celebration of freedom and achievement and encouraging others to work on continuous self-development and respect for all cultures.

We want to share resources that you can use at home and in the classroom to talk about Black Lives Matter, Juneteenth, and the more difficult topics such as systemic racism, privilege, and antiracist policy. One of the best ways to help your child develop is by supporting their social and emotional development through difficult conversations.

Social-Emotional Learning is a large focus of our programming. It teaches students to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.

When having conversations like these, it is okay to feel uncomfortable, but the way to move forward and create meaningful change in the world is by developing a growth mindset and embrace continuous learning.

We hope that you will join us in learning more!

Jazzlyn Rivas joined the Think Together team in August 2019 as Riverside Region’s Substitute Coordinator after graduating from UC Santa Cruz with a B.A. in Psychology. Since then, Jazzlyn has helped her region meet the moment by taking on the additional role of receptionist and assist in regional efforts to support our students. We are excited for you to get to know Jazzlyn a little more.

Jazzlyn, what has been your “why” for working at Think Together?

My why for working at Think Together is because I get to work in the community I grew up in and see it grow as I do. Without the support of the afterschool staff I had growing up, I would have been very lost academically. As part of our Human Capital team, I get to help our program staff give kids the same support I once had.

What has been your favorite Think Together memory so far?

My favorite Think Together memory would have to be going to my first Lights On Afterschool event. I don’t get to go to our sites often but being able to see our programs in action and celebrated by the school, program staff, families was super exciting.

How have you met the moment during the Pandemic to support Think Together’s mission?

During the pandemic, I have met the moment supporting Think Together’s mission by being adaptable and open to change. I’ve embraced every challenge that has come my way by creating opportunities. A big accomplishment for me during this time has been assisting our region in our technology distribution process, ensuring that our program staff has all the technology needed to provide distance learning programs for over 90 schools in our region.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given in the last year?

The best piece of advice I have received in the last year is that to give my all, I must be there for myself. Monthly we dedicate time in our region to wellness where I am reminded that, “you can’t pour from an empty cup.” During this pandemic, because many of us have had to work from home, it is often difficult to realize what burnout looks like. But being reminded to invest in myself first has allowed me to set healthy boundaries where I can give 100% to both, my work and myself.

Is there a current quote that inspires you?

A current quote that inspires me is by Paulo Coelho, “When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better, too.” I like to believe that if I work hard to do my best, the little progress I can make adds to a bigger part.

With that idea of becoming better…What advice would you go back in time to give yourself when you started your job?

If I could give myself advice when I first started working at Think Together, it would be to create as many connections in our organization as possible. Especially recently, I’ve been reminded that to create efficient systems, it is important to know how all our departments work. Knowing about both program operations and human capital functions has been a big lift in moving forward and the relationships I have built with others has widened my perspective and helped me find solutions to the challenges I’ve faced.

Is there anything else you want to share?

I am so excited to continue my journey at Think Together. I hope to grow in our Human Capital team and can’t wait to see our region and the organization keep growing as well.

Jazzlyn, thank you for meeting the moment and supporting our mission to change the odds for kids!

Think Together’s hiring efforts have been a massive undertaking as our organization heeds the call to address student learning needs in a post-pandemic educational environment.

Those efforts have garnered the attention of local news outlets looking to support our mission of changing the odds for kids through youth services and expanded learning throughout the state.

Watch the videos below of Randy Barth, Founder and CEO, and Rupa Patel, Strategic Projects Specialist for our Human Capital team, sharing the importance of filling these roles ahead of summer and beyond.

We’re looking to fill nearly 300 roles throughout Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside and San Bernardino counties with both part-time and full-time positions available. In addition, we’re currently hiring almost 50 part and full time roles in our Bay Area schools over the next 2-3 months as we staff for summer and fall.

We are in a tremendous growth period thanks to strengthened support from our state officials and legislative representatives looking to address student learning recovery. But we can’t do it alone and we need passionate, enthusiastic team members to carry out our mission of changing the odds for kids who need it most.

If you know someone who might be a great fit for a program leader role at Think Together, please have them apply at thinktogether.org/careers.

Let’s fill these vacancies and change the odds for kids!

As educators, we all have the responsibility to ensure that everyone feels accepted no matter their race, religion, or sexual orientation.

Pride Month occurs in the United States to commemorate the Stonewall riots, which occurred at the end of June 1969. As a result, many pride events are held during this month to recognize the impact LGBTQ+ people have had in the world.

One of Think Together’s primary focuses in our programs is Social-Emotional Learning, which teaches students to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.

Social and emotional learning doesn’t stop once we are out of school; it is continuous learning and understanding other people’s perspectives, and accepting differences.

Join us this month in learning more, becoming better allies and cultivating safe and inclusive spaces for all. The resources below are a great start.

Since March 2020, when California schools were mandated to continue instruction using distance learning, Broadcom Inc. and Think Together have collaborated to help bridge the digital divide for under-resourced students across California. Recently, 25 students at Roosevelt Elementary School in Compton received laptops, marking 600 digital devices total donated to Think Together staff and students in Los Angeles County and beyond since schools closed their doors to in-person learning due to the pandemic one year ago.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, Think Together pivoted to provide virtual expanded learning programs to 150,000 youth including students experiencing homelessness, in foster care and children of essential workers across California, and this would not have been possible without Broadcom’s donation of nearly 600 laptops,” said Randy Barth, CEO and founder at Think Together. “Our collaboration with Broadcom allows us to provide students in Compton and throughout the state with the tools and support needed to succeed.”

This year, Think Together honored Broadcom with its “Champion of Change” award at our Raise a Hand 2021 virtual event which recognizes an outstanding partner dedicated to changing the odds for kids. Broadcom has been recognized for helping Think Together and its school district partners across California meet this moment through transformational support of student programs in the areas of technology and innovation. Since the start of its partnership in 2018, Think Together and Broadcom have distributed nearly 2,000 laptop devices to students across the state.

“Broadcom’s in-kind contribution of computers has always been important, but now it is essential,” said Paula Golden, president of Broadcom Foundation. “The pandemic requires that every child have access to computer technology remotely if they are to stay current with the education priorities of their family and their schools. Broadcom Foundation and Broadcom in collaboration with Think Together make it possible for young people to stay engaged in STEM education and other important classroom teachings.”

Compton Unified School District (CUSD), which includes Roosevelt Elementary School, was the first Think Together school district partner to work with the organization to operate in-person learning hubs. These in-person hubs were designed to support students with limited access to technology at home and provide a safe and stable learning environment and much-needed academic support.

The laptops will aid Think Together students at Roosevelt Elementary School and will provide students with technology to support their academic achievements as they engage in the organization’s interactive STEM programs including coding and robotics.

“Having access to learning technology has been critical now more than ever, with the onset of the pandemic. Whether learning in person or virtually, our students deserve to have access to quality learning, quality after-school care, and quality devices,” said CUSD Superintendent Dr. Darin Brawley. “We appreciate Think Together and Broadcom’s partnership and support in ensuring these students have devices of their own.”

“It is undeniable the value of partnerships in ensuring that students can fully participate in learning in all of its forms. This pandemic has been hard. We know that the best place for students to learn is in the classroom, fully supported educationally and emotionally. However, having partners like Think Together and Broadcom is one way we can ensure our students have what they need and know that we care about their wellbeing,” said CUSD Board President Micah Ali.

Bay Area Quality Assurance Coach, Pete Reyes has been a part of the Think Together team since 2013. Coworkers and leadership alike recognize him for his dedication, determination, and for always being a great support system for his team and region. Pete continues to demonstrate the value of his leadership and is always looking for opportunities to continue to develop. We are thrilled to introduce you to Pete and share a bit of his story with you.

What is your “why” for working for Think Together?

My why for working for Think Together is because I have the opportunity to serve the communities that have supported me. I have been lucky enough to have had positive people and structure in my life and I intend on returning the favor. I am proud to work for an organization that allows me to provide programs that put positive adult figures into the lives of children that can help make a difference in their lives. Every day I choose to use my time to be of service and make a difference.

Did you always want to work in education?

I did not, I honestly had no idea how much this job would have affected me. Once I felt the impact I was making and saw the difference I could make in people’s lives I knew I was in the right place.

Being a QAC, what have you seen Think Together sites help with during the pandemic?

During the Pandemic I have seen Think Together shift in real-time to support the changing needs of our students, families, and employees. I have been very proud to see how our organization has put the people first and done everything we could do to help and understand the challenges we are all facing. In just one academic school year many of our programs have provided three different offerings based on the needs expressed by our communities and district partners. I am very proud of how our organization has reacted to the challenges the pandemic has created and that I can play a part in helping our families.

What has stood out in the 2020-21 school year that has inspired you the most?

What has stood out to me the most this school year has been the mindset of our site leaders. As we began planning to return to in-person programming our site leaders rose to the occasion. These leaders navigated the challenging and demanding environment the pandemic created and ensured the programs we were opening were safe and supportive of our student and staff needs. These leaders inspire me with their dedication and drive to serve our communities and their non-wavering focus on keeping our people safe.

What is one piece of advice that you’ve given to your team that you think everyone should know?

One piece of advice that I would give is to be aware that the little things we do each day have long-lasting, potentially life-changing, effects on others. Helping a student with a difficult day, being there for them when they are hurt or upset, organizing something fun, or just asking someone how they are and telling them you care about them can make a huge difference. We truly have the opportunity to change lives and it can happen at any moment.

What are your professional goals?

One of my main professional goals is to support the expansion of our extended learning programs through the quality of services we provide. I believe our opportunity to provide summer programming is a catalyst to expand our programs to other districts and communities.

Long term I am focused on expanding my leadership lens and personal development to prepare for the next steps within the organization. I am eager to see how my new role will increase my ability to personally drive conversations and create relationships that will help our services reach more and more students each year.

Is there anything else you want to share?

Every day I am grateful to have this opportunity. I choose to take this opportunity to help others and truly enjoy the ability to have a part in changing lives for the better. I encourage you all to make that same choice, you may be that one person in someone’s life that makes the difference.

Pete, thank you for supporting our mission to change the odds for kids!

Graduation season is exciting for all of us at Think Together, but it is even more exciting for the nine recipients of our Good to Great scholarship. This year, we were able to award nine $2,000 scholarships to incredibly deserving students.

The senior year of high school is usually the highest point of an adolescent’s life. For the class of 2021, it has been a much different end to their journey before they make the leap into adulthood. This year has been filled with concerns about graduating, getting enough financial aid to have the college experience, while often helping to support their families.

Many students have had to grow up much faster than they would have otherwise had to but likewise, these students have big goals and even bigger dreams to make a difference in the world.

With graduation season underway, we spoke with many of our graduating seniors and while their stories are different, their strength and ambition shine through the barriers they have overcome.

Think Together’s Good to Great scholarship is given yearly to outstanding students who, through their hard work, have the potential to be engaged adult leaders in their communities after graduation. Additionally, students who receive this scholarship receive a mentor who will help support and guide them through the first two years of college.

This year’s recipients will be attending Columbia University, USC, UCLA, Cal State San Marcos, Vanguard University of Southern California, Rio Hondo College, Mt. San Jacinto College, and Southern New Hampshire University. If that is not impressive enough, these students want to pursue careers in Business Administration, Marketing, Psychology, Education, Criminal Investigation, and more.

“I used to be a really shy person who wouldn’t put herself out there as much and I wouldn’t always want to talk or lead a group project or a presentation. Now I am the complete opposite. I tend to volunteer to take the lead roles in presentations. And not only that, I was also comfortable enough this year to make a video to advertise the program. To be 100% honest, Think Together really did change me into a whole new person and I couldn’t be prouder of that,” says one of the students.

Think Together’s high school programming is very different from our more traditionally formatted elementary and middle school afterschool programming.

From helping with credit recovery to college tours, scholarship application assistance, and internships through our Workforce Readiness Education Program (WREP), our high school students can feel supported as they look towards the future while also having time to hang out with their friends and participate in a custom-built program that fits the needs of their school campus.

Over the next several weeks, we will be featuring high school seniors on our social media channels and we want you to be part of that celebration! Be sure to be following us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to not miss any of their inspirational stories!

These students are our future, and they are ready to make the future theirs while making a positive impact on the world.

Together We…Bring in Next Gen Leaders