Celebrating Our Leaders and Partners!

It wasn’t easy juggling high school, college applications and advocating for diverse curriculum but that didn’t stop Althea from achieving endless possibilities.

Ever since Althea was a freshman in high school, she has shown a passion for public service and advocacy for quality education. She displayed this enthusiasm when she and a few classmates established a chapter for a nonprofit called Diversify Our Narrative. The nonprofit aims to “empower students as change makers” by promoting and integrating Black, Indigenous and authors of color within their school’s English curriculum.

Althea continued as a trailblazer serving her community when she pursued a summer internship with State Senator Susan Rubio’s office before starting her first fall college semester. She shared how her love for her community and public service blossomed when she was younger.

“A lot of my early childhood aspirations were very much focused on education or STEM, but it always revolved around public service. It wasn’t until Covid came around, that I became self-conscious and reached a point of self-actualization that I really started getting involved within my community,” Althea said. “My passion for people and my overall love of my community just grew exponentially.”

Althea’s devotion to her community pushed her to reach for the stars when it came to following a path to higher education. Being a first-generation college student, she faced many challenges, especially navigating college applications and filling out financial aid forms. She shared that Think Together’s support made the process easier for her.

“Coming from an underserved community with predominantly first-generation students and immigrants, it’s very hard to find those opportunities for us. The great thing about Think Together is that it really provides you with a community of support, resources and pathways,” Althea said. “I had help from some of my Think Together coordinators to build my resume, since I didn’t have any way to navigate that being first-generation.”

During her time as a Think Together student, Althea took to the stage at Think Together’s Raise a Hand philanthropy event where she celebrated our 2023 Champion of Change, Azusa Unified School District, for the support she received during her time as a student.

Althea shines bright at UC Berkeley where she is pursuing a degree in social and philosophical foundations of education.

Althea is an excellent example of Think Together students and alumni’s hard work and determination. It is an honor for Think Together to be a steppingstone for our alumni’s promising futures. We can’t wait to see what they do next!

Learn more about our amazing alumni and their stories as they pursue their goals and dreams.

Since the partnership began in 2008, Think Together has expanded sports program offerings to every one of its middle school programs stretching from the San Fernando Valley to the Coachella Valley. Each year, more than 7,000 students at 88 schools gain access to team sports, ranging from flag football to volleyball, soccer, and basketball through the LA84 Foundation.  

Data from the Aspen Institute’s 2023 State of Play report states that students are engaging less in team sports today than prior to the pandemic, which is leading to a new health crisis: one related to physical fitness and mental health. Sports are proven to improve not only physical health but also mental health.  

“The research shows that physical activity is as important for learning and development as time in the classroom,” says Think Together Founder and CEO Randy Barth. “Think Together’s partnership with the LA84 Foundation allows our organization to offer a well-rounded approach to ensure student minds and bodies are active and healthy.”  

That’s why Think Together is proud to award LA84 Foundation the Champion of Change award. This commendation recognizes the longstanding and impactful partnership the LA84 Foundation has forged with Think Together over the last 15 years through cumulative grant funding totaling $2.2 million. 

The LA84 Foundation believes in the transformational power of sport and emphasizes the importance of equity in access to organized team sports. As a legacy of the 1984 Olympic Games, the LA84 Foundation has provided grant awards to organizations that focus on positive youth development through sport for the last four decades. The Olympic and Paralympic values are fundamental to the work of the Foundation, and the organizations it supports: friendship, respect, excellence, determination, courage, and equality. 

“The LA84 Foundation is grateful to be honored with the Champion of Change Award, and for our 15 years of partnership with Think Together as we advance our shared goal to build more opportunities for students to receive the lifelong benefits of sports participation,” said Renata Simril, President & CEO of the LA84 Foundation. “As we celebrate 40 years of impact as a legacy of the 1984 Summer Olympics, we will also continue building upon the work of longstanding partners such as Think Together in our collective efforts to remove barriers to sport, play and movement for kids in every community.” 

Private grants from funders like the LA84 Foundation are pivotal to Think Together’s expanded learning programs and provide students with equitable access to academic enrichment.  

Think Together students practice and compete in three 10-week rotations: a basketball program for boys and girls in the winter; a boys and girls soccer program in the spring; and flag football and volleyball programs in the fall, each with culminating tournaments.  

Leaders within the organization have seen the impact our LA84 Foundation partnership has made on students. Athletic and Events Project Specialist Christopher Fernandez, who oversees the sports program at Monseñor Oscar Romero Charter School, shared the benefits that he sees firsthand.   

“In my role, I’ve seen the LA84 programs benefit students in Los Angeles schools,” shared Christopher. “By providing access to sports, improving academic performance, and fostering community building and leadership development, these programs can significantly impact the lives of students in the region.” 

Brian Cisneros, volleyball coach at Crown Preparatory Academy Middle School, shared how he personally has experienced the impact sports had in his own academic journey.  

“I personally can recall a time when I didn’t take my grades very seriously until I joined baseball and was going to be cut from the team. This gave me the incentive to get my grades up and stay out of trouble. Now, looking at it from a coach’s perspective, I can see how excited [students] get just going to practice. Being able to provide sports for these students helps keep the kids off the streets and gives them a sense of purpose and belonging to a community. It’s also great to see how a lot of players who were new now understand the fundamentals of the sport.” 

Even parents see the benefits of team sports for their children. “I encourage my child to participate in sports because I feel it brings out the best in him. The after-school program treats sports as an introduction to what some of these students will have if they want to join competitively in high school. They check for grades, behavior, and attendance. It shows that if they want to be part of something like sports the students, too, need to give it their all,” shared a parent of a middle school student. 

Think Together is proud to honor the LA84 Foundation as a Champion of Change for its continued partnership and commitment to students. 

In addition to sports programs through the LA84 Foundation, Think Together partners with the U.S. Soccer Foundation, Adidas, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, and Kaiser Permanente to educate and engage students in healthy living.  

Think Together is proud to partner with Edison International, which recently renewed its $30,000 investment in STEM Coding and Robotics programs. This support will provide 900 students across 10 middle schools in Jurupa Valley, Perris, and Rialto with access to technology and engaging STEM learning experiences.

Our STEM programs run on three 10-week cycles, totaling 30 weeks. Students were introduced to visual and introductory programming, followed by robotics. Each cycle builds on the previous one and challenges students to apply what they learned the week before, increasing in difficulty.

Rialto Middle School students 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 activity overall. Sixth grader Jubilee shared that Sphero BOLT robots were a cool experience and what she hopes to take away from the activity.

“I would like to learn more about robotics and engineering,” shared Jubilee. “I like how I was able to control it like my little pet, but it’s not alive.”  

Site staff also saw the benefits of Sphero for students’ academic development. “With Sphero, they can code and learn how to play competitive soccer with the BOLT robots, shared Think Together Program Leader Tanisha Finnie, who led the activity. “Students also get to use technology they normally wouldn’t have, like an Apple iPad and the robots.”

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.

Think Together is proud to partner with Edison International to bring inventive expanded learning opportunities to the students we serve. Follow Think Together on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter for more stories.

A strong need to invest in students’ educational success is what drove Alissa Franco to be a pioneer in her field. Alissa goes beyond her title of lead Program Leader at Lakeside Middle School in the Santa Fe Springs region and continues to push the boundaries in education with new initiatives. She was a part of the team that introduced high dosage tutoring at Graves Middle School in Whittier – where her leadership led to academic gains for students and created a lasting partnership within the community. Read more to learn about what Alissa is doing next!

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

It was an opportunity to gain experience working with children. My plan is to eventually become a teacher and Think Together offers hands-on experience with early learning and child education. As I have built bonds, the children have become my continued inspiration and why I am excited to come to work each day. I work so hard to make sure they have an afterschool program where they are cared for and supported in their educational journey.

The high dosage tutoring program was brand new to Graves Middle School last year, can you explain what it was like to be one of the pioneers of this program and why you were interested in the first place?

It was a scary and brand-new experience to be one of the pioneers of the program. I wasn’t sure what was expected from the program or myself. Even though I was diving into the unknown, the relationships built with my SPM, students and district members were all I needed to take on the task of introducing high dosage tutoring to the school. I was already committed to another school site but wanted to stay to take on this challenge and be a part of this exciting new program.

What do you hope the students will take away from high dosage tutoring?  

I hope students will develop a better understanding in subjects where they struggle academically. During my work, I have noticed that students are relying on technology more and not taking detailed notes. This affects their understanding, and they often feel nervous to ask questions later.  I would love to see them leave with new studying habits and the confidence to ask questions.

What is something you wish parents, teachers, and people knew about working in the education field and with students? 

 I wish they knew that patience is mandatory! Many students learn and take in information differently. It is important to learn each student’s way of understanding and with a classroom of 20 or more students, it can take some time. So, if your students are not where you expect them to be, try speaking with them. There are also times when working with students and juggling other professional responsibilities become overwhelming for teachers and Program Leaders. So, please, practice being patient with those who work with students daily. 

Is there a student story that has stuck with you? Why?

My student story taught me to believe in the power of relationship building. At the beginning of last year, there was a student, and his older brother enrolled in our high dosage tutoring program. His mother really believed they would benefit from the tutoring, but he was in another program and the transition to Think Together was hard for him. He would hide and would never participate in student activities. This student’s aversion to the program did not discourage me; instead, I decided to talk with him and continued to offer support so when he was ready to learn, we would be waiting with open arms. As our program expanded, we set him up with his own tutor, and he began to excel. Creating that relationship of support and guidance changed this student’s attitude completely and he no longer fought to stay away. It was an amazing feeling to see that we were making a difference.

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

It’s okay to make mistakes and ask for help. We are all humans with different responsibilities and mistakes are bound to happen. We learn from asking questions. Everyone learns and teaches differently and if they ask questions then they are willing to learn.

What are the professional goals you are hoping to accomplish in 2024? 

I want to gain more experience in leadership and management. I believe I have some experience, but I know I can learn more from my peers and my SPMs. I would love to take what I learn and what I know to become a SPM.

Outside of work, what do you do for fun?  

Outside of work I love to cuddle up with my cat George and watch some of my favorite movies.

We can change the odds for kids through the community our leaders build. Vanessa Avalos, Site Program Manager at Indian Hills Elementary in the Riverside Southwest region, is a great example of a leader who does this and has made it her mission for Think Together to be more than an afterschool program. Academic tutoring, extracurricular clubs, and community bonding events are what has helped Vanessa create a family in Jurupa Valley and a safe space for students to excel. Read on to learn more about Vanessa Avalos.

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

My “why” is my students and families. I’m inspired by their growth — academically and socially. Seeing my first set of kindergarteners now in second grade has brought me so much joy. I can’t wait to see how much growth we see at the end of this school year.

What is one project/event/lesson you are looking forward to in this school year?

The event I look forward to is our family egg hunt. We host a picnic and games, and we get to celebrate with all our families.  It is a great social event where the parents are having just as much fun as the kids. It is also a way for us to strengthen our bonds within the community and create lasting memories.

How do you set your team up for success as the school year starts and how do you stay motivated?

The way I set up my team for success is being open-minded to all learning styles. In a manager position I need to be aware of how we all like to work. My team is amazing and they, along with my students, are my motivation and without them we would not have a program like we do today

Is there a student story that has stuck with you? 

During our NID program, we had the chance to work with many students with different backgrounds. My team was a host for other sites in Jurupa Valley, which is a fun challenge to bring multiple sites together. Once all students and staff were together, I made sure to let the visiting kids know that they were part of our program, even though they weren’t with us all year round.  By the end of their time with us, I had developed a bond with all these students and was sad to see them return to their home site. Good news is we still get to see them during field trips and other events and it’s great to catch up and see how much they have grown!

How do you encourage and motivate new and returning students to stop by Think Together?

I do it through our student testimonials. My team and I strive to be the best for our students, and we hope they share this with their peers and encourage them to learn more about Think Together and all the opportunities available. Once a student shows interest in Think Together, we make sure they know it’s a space where they can come for any reason. Whether it’s for homework support, enrichment clubs, sports or academics. We always keep our doors open to all students.

What are the professional goals you are hoping to accomplish in the 2024 – 2025 school year?

My goal is to provide students, families, and my staff with a safe and supportive environment. Communication with all is key. This means keeping an open and ongoing conversation with students about what they need and consistent communication with parents on how to support their child.  

Outside of work, what do you do for fun?  

I like to hang out with my family and play volleyball or softball. Creating memories is my favorite way to spend the weekend.  I love to travel anywhere near water but my dream vacation in 2025 is Costa Rica.