Think Together Leads the Way in “Igniting a Brighter Tomorrow” with State Senators and Community Leaders at its Annual Lights on Afterschool Event
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 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program (21st 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.
