Think Together’s Reach Has No Limits!

Think Together’s San Bernardino Regions Honored for Exemplary Work in Expanded Learning

At a reception on Friday, May 3, Think Together’s San Bernardino County Region General Manager Rhonda Scott was named a recipient of a Celebrating ExL Champions Award by San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools. Think Together’s San Bernardino is one of Think Together’s fastest growing regions, serving over 27,000 students and has grown five times in size over the last four years. 

In addition, California State Assembly Majority Eloise Gómez Reyes recently announced that both Rhonda and San Bernardino County Region General Manager Alberto Barajas will be honored as part of the 50th Assembly District 2024 Non-profit of the Year awards. Every year, the California State Assembly honors nonprofits from across the state for their contributions to the community in celebration of the California Nonprofit of the Year Initiative.

The accolades don’t stop there. In celebration of its collaborative partnership trailblazing transformative change for students, Colton Joint Unified School District, a school partner within Think Together ‘s San Bernardino Region, was recently honored as Think Together’s 2024 Champions of Change. Through our 14 years of partnership, Colton Joint Unified has worked towards expanding their daily program hours for before and after school learning, to nine hours at certain schools. Think Together Serves 22 school sites in Colton Joint Unified and supports more than 3,500 students with expanded learning opportunities. 

Learn more about Colton Joint Unified and its work with Think Together here.

Congratulations San Bernardino odds-changers!

BOOST 2024 Fuels Change and Ignites Excellence of Afterschool Professionals

The BOOST Conference never fails to exceed expectations. With a dedication to learning and growing, every year the BOOST Conference delivers more insight that helps in and out-of-school time professionals. This year, Think Together is proud to recognize a full slate of our own speakers that shared their knowledge:

Professional Development, Retention, and Leadership

  •  Dr. Crystal Robinson, Director of Organization Development and Learning
  • Taylor Mayer, Talent Development and Learning Manager

Cultivating Meaningful Partnerships at Every Level

  • Johana Lizarraga, Executive General Manager
  • Samira Mejia, General Manager
  • Maria Bolivar, Director of Program and Operations
  • Ricardo Molina, Quality Assurance Coach
  • Veronica Vallejo, Sire Program Manager

Family and Community Engagement at School Sites

  • Joel Salazar, LAM Region
  • Aimee Rodrigues, SGV Region
  • Breanna Hererra, LAM Region
  • Sara Orellana, LAM Region

Attracting and Retaining Top-Tier Talent

  •  Holly Perry, Sr. Director of Talent Acquisition
  • Allison Lyon, Director of Talent Acquisition

Expanding Student and Self-Awareness and Career Exposure with Find Your Grind

  • Eric Sarb, Account Executive
  • Erika Somogyi, Customer Success Manager

College and Career Success for All: Partnering with AVID

  • Juan Vazquez Varela, Director of Student Impact
  • Dr. Trent Mohrbutter

With over 3,000 in and out-of-school time professionals in attendance, more than 200 workshops, master classes and more, it’s impossible to leave this event without learning a new way to make an impact.

Leaders Gather to Spark Change at 2024 Inland Empire Education and Workforce Summit

As covered in the ​​​​​​Inland Empire Business Journal, more than 200 educators, business leaders and elected officials shared their insights on how communities can bridge the gap between education and the workforce at the fourth annual Inland Empire Education and Workforce Summit.

The summit opened with Jusbith Aguayo, a student speaker from Eisenhower High School, who shared how Think Together transformed her young life, giving her the skills needed to land a job and excel in today’s workforce. Jusbith was followed by an expert panel discussing how businesses, academic institutions and local governments can create opportunities for the next generation of talent.

The afternoon was capped with a keynote address from State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond who emphasized the importance of ensuring access to top-tier education and the necessity for ongoing collaboration between educators, policymakers, and community stakeholders. Thank you to Kaiser Permanente for sponsoring this event that encourages change beyond the classroom.

Julie Miller-Phipps Mentioned in Orange County Register

The recent appointment of Julie Miller-Phipps to Think Together’s Board of Directors was mentioned in the Orange County Register. Julie joins Think Together with over 40 years of experience as President of Kaiser Permanente of Southern California and Hawaii. Using her experience and mission-driven work ethic, Julie plans to support Think Together as we continue to expand our reach.

Think Together staff has taken pivotal moves on its mission to change the odds, bringing us closer every day to closing the achievement gap. The devotion that staff bring to the workplace daily is truly inspiring. Thank you all for contributing to Think Together’s efforts to make a difference.

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