Together We… Get Students back to Afterschool

Darlene has been with the organization for the last year and a half as our staffing coordinator in our San Bernardino region. She has played an integral part in the success of the region’s staffing efforts, working to make sure our students have inspiring role models and supporters in their lives. Darlene is the embodiment of service above self, and we are excited to share a little more about her with you.

What’s your “why” for working at Think Together?

The future! The students that go through our Think Together programs represent the future of our communities. I believe in the mission of the org. The lasting impact that we have on kids is super important to me. I strive to provide as much support in staffing to provide a quality program to our students.

What are you most excited about for this school year?

The kids being in person full time! I’m excited to hear that students can see their program leaders, site coordinators, and friends face to face. I’m excited to provide support in closing that gap that students had this past year.

We heard that you’ve also been supporting Palm Springs lately, can you tell us a little about that?

I have thoroughly enjoyed supporting our newest Think Together region. When I was asked to provide staffing support in Palm Springs, I was excited to help get our sites staffed and to help ensure we provide the best program experience to our students returning to in-person learning. Together with Program, Human Capital and our Student Support Services team, we have been able to ensure that our program is running smoothly.

What’s your favorite Think Together memory?

Most of my career at Think Together has been in a virtual setting. My fondest memory of Think Together is honestly seeing how tight of a team we all became during a global pandemic. The opportunity to continue working while students were in a virtual environment and coming up with ways to shift processes originally written for an in-person setting was a challenge I enjoyed.

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve received?

It’s all about perspective. I’ve learned that any situation I am currently in can change by shifting my perspective. Focusing on my perspective and others has taught me to be more resilient, understanding, and perseverant both in a professional and personal setting.

What would you say to someone who is thinking about joining the Think Together team?

Think Together is a program that provides a lasting impact on a student’s life. I would encourage them to consider this fun and rewarding work experience.

Thank you Darlene for your support in getting students back to afterschool!