A Thriving Minds Success Story

At Big Thought, our mission is to make imagination a part of everyday learning, and we do this daily for thousands of Dallas kids through the Thriving Minds After-School program. Giving kids opportunities to imagine possibilities and discover untapped talents is at the heart of this mission.

Prior to coming to the Thriving Minds After-School program at John Ireland Elementary, third-grader Mariyana Hill had never considered herself a dancer. Though the after-school program offered classes, she had never taken formal dance lessons. So when the Thriving Minds site manager asked who would be interested in attending a summer dance camp, Mariyana surprised herself by raising her hand, and soon found herself among hundreds of kids vying for a coveted spot at the Debbie Allen Dance Institute.

Held at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing & Visual Arts in June, the two-week program was created by famed dancer/choreographer Debbie Allen to introduce participants to a range of dance of styles, including ballet, modern, jazz, hip hop, African and tap. Despite her lack of experience, Mariyana snagged a spot at the camp.

“I was feeling scared, like I wouldn’t be able to pass,” she says of the tryouts. “But it was fun. We practiced the dances, and I pretended like it was my parents in the audience, so I was able to do it.”

Even more surprised was Mariyana’s mother, who had never considered this as an option for her child. But soon, she’d tapped into local resources to get Mariyana ballet and tap shoes and tights. Properly outfitted, Mariyana spent the next two weeks happily learning the difference between a plié and kick ball change.

The best part of the camp, says Mariyana was learning hip-hop dance, and getting to meet other kids from Thriving Minds after-school programs from around the city who had also been accepted into the program.

During the institute’s final performance, Mariyana was excited to perform for her parents. “My sister and uncle were there, too,” she says. “Afterwards they gave me flowers.”

The program, says her mother, has sparked a passion in her daughter that wasn’t there before.

On the first day of the after-school program in August, Mariyana ran up to the Thriving Minds site manager and asked with a big smile, “Mr. Spiller, can I please go to the Debbie Allen Dance Institute again this year?”

Her passion sparked, Mariyana is now continuing her dance lessons through the after-school program and even dreams of one-day attending Booker T. Washington. Imagine that….

Thriving Minds After School Photo Update

Here's a snapshot of what our Thriving Minds After School students have been up to the past few weeks:

On October 20, students from Marsh Middle School's LCC Club, part of the Thriving Minds After School program, participated in Dallas After School Network's Lights on Afterschool rally and presented the colors.  One of the students showed tremendous skill with the ROTC rifle as can be viewed in this video.

Learn more about DASN's iDo campaign at whocaresabouttomorrow.org

Marsh Middle School recently hosted a pumpkin contest. Not only were the students dressed in Halloween attire but their pumpkins, too!  First, second and third place prizes went to the most creative and decorative pumpkin. 

Donald Elementary organized a cheer squad to perform for their America Scores soccer program.  The students cheered on their fellow classmates and encouraged team spirit from the families who attended.

SLANT 2011-2012 Kicks Off at H.O.P.E. Farm

The 2011-2012 SLANT: Service Learning Adventures in North Texas program kicked off with a bang at H.O.P.E. Farm in Fort Worth on Saturday, September 17.  Twenty-five boys from H.O.P.E. Farm and nearly 100 volunteers grabbed paint brushes, hammers, shovels and more to implement the service-learning project they designed.  With a goal to inspire a healthier, more active lifestyle, the youth spent the morning installing exercise equipment, landscaping, cleaning up trash and painting murals.  In addition to H.O.P.E. Farm, they also worked on projects at a nearby community center.

SLANT is designed to inspire youth to take up the challenge of improving their neighborhoods and communities in unique and creative ways.  Daryl Johnston, former Dallas Cowboys fullback and current FOX Sports analyst, continues to serve as the chair for the program and Bank of America has returned as the program sponsor.

Thank you to all of the partners who helped make this project a success:  Bank of America, H.O.P.E. Farm, Cooper Institute, Chicken Express-Fort Worth, Sherwin-Williams, Chameleon Chamber Group, City of Fort Worth, Kelsey Patterson, Willie Amos and Big Thought!

Get involved!  Register your team now at myslant.org.

Photo Friday: Movers and Shakers at the Harry Stone Rec Center

Summer camp at Harry Stone Recreation Center had kids moving in the right direction.  The camp is focused on providing youth with health and wellness resources including exercise, dance and sports classes.  The class I observed, Dance Xxplosion, was taught by Victoria Davis.  The class is a combination of elementary and middle school boys and girls.  They have spent the past month learning a variety of dances including hip-hop and modern line dance.  Among the favorites were the Cupid Shuffle, a dance to the Jackson 5’s “ABC”, and a choreographed routine to “Poker Face.” 

Here's what students had to say about their camp experience:

“I do what they love to do.  They dance.  I teach dance because I want invest in their future,” said Victoria Davis, Dance Xxplosion teacher.  Davis is a teacher with Dallas ISD and has been teaching dance for 18 years.

“Dance is something most kids express their emotions through.  That’s why I dance.  I can get out my anger or show my excitement for something,” said Hunter Rascon, 15, North Mesquite High School.  “ You know, people can learn to dance, some people are born to dance, but I think most people live to dance.”

“I like the class because we’re free.  We get to move around and express ourselves,” said Shaquayla Fleming, 13, Seagoville Middle School.

“It’s fun.  I like hip-hop because of the rhythm,” said Sha’Ron Manning, 11, W.E. Greiner Middle School and Exploratory Arts Academy.

Junior Docents at the African American Museum

This post is by guest blogger Tasha Speed, Museum Education & Public Programs, African American Museum

The Junior Docents at the African American Museum had a blast this summer supporting “Discovering Nature and Art,” the Museum’s summer enrichment camp held from June 6-July 15 for 70 elementary-age campers. Docents assisted campers with creative learning activities, exciting fieldtrips and much more. The docents also helped with Dallas ISD’s Thriving Minds Summer Camp, which brought nearly 2,000 middle school students to Fair Park, offering guided tours of the Museum and its collections. But it wasn’t all work and no play, docents were treated to a special performance of Dallas Summer Musical’s Guys and Dolls.

The African American Museum launched the Junior Docent program in March to give high school students hands-on experience as museum curators. Twenty-five students from Dallas-area schools participated, and went through training that taught them about the history, philosophy and practices of museum work. All the docents received a stipend for their work this summer.

For additional information about the Junior Docent Program visit our website at www.aamdallas.org.

Summer Camp News From the Field: Trinity River Audubon Center

Intern Callie here again! On Tuesday I got to travel out to the Trinity River Audubon Center about ten minutes from downtown Dallas. It is remarkable how driving just ten minutes from the hustle and bustle of the city can lead you to this lush forestland full of different plants, lakes and animals! The Center sits on 120 acres and has been open since 2008. Fun Fact: it is the first LEED-certified green building supported by the Dallas Parks and Recreation Department.

The middle school students participating in Big Thought’s programs got to visit the Center this week to do an Eco-Investigation. On Tuesday, the students from summer camp at Hill and Storey Middle Schools piled off buses for a day of fun. There were more than 275 of them who all broke in to small groups of 20 and rotated through various stations.

Despite the scorching heat, the kids all seemed to really enjoy the activities. They got to do a guided river-walk around the premise, examine microorganisms from the lake, formulate their own chemical reactions, learn about the Trinity River from a model complete with flowing water, and lots more! The hands-on aspect of the activities engaged the kids and the enthusiasm of the Audubon staff resonated with the students and made for a fun-filled day. It reminded me of how great field trips used to be!

To see more photos of the kids in action, visit the Trinity River Audubon Center's blog. 

Summer Camp at the South Dallas Cultural Center

Here's a peek into the programming at the South Dallas Cultural Center. Kids of all ages are experiencing programs focused on the visual, media, literary and performing arts. This program is supported by Thriving Minds.

So much great programming happens at this facility under the leadership of Vicki Meeks. If you haven't had the chance to visit go soon! In fact, visit the 3rd Thursday of the month from 7-9 pm for an Evening of Spoken Word Open Mic hosted by Michael Guinn, Fort Worth National Poetry Slam champion.

Oak Cliff Cultural Center's Camp Celebration

Hi, I’m Callie Williams and I have the privilege of interning in the marketing department here at Big Thought. I grew up here in Dallas and am currently a junior at the University of Texas at Austin majoring in marketing. My days here at Big Thought have been filled sitting in on meetings, drafting press releases, and making name badges, just to name a few things. I am learning so much about the working world!

To kick off Fourth of July weekend, last Friday, I got to take a break from making copies to attend a special performance done by students who had been in Big Thought summer camp all of June. On July 1, the Oak Cliff Cultural Center hosted an end-of-camp performance and celebration event for the families of the middle school students who had been participating in a four-week Thriving Minds summer camp program. From the yarn “God’s Eyes” in the front window, to the paper cutouts that served as the backdrop for their stage, the center was covered with artwork the students had made during the camp.

The students put together a theater performance based on biographical stories they had written. They had musical instruments, costumes and masks they had crafted to go along with each scene. They also highlighted the history and culture of Oak Cliff by acting out famous individuals who grew up in area.

During the creative writing portion of the program, the students learned about different types of poetry, and a few shared what they had written. I had been out earlier in the week as they were preparing for their final performance, and they all had so much enthusiasm about displaying all they had learned for their families.

The event closed with, what the kids said was their favorite activity of the whole program--guitar playing. Prior to the program, the majority of the students had never picked up a guitar, and I was amazed by how much they had learned! They split into three different group based on age and ability. The most advanced group played Guns ‘N Roses’ Sweet Child of Mine and one of the talented students sang along.

Afterwards they had a reception filled with hugs and congratulations from proud family members. It was easy to see from all the smiles that the kids and parents were so proud of all the students had learned in such a short time! 

SLANT 45 salutes our community partners!

SLANT 45 community partners are local organizations who committed to promoting the SLANT 45 program through their regional structure. By offering the program to the youth they serve, our partners have ensured that children from all across North Texas were given the chance to participate in a SLANT 45 project.

Our community partners include:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Texas
Boys and Girls Clubs of Arlington
Boys and Girls Clubs of Fort Worth
Boy Scouts of America Circle Ten Council
Camp Fire USA Lone Star Council
Clayton YES!
Communities In Schools Dallas Region, Inc.
The Dallas Opera
Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas
Girls Inc. of Metropolitan Dallas
Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains, Inc.
Girls Inc. of Tarrant County
Girls on the Run
International House of Blues Foundation
International Museum of Cultures
Rachel's Challenge
SPCA of Texas
United Way of Tarrant County
YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas


Here are a few of the SLANT 45 projects done by some of our community partner teams:

Girl Scout Troop 530 of Red Oak held a food drive at their school for the North Ellis County Outreach Center.

The Torch Club team from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Arlington collected DVDs, games and toys for Children's Medical Center.

The Carter Park Angels, from the Clayton YES! afterschool program at Carter Park Elementary in Fort Worth, visited the Fair Park Fellowship Retirement Facility and provided socks for residents and asked them to participate in yoga. They also brought arts & crafts for residents' entertainment.

Service-learning in action

Right now, there are hundreds of SLANT 45 projects going on all across North Texas, from Weatherford to Terrell to Sherman to Midlothian, from big cities to small towns and everywhere in between. 

Take a look at how a few of our SLANT 45 teams are transforming their communities:

The Green Team picked up trash around Lake Grapevine to make the area cleaner and safer for their community.

Girl Scout Troop 2692 from Dallas set up a lemonade stand to raise money for The Family Place shelter.

Mrs. Lilly's 5th grade class in Lewisville created and presented lessons to help teachers at their school utilize the "Smartboards" in their classrooms.

First and second grade students from Sherman ISD wrote letters to and made suncatchers for children at Scottish Rite Hospital.

Feeling inspired?  You, too can do something positive for your community.  Start by registering at slant45.org/register today!

Hundreds come together to clean up McMillan Center

The recent West Dallas Community Center SLANT 45 project got us thinking about one our favorite things: community collaboration. Hundreds of volunteers from Bank of America, ExxonMobil’s Green Team, Trinity River Audubon Center, Austin Industries and many other local organizations braved the heat to paint, plow and plant on the grounds of the center where West Dallas youth have been coming for generations.

It was amazing to see the transformation that took place at and around the McMillan Center over the course of just a couple days, thanks to the hard work of volunteers from all across our city.

And in the end, that’s what SLANT 45 is really all about – working together to leave a legacy of service and collaboration that will last long after game day.

Visit slant45.org to find out how you can make a difference in your community!

Rumor on the Street is...

...that TEDxSMU and TEDxKids are back - October 15 & 16. And they’re looking for creative types--artists, architects and designers--to submit ideas for a performance, installation or interactive-based project. The winning project will receive a $1,500 honorarium plus up to $7,500 for project fees, materials and resources. But time's running out…deadline is July 8. Check out the details at www.TEDxSMU.org/art-commission.

Summer's Coming!

Wow, this year's flown by. The end of the school year is fast approaching, so we're winding down the Thriving Minds after-school program and gearing up for the next big thing: Summer Camp! We're on the move at all levels of the organization, planning, writing, promoting, recruiting, hiring—the list goes on and on. Since we're doing all this hard work for you, the community, we've tried to find ways to inform you about what is available.

If your child is in the Thriving Minds after-school program, stay tuned for more information on the Thriving Minds Summer Camps from the Community Site Manager at your site. They'll be sending your kiddos home with flyers very soon.

If you don't have a child in the after-school program, don't fret! You can join us at the Dallas Independent School District's Summer Quest this Saturday, May 1, from 10 am – 2 pm at Townview Center (1201 E 8th St, 75203). Summer Quest will be full to the brim of organizations offering free and low-cost summertime opportunities, so that every child in Dallas that wants something constructive and creative to do this summer can get signed up. It'll be a four-hour summer camp extravaganza!

And if that doesn't work for you, join us at Sizzlin’ Summer Kickoff at Paul Quinn College (3837 Simpson Stuart Road, 75241) on May 15th from 10 am – 2 pm for another summer camp fair. This event will feature free and low-cost summertime activities for kids of all ages, college readiness workshops for parents and students, health and dental screening, and employment and internship opportunities.

So there it is—everything you need to get your kids set for summer learning. We'll see you around town!

SLANT 45's Citizen Volunteers

SLANT 45 is under way and attracting a LOT of attention! We are lucky to have so many groups and organizations throwing their support behind this project - from the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee to the local school districts to the mayors of 112 cities in North Texas and many more. Some of our most invested partners are the Junior League of Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Arlington, and Richardson, and The Links, Inc. from Plano/North Metroplex, Mid-Cities, Trinity, Dallas and Fort Worth. These groups were among the first to sign on and offer their services as volunteer partners - and they've been hard at work with us ever since.

The women of the local Junior League chapters are working as coaches' assistants. When a project leader, or "coach," registers their team, the League closest to them springs into action. Each team is assigned to one member, who sends the coach the information packet, playbooks and t-shirts. The Junior League member is also available to help the coach set up awareness opportunities and events, and give hands-on help and advice. This is the first time that all the local Junior Leagues have banded together to work on one single project, and we are certain we couldn't do it without their help!

The women of The Links, Inc. are part of the SLANT 45 Speakers Bureau. They have done intense training, and know everything there is to know about the project. When a school district, corporation or organization calls us and asks for more information, our volunteers are ready to go out and share their knowledge. Without them and the other members of our Speakers Bureau, we would be hard-pressed to inform everyone who's interested in the project.

A project of this size - 20,000 kids, 45,000 hours of community service - demands an all-hands-on-deck approach. However, our biggest pool of volunteers with SLANT 45 are those parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, teachers, and youth organization leaders who are serving as SLANT 45 team coaches for groups of kids in their lives. It’s easy to volunteer as a team coach! You get to set your own schedule, your own timeline, align the team project with the interests of your teammates and spend your time on something you’re passionate about! Most importantly, you’re involvement as a team coach teaches kids the value of giving back to their community.

We’ve had a variety of projects with SLANT 45. Some are done right in one’s own home, such as starting an electricity conservation campaign with your kids. Others involve sports teams like the one featured on this blog – Team Sasha, whose coach helped a children's basketball team start a Lego collection in honor of their teammate Sasha Okhotskiy. Others, like Stephanie, an afterschool program director at Clarke Elementary School in Fort Worth, worked with her group of students to come up with no less than FOUR fantastic service-learning programs.

There are many ways you can be involved. If you are interested in signing up a team, you can register on the SLANT 45 website – you’ll get all the (FREE) materials you'll need to get your team started AND an invitation to the blowout bash that’ll be thrown at Cowboys Stadium in January to celebrate your efforts and those of your team. What are you waiting for? Sign up today!

Photo Friday!

In response to the lack of quality programs for all kids during spring break, Thriving Minds and the African American Museum partnered up to host a spring break camp.

For 3 days children participated in a variety of visual art classes offered from museum staff and our Big Thought's Thriving Minds after-school Assistant Site Managers. Professional artist Leo Hassan opened up the camp with an African drumming master class and he and Melody Bell, an African Storytelling artist, returned for the culminating event — a Family Night on March 18th — and provided an engaging storytelling and musical family experience for the parents. Over 100 parents and kids attended the family night. Check it out!

Quality: A Meaty Subject

What if I told you that I was gonna fix you a steak dinner, but when you came to my house to eat it the kitchen was infested with ants, the steaks had been sitting out all day and I served 'em on a paper plate? Very quickly, you’d realize that even a steak dinner can be an unenjoyable experience if the quality isn’t there. That’s why Big Thought holds Quality Panels - to make sure what Dallas is serving up in- and out-of-school is grade A, prime-cut teaching and learning…

The eighth triannual panel kicked off last Wednesday with a BANG! Fine arts teachers from Dallas ISD, community arts and culture pros, Big Thought staff and national arts education hotshots came together at the Meyerson Symphony Center (home of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra) to dig into arts programs in Dallas.

Our task was to go out into the community to watch teachers teach and children learn and then come together in groups based on discipline (theater, visual arts, music and dance) to talk about what we saw. We talked about strengths - how much better the training and support for arts education is now than when we began this process and what we can do to call attention to that. We talked about weaknesses - what's still not clicking, what we need to do to fix it and how we can share the responsibility.

It was an eye-opening experience for many - even veterans of the Quality Panels saw things that were new and different; and that, after all, is the point. We use this in-the-room research and observation to help us make arts education better both in- and out-of-school. It's not for our benefit...it's for the benefit of our community partners, who've stood with us for the last 20+ years to get fine arts back in the curriculum and in the hearts and minds of the citizens of Dallas. It's for the benefit of the educators, who deserve the support and opportunities to improve their techniques and discover new ways to reach children. Most important of all, it's for the benefit of the children of Dallas, who deserve an unparalleled education that prepares them for success throughout their lives.

Now: who wants that steak dinner?