EMPOWERING YOUTH.
CLOSING THE OPPORTUNITY GAP

We unlock creative potential so all youth
can realize their inner greatness.

Why Big Thought

Big Thought equips youth in marginalized communities to imagine and create their best lives and world. The secret sauce that makes our work uniquely effective is the powerful combination of our social and emotional focus, experiential learning, community-centered partnerships, equity lens and future focus.

Throughout our 30+ year history of innovation, Big Thought has become a national model in arts education, out of school time systems, summer learning and juvenile justice intervention. Now we’re one of six community partnerships in the U.S. helping scale national best practices in Social and Emotional Learning (SEL).

At Big Thought, we empower youth to:

Build their creative muscle
Develop social and emotional
skills and well-being
Create their authentic voice

Learners

If you’re a student interested in what we offer or already participating in Big Thought programs, learn more about the student experience

Learners

Parents

If you are the parent/s of a Big Thought student, want to sign-up your student for a program, or you are a curious parent who wants to explore what we offer, you can get more information here

Parents

Educators

Whether you are already working with us or interested in learning more about our programs, this hub of information, tools and resources is for you

Educators

HOW WE DO IT

Big Thought designs, curates, and delivers HIGH IMPACT PROGRAMS that are built upon hands-on experiential learning. Because we understand the challenges youth in marginalized communities face, we embrace trauma-informed methodology.

Big Thought has three main ways we work:

Direct to youth programs
Learning Systems
Big Thought Institute

We develop and deliver high quality programs to provide resources to communities with the greatest need. Our direct to youth programs include: Artivism, Creative Solutions, Thriving Minds, The Fellowship Initiative and The Metro Opportunity Center at Handley. Big Thought programs reach more than 14,000 students delivering more than 321,000 learning hours each year.

We strategically connect partners and resources across the city to create learning systems such as Dallas City of Learning, Create Champions Initiative, Learning Partners and Library Out Loud. Big Thought Learning Systems reach over 125,000 students, delivering more than 3.7 million learning hours each year.

We obsess over design, ensuring that our work is research based, our staff is well trained, and that we are evaluating and enhancing our work year after year.  We take our evidence-based best practices and share them with other nonprofits and organizations through a suite of consultation services including professional development, curriculum design and technical assistance.

Our North Star

Our long term vision and driving force is that all youth in marginalized communities will be equipped to imagine and create their own best lives and world.

Mar 17, 2023

Big Thought CEO Byron Sanders Honored as a Recipient of NCAA Legends and Legacy Community Award

NCAA names Women’s Final Four Dallas 2023 Legends and Legacy Community Award recipients This article first appeared on NCAA.org. The NCAA has named five individuals in the Dallas area as its 2023 Legends and Legacy Community Award recipients. The...

IN THE NEWS

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BECOME A MEMBER OF THE TEAM

We’re always seeking great talent to help
advance our mission. Check out current
openings on our team.

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Key Supporters

These organizations are significant supporters of Big Thought and the work we do.
We appreciate your commitment to our community and closing the opportunity gap.