“For me as a leader, as an arts leader, it’s making sure that we’re designing our programming not just so students can learn our particular discipline, but look further out,” shared Tiffany Jackson, Director of Education at Bishop Arts Theatre Center. “How can they use these things that are taught to them in the future? Are these skills that they’re learning transferable?”
“The experience was helpful and very informative as well as transformative in the way we look at delivering and learning skills, and bringing out the gifts within our participants.”
“This project was something that elevated the work that we do by giving us a platform to speak to what the young people actually learn. It allowed us to do more than scratch the surface of what our programs are doing and, for us, raised the bar for what we originally saw for our program – going from a local to global possibilities.”
“I see this as a way to communicate to parents that design thinking, that entrepreneurial skillsets, that problem-solving are skills that all girls are going to be able to apply, whether they own a business, lead a business or work for a business,” shared DeShawn Robinson-Chew, Founder, SheEO Academy.
The Learning Pathways Fellowship is best suited for organizations that
Meet the Learning Pathways Fellows
- Bold Idea
- Excellence by Design Education Center
- EAGLE Scholars Program
- Urban Dreams Music and Arts Program
- Dallas United Crew
Bold Idea students learn computer science by creating hands-on computing projects and building relationships with technology mentors. Bold Idea is centered on experiential learning, and is available at several schools in Dallas ISD, where they serve as an after-school Coding Club.
Excellence by Design Education Center provides resources to disadvantaged children and families that address educational, social, cultural, and economic needs and support educational equity in closing the gap between opportunity and achievement for those who live near or in poverty.
EAGLE Scholars is a college-readiness program for 7th-12th grade students. EAGLE Scholars is relationship-based and student-centered. Our combination of individual family meetings, college readiness meetings, college simulation program, exposure to career opportunities, and engagement in cultural activities, address low-income students’ unique needs to be prepared mentally as well as academically to be the first in their family, and of the minority of their community, who go to college.
Urban Dreams Music and Arts is a nonprofit corporation that offers inner city youth between the ages of 8 and 19 advanced study and high caliber success in instrumental music and dance. UDMA’s objective is to transform the lives and minds of young people by developing character, challenging emotional, physical, psychological, and social recreation while promoting the values of team work through camaraderie, honor and respect by dignity, determination with grit, and perfection through showmanship.
Dallas United Crew’s mission is to UNITE and EMPOWER DALLAS through ROWING and DRAGON BOATING. DUC offers a variety of rowing and dragon boating programs for adults and youth age 11+ on White Rock Lake located in East Dallas.
The Creator Archetype provides the foundation for Learning Pathways, outlining the skills, competencies and experiences that equip and empower youth to create their best lives and world.
- The Creator Archetype
- Social and Emotional Foundation
- Academics and Artistry
- Digital Fluency
- Design Thinking
- Civics and Service
The Creator Archetype was developed through a design process that included interviews and focus groups with youth, K-12 educators, higher education leaders, industry leaders, community organization leaders, and Big Thought staff. The design process also included a thorough review of existing literature and frameworks related to youth skill development and learning pathways.
Our driving question: What are the skills and competencies a young person needs to be able to imagine and create their best lives and world.
Creators are digital explorers. They take a balanced approach when using digital assets and can effectively navigate and employ both existing and emerging technologies to make judgments, solve problems, and bring new ideas to fruition.
Media & Technology | Data | Identity & Privacy | Content Creation
Creators are solution-oriented. They can see and understand a need, build an approach to address the need, and ultimately implement a solution; even if it requires multiple iterations.
Ideas into Action | Time Management | Storytelling | Agility
Creators are participants in their communities. With visibility and understanding of all levels of governmental systems and power dynamics, they are able to navigate systems and be agents of change.
Volunteering | Advocacy & Persuasion | Public Speaking | Convening
