Big Thought

Dallas, TX

Leveraging the community to empower youth

Big Thought began in 1987 as an affiliate of Young Audiences to bring the arts into public schools at a time when they were being underemphasized or eliminated. Since then, Big Thought has grown to over 125,000 learners annually across Dallas by weaving together in-school, out-of-school, and community partnership programs aimed at closing the opportunity gap and equipping youth to imagine and create their best lives and world.

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What it looks and feels like

Big Thought seeds its programs in “program deserts,” high-density and under-resourced poverty areas where young people lack enrichment opportunities, turning otherwise arid after-school and summer hours into fertile ground for learning. In the Artivism program, youth speak out on issues that they care about, ranging from bullying to food deserts, through platforms like a mural and poetry exhibit that toured the city. The Creative Solutions program transforms the lives of youth that are experiencing the juvenile justice system by connecting them with local creative professionals for endeavors like writing and performing an original musical play or recording their own music. Through the extensive Dallas City of Learning partnerships, the summers of over 45,000 K–12 learners across the city are filled with high-quality, interest-based activities that span the arts, STEM, and social-emotional learning and enable valuable skill building. Thanks to Big Thought, the Texas sky’s the limit for Dallas youth of all zip codes.

Big Thought showed me it’s OK to hurt, but you have to learn how to get it out somehow in a positive way.
CHRISTIAN

THE IMPACT

6M+

total attendance in programs and services since 2017, representing over 14 million cumulative participant learning hours

>90%

of Dallas City of Learning youth surveyed indicate they care about the feelings of others, believe their actions can have a good impact on other people, and feel good about their future

70%

youth in Big Thought’s programs display growth in their creativity based on indicators including confidence, knowledge of self, and positive view of the future

MODEL HIGHLIGHTS

Leverages the community

While Big Thought offers direct services and programs, much of its work is strategically connecting youth with partners and resources across the city, enabling access to 700+ community partners, transportation, funding, and in-kind support.

Research-based

Big Thought partners with Southern Methodist University’s Center on Research & Evaluation to evaluate the impacts of its Dallas City of Learning system, and its experiential opportunities target the 21st-century skill development because research indicates they are some of the most desired job skills. Big Thought’s work in summer learning and social & emotional learning has also contributed to research from the RAND Corporation.

Professional mentorship

Many Big Thought programs connect under resourced youth to positive role models. For example, The Fellowship Initiative, which supports Black, Latino, and young men of color who are pursuing college education, offers access to trained mentoring professionals in various fields.