Make a difference in 2026
DonateBy Tre Kelly
By Kristina Cola, Sr. Director of Learning Systems at Big Thought Kristina Cola helps shape the strategies, partnerships, and learning experiences that connect young people to meaningful pathways across school, work, and life. Her leadership helped guide the vision for Big Thought’s inaugural Opportunity Exchange Summit. Why the Opportunity Exchange Summit mattered There are moments
By Tre Kelly
Chief Executive Officer | Big Thought Owning your power, claiming your space, and mastering the role — this is what Erin Offord, CEO of Big Thought, brings to the table and conversation. Rooted in a philosophy of abundance and attuned to her intuition, she approaches leadership from a place of community and support, not ego. Her
A midpoint reflection from a nonprofit board chair By Anthony Bégon, Board Chair, Big Thought I am roughly halfway through my tenure as Board Chair of Big Thought, and I have found this to be a natural moment for reflection. Not because of a single milestone or inflection point, but because good governance and leadership
We’re grateful to share that the NBA Foundation has renewed its investment in Big Thought. This renewed support strengthens career readiness pathways that help young people build real skills, real confidence, and real momentum toward opportunity—rooted in what Big Thought does best: creative learning, collective impact, and youth voice. Why this matters now The future of work is changing fast.
By Tre Kelly
DCoL proves citywide ecosystems can distribute learning dosage and still deliver impact – while outlining the model, evidence, and policy steps for communities to replicate and scale equitable, creative learning systems. Big Thought, serving as the backbone agency for Dallas City of Learning (DCoL), has continued its focus on enhancing out-of-school time (OST) programs for
By Tre Kelly
Longitudinal Report of Dallas City of Learning Outcomes over a 7-year period finds that summer program participation is linked to meaningful and age-specific benefits. Big Thought, serving as the backbone agency for Dallas City of Learning (DCoL), has continued its focus on enhancing out-of-school time (OST) programs for youth in Dallas. By offering a broad