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20DallasteXasusinghearsasapahoacademicsccessallasTexasishometoanexpansiveartsdistrictthatincludesnumerousvisualandperormingartsvenues.Butlocalleadershiprecognizedearlyonthetroublingactthattoomanyoitsresidentsespeciallyschoolchildrenromlow-incomeneighborhoodswereunabletotakeadvantageotherichanddiverseactivitiesthatwereoccurringthereandthroughoutthecity.ToremedythesituationandusetheartsasastrategytoexpandcreativityandencourageacademicsuccessBigThoughtaDallas-basednonproftcreatedThrivingMindsasprawlingnetworkocommunitypartnersthatworktogethertoensurethattheartsareadailyrealityorthecitysstudentsduringandaterschool.CreativelearningopportunitieshelpkidsbuildasenseoselsaidGigiAntonilongtimepresidentandCEOoBigThought.Theartsofferkidsachancetoidentifytheirownstrengthsandtalentstoexperiencepleasureandtheygivethemawaytosucceedtoeelasenseoaccomplishment.Anadvocateorchildrenandtheartsoralmost25yearsAntonisaystheartsarethesweetspotthatBigThoughthasfocusedonwhilebuildingasystemoopportunitiesorcreativelearninginpartnershipwiththeDallasIndependentSchoolDistrictISDandmunicipalgovernment.Webeganwithastrongartsconcentrationandromtherehavetriedtoconnectthedotssothatthechildrenparticipatinginouraterschoolprogramsaresurroundedbytheacademicandsocialsupportstheyneedtosucceedinschoolshesaid.Operatingfvedaysaweekrom3to6p.m.in39elementaryandmiddleschoolsThrivingMindsusesmusicdramadanceandthevisualartswhatleaderscallthebigAartsalongwiththesmallaartssuchascookingcrochetingstorytellingandgardeningtoengagechildrenandincreasinglytheiramilieswiththeircommunityschoolandtheservicesavailable.WeusetheacronymSTEAMbecauseourrootsareintheartsbutwevegrowntoincludetheSTEMScienceTechnologyEngineeringandMathsubjectssaidBrendaSnitzerBigThoughtsaterschoolregionalmanager.Morethan100serviceorganizationsalsobringathleticsservicelearninghealthandwellnessandcollegeandcareerexplorationactivitiestoThrivingMinds.TheprogrambuildsotheregularschooldaywhichalsobearstheimprintoThrivingMinds.WorkingwiththeDallasISDKindergartenersatW.W.BushmanElementarySchoolcreatedbutterfiesaspartoalessonaboutthewingedinsects.