Big Thought

Big Thought offers arts and creative learning opportunities and direct-to-youth programs. It also offers Community Action Team (CAT), a group of youth focused on improving their communities and speaking out to create change.

Programs

• Arts and creative learning opportunities — youth ages 4-24
• Direct to youth programs — Cultivate skill development through meaningful relationships, fostering connections that equip youth with sustainable skills essential for their success.
• Community Action Team (CAT) — A team of focused youth dedicated to improving their communities and speaking out to create change.
• Creative Solutions — High School Students; Middle School Students · Summer · A Dallas-based creative arts program that helps youth in the justice system tap into their creativity, build life skills, and design their futures.
• Dallas City of Learning — Elementary School Students; High School Students; Middle School Students · Year-Round · Connects youth to high-quality learning experiences, in the summer and year-round.
• Learning Partners — Youth Development Professionals · School Year · Provides educators with access to thousands of imaginative, high-quality programs and field trips for elementary students with little cost to the schools.
• Learning Pathways — Youth Development Professionals · Helps youth connect skills and experiences to the pursuit of a college and career goals.
• Metro Opportunity Center at Handley — Year · A collaboration between Big Thought and Fort Worth ISD to redesign alternative education.
• The Fellowship Initiative — High School Students · Multi-Year · Helps young men succeed in high school, prepare for college, and build leadership skills.
• Thriving Minds — Elementary School Students; Middle School Students · School Year · An after school and summer program for elementary and middle school aged youth in Dallas, focused on creative learning.
• Opportunity Youth Community of Practice — Youth Development Professionals · Multi-Year · Brings together stakeholders to share knowledge, and create impactful strategies for opportunity youth.
• SEL Dallas — Youth Development Professionals · School Year · Social and emotional learning (SEL) builds the skills, knowledge and attitudes that students and adults need to be successful in school, work and life.

About the provider

Big Thought was founded in Dallas in 1987. Its mission is to empower and equip youth with the skills and tools to create their best lives and a better world, and to unlock creative potential so all youth can realize their inner greatness. Through community-centered partnerships, experiential learning opportunities, and learning systems, Big Thought works to strengthen community capacity for high-quality programs that support academic, economic, and personal achievement.

Last updated October 31, 2026.