A young musician plays the guitar and participates in Big Thoughts’ Creative Solutions program.
Creativity as a lifelong foundation
As students head back to school this month, the NBA Foundation is highlighting partners that ensure learning and growth extend beyond the classroom. In Dallas-Fort Worth, Big Thought has been supporting young people for nearly four decades, using creativity as a foundation to inspire confidence, curiosity, and long-term success. From after-school programs to summer initiatives, Big Thought’s out-of-school time programs nurture skills that extend far beyond academics.
President and CEO Erin Offord, who has been with Big Thought for 22 years, said, “We believe that when you build the creative muscle in young people, it can really change their trajectory of life, work, and school.”
With support from the NBA Foundation, Big Thought’s programs help students return to school engaged, prepared and ready to thrive.
Programs for every age and stage
A moment of dance brings enrichment to early learners, spotlighting movement, connection and expression.
Big Thought serves youth from ages four through 24, tailoring programs to meet developmental needs at each stage. Much of this work focuses on the critical transitions young people face from elementary school to early adulthood, with OST programming providing enrichment and support beyond the classroom. Initiatives like Thriving Minds After School blend homework support with arts and enrichment, while Dallas City of Learning combats summer learning loss. These programs align with what Offord calls the “five key domains” of Big Thought’s approach: social-emotional learning, design and critical thinking, digital fluency, the arts, and civic engagement. By combining academic support with creative opportunities, Big Thought equips students with the skills to navigate school, work and life with confidence.
Second chances and new paths
A defining element of Big Thought’s mission is ensuring that one mistake does not derail a young person’s future. Its Creative Solutions program, which has run for more than 30 years, partners with the juvenile justice system to use arts, mentorship, and trauma-informed practices to help adjudicated youth heal, grow, and redirect their path.
Offord noted how powerful this can be for participants: “This program gives young people a chance to heal, grow, and redirect their path,” Offord said.
Community partnerships that matter
Big Thought recognizes that meaningful impact requires collaboration. The organization partners with more than 300 community-based groups across Dallas-Fort Worth, from neighborhood centers to faith-based organizations, to ensure young people in under-resourced areas have access to mentors, teaching artists, and programs. Offord shared how Big Thought sometimes provides funding and training directly to these smaller organizations, helping them bring dancers, artists, and mentors into spaces that might otherwise have no creative programming at all. This model mirrors the NBA Foundation’s own vision: empowering local organizations to create long-lasting pathways for success.
Centering youth voice
Big Thought’s high school participants are provided a space for to be seen, heard, and celebrated.
Equally important to Big Thought’s work is elevating youth voice. Offord described how the organization has taken steps to not just listen to young people, but to co-design programs alongside them. Alumni and current participants now serve on Big Thought’s board of directors, and through the Community Action Team, a youth-led civic advocacy projects that address issues they see in their own neighborhoods.
“We wanted to take the extra step of not just listening to young people, but really working alongside them in designing and leading the way,” Offord said.
Looking ahead with the NBA Foundation
Young leaders contribute back, helping extend the mission beyond creativity to community care and impact.
Looking forward, Big Thought is focused on expanding its Community Action Team, strengthening workforce pathways for opportunity youth ages 16 to 24, and enhancing its “One Door” digital platform to connect families, schools, and communities with creative and cultural learning opportunities through OST programming. Offord also sees increasing potential in peer-to-peer training and industry partnerships that can bridge the gap between young people seeking work and companies eager to hire.
“As we continue to grow the ‘One Door’ platform, our vision is to give young people a single destination where they can gain skills, earn credentials, and turn those achievements into real career opportunities,” said Larry Guillory, chief operating & financial officer at Big Thought.
“It’s about making sure youth not only have access to learning, but also clear pathways to thrive in the workforce and in life.”
With continued support from philanthropic partners, Big Thought is helping youth develop the creativity, confidence, and skills they need to build their best lives and worlds—not just during Back to School month, but all year long.
