Thrive Learning Lab wrapped up its two-month summer day camp program with a vibrant celebration on Tuesday at the Coleman James Center, located within the Community Arms apartment complex in Northwest Pasadena.
The event featured a water slide party, arts and crafts workshop, and a hot dog feast, marking the end of a season filled with learning and fun.
A Day of Celebration
“We want to close it out with a bang, and have the kids have fun,” said Thrive Director Florence Annang. “We have the slip and slide here. We have arts and crafts. We have hot dogs being prepared, and we have backpacks being given away.”
The celebration, which ran from 3 PM to 6 PM, showcased the community spirit that Thrive Learning Lab has fostered throughout the summer. Pasadena’s Armory Center for the Arts led the arts and crafts workshop, while a water slide and mobile video game truck were donated for the day’s festivities. In a show of community support, PUSD Board Member Michelle Richardson Bailey contributed to provide dozens of new backpacks for the young participants.
More Than Just a Summer Camp
Thrive Learning Lab is not just a summer day camp; it’s a year-round initiative with a mission “to cultivate young minds to receive excellence on their lifelong journey through Education, Relationships and Community,” according to the program’s website.
The summer camp, which ran Monday through Thursday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, offered a diverse range of activities. Children enjoyed arts, games, Bible storytelling, memory verse skits, swimming sessions at Villa Park, and educational field trips around Los Angeles. Throughout the summer, Thrive collaborated weekly with Side Street Projects, Armory Arts, and utilized the Villa Parke swimming pool.
“We do this by ensuring the confidence needed,” Annang explained. “We also want to provide a space to empower and engage parents to navigate their public school pipeline system that their children will be traveling through from Pre K through to 12th grade.”
Year-Round Impact
Beyond the summer program, Thrive Learning Lab operates an afterschool tutoring program during the school year. Running Monday through Thursday from 2:45 PM to 5:00 PM, the program focuses on homework assistance and engaging activities designed to make learning enjoyable. The goal is to help students catch up if they’re behind, challenge those on track, and provide additional stimulation for those ahead.
Community Engagement and Parent Empowerment
Annang emphasized the importance of Thrive’s location at Community Arms, an area often mentioned as a trouble spot in community discussions. “It’s beautiful,” Annang countered. “The families here are focused on taking care of their kids, and on being a community. It’s all about that. It’s a great place to be, and to work, and to see kids thrive.”
In addition to student programs, Thrive offers a Parent Empowerment Initiative. This initiative educates parents on navigating the public school system effectively, covering topics such as the role of School Site Councils and PTAs, volunteering in schools, filing complaints, and participating in School Board meetings.
Looking Ahead
As the summer program concludes, Thrive Learning Lab is preparing for its upcoming school year afterschool program and events. “If anyone wants to support us, they can give to the link below for our upcoming school year afterschool program and events for our kids and families,” Annang said, providing a donation link for those interested in supporting their mission.
Thrive Learning Lab continues to make a significant impact in Northwest Pasadena, operating within a 140-unit low-income housing complex and demonstrating its commitment to serving underprivileged communities. With its biblical foundation and focus on excellence, Thrive is not just a program, but a catalyst for positive change in the lives of young students and their families.
For more information or to get involved, community members are encouraged to visit www.thrivelearninglabnwpasadena.com or contact Florence Annang at (626) 487-7259.
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