Sioux Falls Thrive Inc

SIOUX FALLS THRIVE WAS CREATED AS THE COMMUNITY CRADLE-TO-CAREER WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE IN 2017 BY A GROUP OF LOCAL LEADERS. TODAY, THRIVE IS IDENTIFIED AS A PROVEN COLLABORATOR IN FINDING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS THAT ENSURE SIOUX FALLS CHILDREN SUCCEED. AS A VOLUNTEER-BASED ORGANIZATION, THRIVE HARNESSES THE POWER OF COLLECTIVE IMPACT BY BRINGING EXISTING COMMUNITY RESOURCES TOGETHER TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY. THE GOAL IS TO KICKSTART ACTION-BASED SOLUTIONS TO THE ISSUES THAT INHIBIT STUDENT SUCCESS, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREAS OF FOOD SECURITY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME. THRIVE FACILITATES THE WORK OF COLLABORATIVE TEAMS AND ENCOURAGES THESE COMMUNITY LEADERS TO THINK INNOVATIVELY TO SOLVE THE ISSUES THAT THEY ARE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT.

KID LINK INITIATIVE - IN FY2022, THIS INITIATIVE EXPANDED TO A LARGER ROLE AS A PROTOTYPE FOR NEW PROGRAMMING BEING DEVELOPED IN THE SIOUX FALLS SCHOOL DISTRICT. ATTENDANCE AREAS AROUND LAURA B. ANDERSON AND TERRY REDLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS BENEFITED FROM THE ENGAGEMENT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN REALIGNING GOVERNMENT, NONPROFIT, FAITH-BASED & SOCIAL SERVICES TO BETTER SUPPORT STUDENTS & FAMILIES IN UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS. KID LINK OUTCOMES INCLUDED (1) USING SCHOLARSHIPS TO EXPAND ACCESS TO AFTER-SCHOOL CARE & TRANSPORTATION (2) BUILDING TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH FAMILIES THROUGH WEEKLY ACTIVITIES (3) ESTABLISHING A COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AMONG FAMILIES (4) EMPOWERING NEIGHBORS TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN IMPACT STUDENT SUCCESS. WEEKLY FAMILY EVENTS INCLUDED FUN, EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES HOSTED BY PARENTS, TEACHERS, NEIGHBORS & OTHER COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS. WITH THRIVE ENCOURAGEMENT, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ADOPTED KID LINK INTO ITS COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS FOR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING IN ALL 23 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR.

THRIVE PROVIDES TECHNICAL SUPPORT & SOLUTION-FINDING FACILITATION TO COLLABORATIVE GROUPS WORKING IN THREE SPECIFIC AREAS OF NEED: AFFORDABLE HOUSING, OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME, & FOOD SECURITY. IN ADDITION, SUB-COMMITTEES (DUBBED TASK TEAMS OR COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVES) HAVE AUGMENTED THE OVERALL STRATEGY WITH SPECIFIC WORK THIS YEAR: (1) LOCAL CHILDCARE CRISIS SOLUTION-FINDING INCLUDING A COMMUNITY WIDE REPORT THAT HIGHLIGHTED MORE THAN 30 POTENTIAL ACTION PLANS; (2) YOUTH DEVELOPMENT COLLABORATIVE WORK TO DEVELOP AN ONLINE HUB THAT WILL PROVIDE IMPROVED ACCESS TO ACTIVITIES AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES PARTICULARLY FOR STUDENTS IN 6TH-12TH GRADES WHO ARE DISCONNECTED FROM SCHOOL, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY; (3) SUPPORTING THE RESEARCH, DRAFTING AND ADVOCACY OF HOUSING ACTION TEAM VOLUNTEERS IN THEIR PURSUIT OF A CITY HOUSING TRUST FUND TO PROVIDE SUSTAINABLE FUNDING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND/OR RENOVATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PARTICULARLY FOR FAMILIES IN THE 30-40% AMI RANGE; AND (4) EMPHASIZING THE GROWING BOUNDARIES OF FOOD DESERTS IN THE COMMUNITY AND PILOTING THE FIRST MOBILE MARKET IN THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA IN AN EFFORT TO PROVIDE IMPROVED ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE GROCERIES IN THE MOST VULNERABLE NEIGHBORHOODS.

OTHER PROGRAM EXPENSES REPRESENT CONSULTING WITH ALLIED COLLABORATIVE GROUPS IN SIOUX FALLS & AROUND THE STATE, PUBLIC EDUCATION, COMMUNICATIONS, CAPACITY BUILDING, STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT, & THE TECHNOLOGY & OCCUPANCY COSTS NECESSARY TO SUPPORT PROGRAM SERVICES.