254 - Byron Sanders on Closing the Opportunity Gap in Dallas

<p><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Today, the Getting Smart team is speaking with Byron Sanders about the opportunity gap in Dallas, Texas.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Byron grew up in Dallas, observing differences in opportunity. He remembers his mother scrambling to find enriching activities for him. Now, he’s doing the same thing for the youth of Dallas County on a much larger scale! As the CEO of the 30-year-old nonprofit, Big Thought, Byron and his team serve 150,000 students at more than 400 locations with creative enrichment. Their work is about closing the opportunity gap and building agency, hope, and creativity.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Since the coronavirus pandemic, Byron and his team have been proactively developing ways to continue engaging youth, families, and the broader community <span style="color: #14171a;">—</span> including distancing, auditory, and tactical learning solutions.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">In this episode, Byron speaks about his path to becoming the CEO of Big Thought, how they are working towards closing the opportunity gap through their incredible work in Dallas County, and about the many programs that are helping learners from the elementary level all the way through high school!</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><strong>Key Takeaways:</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">[:11] About today’s episode with Byron Sanders.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">[:50] Jessica gives a quick announcement in regards to the coronavirus pandemic.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">[1:35] Tom welcomes Byron Sanders to the podcast.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">[2:01] Byron speaks about what it was like to grow up and go to school in Dallas.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">[6:05] Byron speaks about how his mot