About us

This organization was an idea shared between 2 students who were in the midst of walking down very difficult roads. There was anxiety, uncertainty, and confusion about the climate we were about to re-enter back into. There were numerous questions left unanswered concerning the resources we felt were needed for our specific circumstances. What is vital to some, may not have been the specific thing we needed to continue growing. We both were college graduates, group facilitators, artists, and most importantly social justice advocates. As it turned out, jobs helping our communities and higher education continued to be the main theme all the way up to now. We have now made our dreams come to fruition with THRIVE.

Teaching Hope, Resilience, Independence, Vision, and Empowerment is the acronym for THRIVE and the foundation of what we aim to bring into our communities. We have acquired like-minded friends who have similar dreams and talents. Our team has experience in the field of social services, teaching and advocating for diverse populations is our expertise. Our educational background consists of Peer Support Specialists, BA, MA, and Doctoral degrees. We are leaders in the non-profit space, teachers in academia, facilitate groups inside jails, prisons and juvenille halls, and have taught and spoke about this work globally. Our aim is to continue to make our world a better place and develop leaders who will pay it forward, one community at a time..

Pedigree

Pitzer College

A place where creative, engaged scholars push for change – together.

Passionately ahead of the curve since 1963.

As a hub of forward-thinking and action-oriented education, Pitzer College has earned the No. 1 spot in the “Making an Impact” category in Princeton Review’s “Best Value Colleges of 2026.

“The Pitzer Inside-Out Pathway-to-BA is at the heart of Pitzer College’s educational objectives and core values, particularly social and racial justice, social responsibility, and the ethical implications of knowledge and action.”

Melvin L. Oliver

Pitzer College President, 2016-2022

University of Southern California

USC, L.A. and California’s southland are inextricably linked, having grown together from a literal "cow town" in the 1800s to today’s global epicenter in creativity, diversity and innovation. As a great private research university that serves the public good, we foster a symbiotic relationship across the city and throughout SoCal — advancing society and elevating humanity.

USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism is recognized as a global leader in communication and media studies, consistently ranking at the top in QS World University Rankings for this subject. In 2017, USC Annenberg held the No. 1 position worldwide, leading among American universities including Stanford, UC Berkeley, Columbia, Yale, and Northwestern, based on research, teaching, employability, and internationalization metrics (USC Global).

Loyola Marymount University

At LMU, we illuminate new ways of thinking where creativity is boundless and justice prevails. Where progress is celebrated. For over a century, we’ve empowered leaders in their ambitious pursuit to secure a brighter world for all.

LMU Extension is an approved CalMHSA training provider, and the course meets the educational requirements necessary for applicants seeking to take the state certification exam to become a California Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist... Participants will gain the tools necessary for effective service delivery and helping others navigating additional support services, all while emphasizing career readiness and industry standards.