Thrive Collective has partnered with Bronx Connect officially as one of their arts education providers since 2021, and unofficially as friends and colleagues for more than 25 years.

BronxConnect is a faith and community-based organization in the Bronx that provides alternative-to-incarceration and detention programs for high-risk youth and young adults. Founded in 1999 by the Urban Youth Alliance, it offers mentorship, leadership development, and support for education and employment to prevent recidivism and improve communities. The organization emphasizes building community, using Credible Messengers from the community, and advocating for the rights of young people, including their right to remain silent before interrogation.

Fun fact: Bronx Connect President Rev. Wendy Calderon Payne co-founded School Partners NYC and her protege Edgard Torres from Urban Youth Alliance was one of the founding members of what became Thrive Collective.