Thrive in Joy Benefits from Research Conducted by the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy

Three highly-accomplished professionals pursuing their online Masters of Public Administration degree from USC Sol Price School of Public Policy selected the Thrive in Joy Nick Fagnano Foundation to be the beneficiary of their capstone practicum research project.

Bruce, Trina, and Kristina each brought their unique perspectives honed from their work in state government, low-income housing development, and nonprofit management to conduct a needs assessment for TJNFF. Their 93-page report provided insights on how the C11 program compares to other character-strength programs in the LAUSD area (it is unique), best practices to quantify and describe C11's future program impact (C11 provides students with the soft skills they need to succeed in college), and recommendations to increase C11's growth potential (data that will lead to increased grant funding).

Thanks to these academic connections provided by USC’s Office of Community Relations and the support of a USC Good Neighbor grant which funds the C11 program at USC Hybrid High College Prep, Thrive in Joy is well-prepared to embark on our strategic plan for C11 program expansion for 2024 and beyond.

In addition to these benefits provided by USC’s Office of Community Relations, in 2022 Thrive in Joy’s Co-founder and Executive Director, Mary Fagnano, had the opportunity to participate in the 10-week USC Nonprofit Resilient Leaders and Capacity Building Certificate Program.  TJNFF’s Director of Programs and Development, Elizabeth Rojas, was invited to be among the program’s 20 cohort members for the 2023 program.  The insights obtained and the networking provided through this program has yielded significant benefits for TJNFF including $25,000 in new government grant funds, three outstanding USC student summer interns, three dynamic USC students who are C11 program advisors, five USC student mentors working with TJNFF’s high school students, and a second cohort of four Keck Medical students who will be working with C11 students on their entrepreneurial social impact projects in the 2024 spring semester.