THRIVE Leadership Club is an afterschool program dedicated to helping disadvantaged youth develop leadership skills, communication skills, involvement in multiple communities and fun activities. It began in 2012 and is active in four Omaha Public Schools: Benson High School, Nathan Hale Middle School, Central High School and Northwest High School. 

THRIVE holds their meetings every Tuesday after school in room 147.  The THRIVE Club has helped many students connect with a community at their school that they might have never known about otherwise. THRIVE has more than seven coaches but the main coaches are Coach Timon Gurung and Coach Juan Cangas. 

On a typical meeting, students usually check themselves in then settle down for the first 20 minutes. They may talk with their friends, set things up, or play sports such as volleyball and badminton. After the first 20 minutes pass by, they make officers’ announcements or any kind of THRIVE announcements. Then they have a fun activity representing the lesson of the day which consists of either leadership, school, or life advice.  

“It is a club that most people are consistent in going to because everyone is so connected to each other, and it is so fun,” junior Hellen Jordan Salguero said.  

Previously, the activity given to students in THRIVE represented making decisions in the form of a game. The activity can be divided into teams and one of them can win.  

“Depending on the choice you make, it would give you a good consequence or a bad consequence,” Jordan Salguero said. “That is how you keep advancing in the game or go all the way back.”  

At each meeting, around 20 members show up. The club’s existence is spread out through flyers posted around the school, as well as word of mouth between students. Members feel that it is an environment that is inviting and friendly.  

“I would say it’s pretty big. It is really easy to make friends,” senior Derek Rivera said.  

The THRIVE Club has hosted food days, officer elections, career speakers coming in, service days and field trips. THRIVE has field trips every quarter, according to the secretary of THRIVE sophomore Sara Longino Lucio. They recently went on a field trip to The Amazing Pizza Machine and all the schools got together.  

“I met new people from other schools, we played some really fun games, hung out, and ate too,” Longino Lucio said. 

Recently, students in THRIVE participated in a service project. THRIVE has multiple service opportunities mentioned to the members. The service project involved students working with elementary kids. It was hosted in Benson West Elementary School and was two days. 

“We were mentoring little kids from kindergarten through fifth grade, and it was fun,” Rivera said.  

To stay updated with the club events and meetings, as well as to get any questions answered, contact the club @omahathrive on Instagram.