Thrive Networks Re-launches by Building Innovation Network for Social Change

OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- East Meets West, a leading international development organization, announced its re-launch today as Thrive Networks in order to build an innovation network for social change. Following 26 years of evidence-based programs in Asia and Africa aimed at improving access to health, education and water, East Meets West proved that to be most effective, nonprofits needed to tackle issues together.  As part of the re-launch, Thrive Networks announced its first formal program collaboration, joining with #YesWeCode. This partnership will expand Thrive Networks' work in education by helping disadvantaged youth, initially in the United States, gain the computer programming skills needed for 21^st century careers.

Thrive Networks aims to change the nonprofit business model through shared ventures, integrating projects and pooling resources so organizations can work together to radically increase impact. #YesWeCode, in partnership with Thrive Networks, coding education leaders, tech companies, workforce developers and high-profile advocates, is creating the first and only national pipeline connecting low-opportunity youth to jobs in the tech sector.

"Our mission, helping the world's most disadvantaged people move from survival to potential, means access to basic needs like health and education," said Thrive Networks' CEO, John Anner. "Education is a pathway to employment, strong communities and self-sufficiency. Disadvantaged people all over the world and at home need access to better education and gainful employment to reach their full potential. #YesWeCode gives us a new opportunity to fully embrace our mission and support low-opportunity youth as they learn new tech skills."

"Joining Thrive Networks provides us with the support and resources we need to successfully implement #YesWeCode," said founder Van Jones. "We can learn from others in the innovation network. With Thrive Networks' help, we provide low-opportunity youth with the necessary resources and tools to become world-class computer programmers. Reports continue to emerge showing the stark lack of diversity at the country's largest tech companies, with particularly low representation for African-Americans and Latinos."

Thrive Networks will foster program partnerships across the health, education and water sectors so nonprofit innovators can leave the grant-to-grant grind and collaborate, expanding their work and creating cross-sector solutions that improve people's lives.  By combining dynamic solutions and experienced entrepreneurs, Thrive Networks also provides funders with vetted and focused projects to achieve their goals.

This collaboration follows recent mergers with Blue Planet Network, Reach Global and Coach for College, a service-learning program that brings together US student-athletes and Vietnamese university students to teach academics, sports and life skills at summer camps to children in rural Vietnam. Thrive Networks also recently announced plans to implement a major cross-sector, school-based deworming program in Vietnam, integrating sanitation and hygiene education, with support from philanthropic partner Dubai Cares.

Thrive Networks officially launches on September 26th at the "Bold Strategies for Accelerating Impact" summit, presented with event partner the Stanford Social Innovation Review and knowledge partner The Bridgespan Group, and sponsored by the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.

The summit will highlight strategies for scaling while fostering discussion about innovation and accelerating impact. As keynote speaker, Van Jones will announce the partnership between #YesWeCode and Thrive Networks at the event. Participants will include a diverse community of influencers who share a desire to create platforms for scaling what works to address the world's most difficult social challenges.

For more information about Thrive Networks, please visit: www.thrivenetworks.org

For more information about the Thrive Networks Summit, please visit: www.thrivenetworks.org/summit

SOURCE Thrive Networks