Thrive 365 offers safe space, leadership and connection for local youth

What started as a small gathering of seven students looking for a place to belong has grown into a thriving youth program serving over 40 students across Socorro County.

Thrive 365, a non-faith-based youth program operated through the SCOPE Health Council, provides a safe, substance-free environment for students in grades 3 through 12, with a focus on youth leadership, mental health support and community building.

Located at SCOPE Health Council, 215 C Fisher Ave., Thrive 365 meets on Thursday evenings when 20 to 25 students regularly attend. Kids in the third through fifth grade meet from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., and kids in sixth through 12th grade meet at from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

The center has a game room and free snacks, and youth participate in activities ranging from art and games to community service projects and leadership development. 

For 12-year-old Michaela Baca, joining Thrive 365 during the summer of 2025 began almost by accident.

“I didn’t even know what it was,” Baca said. “My friend basically dragged me here.”

At first, she said, she came mainly for the snacks and social time. But that quickly changed.

“Once we started hosting events, like the dance last year, I got really invested,” she said. “I realized this wasn’t just a boring hangout. We were actually doing things.”

Since then, Baca has become deeply involved in the program. She attended a youth leadership conference in Arizona last December and was selected as one of two middle school students to participate in Thrive 365’s newly launched youth fellowship program. The fellowship provides a monthly stipend and allows youth representatives to attend meetings, create public service announcements focused on tobacco and underage alcohol use, and serve as peer leaders in the community.

“For me, coming here every day honestly saved me,” Baca said. “I was going through a hard time and didn’t feel like I could tell anyone. Here, I met people who understood.”

Bernadette Lopez, youth outreach coordinator for SCOPE Health Council, said that sense of shared experience is at the heart of Thrive 365’s mission.

“A lot of these kids have been affected by substance use in their families or their lives,” Lopez said. “We want to create a space where they feel supported, where they know they’re not alone, and where they can build resilience and leadership skills.”

The program began in September 2024 and grew organically as students invited friends who were also looking for connection.

“They started realizing, ‘Oh, other people are going through the same things I am,’” Lopez said. “That’s when it really took off.”

Sourina Esmaeilpour, also 12, joined Thrive 365 just weeks ago after hearing about it from friends.

“I came because my friends said it was fun,” she said. “Now I can hang out with them here on Thursdays.”

For Sourina, Thrive 365 offers something she struggles to find elsewhere.

“Most people at school bully me,” she said. “But here, everyone’s nice. It’s a safe space.”

Her father, Sajjad Esmaeilpour, said programs like Thrive 365 play an essential role in prevention and awareness.

“Sometimes community programs can influence kids in ways parents can’t,” he said. “This helps them learn how to deal with things they see at school and in the world. I’m very grateful she’s here.”

Parents of other participants echoed that sentiment, noting increased confidence, responsibility and openness in their children since joining the program.

Beyond weekly meetings, Thrive 365 hosts special events aimed at wellness and connection, including an upcoming “baby goat night,” where students and community members can interact with young animals as a way to support mental health and just have fun.

Lopez said community support is critical to the program’s continued success.

“The best way to support Thrive 365 is to spread the word,” she said. “Parents telling other parents, students inviting friends — that’s how we grow.”

For the youth involved, the impact is already clear.

“You can be yourself here,” Baca said. “You have your friends, your space, and people who support you. That makes a difference.”