DREAM is empowering the Harlem community through public schools and out-of-school youth programs that inspire lifelong learning. Their schools have a unique model and serve 2,500 students every year who develop academic and social skills that help them build better futures. Learn more about their work helping students play, learn, and grow here!
What is the story behind DREAM?
DREAM was founded in 1991 when a group of volunteers transformed an abandoned, garbage filled lot in Harlem into two baseball diamonds for neighborhood kids. As we grew over time, we began to address the needs of the community like low literacy and graduation rates by creating summer and afterschool programs. The results were undeniable, but we found that confining our work to out-of-school time wasn’t enough. We decided to build the first public school in East Harlem in 50 years. Now, three decades later, DREAM is a network of PreK-12 public schools and community youth programs that run year round.
What is DREAM’s mission?
Inequity is a generational problem that requires a generational solution. It is only through deep, radical investment in students, families, and communities that we can transform the trajectories of our young people— creating a better DREAM and a better world. DREAM has worked to level the playing field for all children and is building something that doesn’t exist anywhere else by providing youth with opportunities to play, learn, and grow. DREAM believes in the potential of all children in the face of a society that limits agency and access for some. Our culture of care is responsive to the unique needs of every child with one goal in mind— to ensure our students have the tools and opportunities to make their dreams real.
What makes your model different?
DREAM’s unique Grow the Whole Child education model is powered by four distinct yet interconnected elements that drive transformative change for youth. Our priorities are rigorous academics, social-emotional learning, athletics, and community engagement. These four equal parts form our 360-degree approach to not only learning, but the development of our students into individuals who have full lives and agency over their future. 88% of DREAM students live below the poverty line, and 29% of students have special needs. To ensure every student gets the attention they deserve, we have two teachers in every elementary school classroom as part of our integrated co-teaching model.
Can you tell me about students who graduate from DREAM?
All DREAM scholars graduate ready to embark on best-fit college and career paths with the power and support of the entire DREAM community behind them. 100% of our class of 2023 were accepted to colleges, and 70% of them were first-generation college students. No two DREAM graduates are the same, but our work leveling the playing field means they all have the same access to opportunity. We teach more than just hard skills, meaning our students graduate as leaders who know what it means to be a member of a team. Our graduates have access to the Legend Fellows program, which offers alumni support to ensure completion of their post-secondary path.
コメント