| |
| |
Dreamers heart this place!
|
|
|
Dreamers learned about the body and health at various learning stations during their field trip to Medtronic
|
The Rocky Mountain Dreamers and their fourth grade classmates visited Medtronic, a medical technology, services, and solutions company, on March 16 for what was the inaugural "I Have a Dream Education Day." Organized by a team of over 30 volunteers, this event was put together to teach the children about how the human body works. They spent two hours rotating between stations where they learned about how the heart works, the human skeleton, breathing, lung health, and nutrition. The stations were hands-on so the children could touch a real cow heart, see what smoking does to the body, check their pulse rate when they exercised, and measure the oxygen content in their body.
A few students said that touching the cows heart was their favorite part, while others loved testing their heart rate, doing jumping jacks, and testing it again. Overall, the kids really enjoyed these interactive mini lessons about the human body. Afterwards, the kids got to eat pizza with several Medtronic employees and tell them about "I Have a Dream." Special thanks to Frank Chan, Vice President of Medical Affairs (and Rocky Mountain Dreamer Sponsor) for arranging this fantastic field trip for not only the Rocky Dreamers, but for the entire fourth grade!
|
|
Tour Boulder County's Finest Dream Kitchens!
Studio3 Kitchen Bath Interiors is presenting the 2016 Dream Kitchens Tour, featuring 10 of Boulder County's finest residential kitchens and tasty treats to benefit the "I Have a Dream" Foundation of Boulder County.
The tour showcases kitchens by top Boulder County architects, interior designers, and home-builders. Several locations on the tour will have a selection of delicious food samples provided by members of the local food community, such as Casa Alvarez Foods and Savory Spice, among others. This event would not be possible without the gracious hospitality of the homeowners who have opened their doors to welcome the community and raise visibility for "I Have a Dream".
For participants, it is a great way to gain ideas for their own kitchen and home while learning
more about the "I Have a Dream" and the youth it serves.
Last year over 500 people took the tour!
This year's Dream Kitchens Tour! will be:
Saturday, April 30th, 10 am - 4 pm
Sunday, May 1st, 12 pm - 4 pm
Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased at any Kings Soopers or here. To avoid service fees, tickets can be purchased at the "I Have a Dream" office at 5390 Manhattan Circle in Boulder.
|
Dreamers "work out" their job skills
over Spring Break
|
|
|
High schoolers practice interview skills during mock interviews, part of
"I Have a Dream's" Internship Boot Camp held over spring break.
|
While most students were enjoying time off during spring break, 49 high school students from "I Have a Dream" and partner organizations got up early and arrived at the University of Colorado-Boulder for two days of job skills training.
The students "worked out" their skills with sessions on interviewing, resume writing, and public speaking, conducted by volunteers from local organizations such as Elevations Credit Union and Workforce Boulder County. In addition, 25 volunteers helped with mock interviews, which
Amy Bounds from the Daily Camera captured beautifully!
Right now, there are 23 confirmed internships, and we're looking for more intern hosts --- if interested contact
Dan Sikkink Johnson at 303-444-3636 x11 or by email at
dan.sikkink.johnson@ihaveadreamboulder.org
.
|
Volunteer Spotlight: Emily Schofield
Without our fantastic volunteers we could not provide the valuable support that helps our Dreamers realize their goals.
Community members ranging from ages 14 to 77 come together to volunteer with "I Have a Dream" at least once per week in the after-school academic and enrichment programs.
Emily Schofield has been volunteering with the Rocky Mountain Class in Longmont for nearly seven months. Olimpia Mejia, the Program Director with the Rocky Mountain Class, appreciates Emily's flexibility and adaptability, noting she is willing to help out wherever needed and always with a positive attitude and a smile.
Emily's most memorable moment volunteering with the Rocky Mountain Dreamers was supporting them during a charity run put on by Rocky Mountain Elementary School. The run took place on a one-mile loop, and she could tell during the first loop most of the kids didn't think they could push themselves to finish the full mile. However, at the end of the day most of them had run three miles and some even four! "The look on their faces after realizing what they had just accomplished? Priceless!" Emily remarked.
To Emily, the two hours she is with the Dreamers is the most fun part of her week. "They give me a new perspective on life without even knowing what they're doing. All at once they are reminding me about how much hard work pays off and also how important it is to just let go of the stress of the day and play a little 4-square," she said.
To those interested in volunteering, Emily says, "Do it! It's a fantastic organization full of wonderful program staff, volunteers, and especially amazing Dreamers."
Being a program volunteer at one of the six program sites around Boulder County is a small weekly commitment that makes a tremendous impact. Without volunteers, the Dreamers would not be able to discover new passions. When a volunteer brings their passion, everyone grows! Emily has the opportunity to grow alongside the Dreamers as they show her how "the future feels a little brighter... each and every Dreamer has the ability to create positive change in this world. Why wouldn't you want to be a part of that?"
If you are interested in joining Emily and the other after-school program volunteers, contact Shelbi Taylor at [email protected] or call 303.444.3636 ext. 17.
|
Flying High during AmeriCorps Week
During AmeriCorps Week 2016, The "I Have a Dream" Foundation of Boulder County honored our Notre Dame AmeriCorps team of 32 full-time Members who serve Dreamers and the community throughout the county. We participated in a team building activity at our partner Frequent Flyers, and showed appreciation for the hard work, dedication, compassion, generosity, and energy that our AmeriCorps team puts forth everyday.
|
Welcome New Staff at "I Have a Dream"
Storey Blackwell has
been hired as the Development Manager.
Storey worked in the mortgage and tech industries before starting her work with the nonprofit community in 2008. She was part of the finance team at Boulder-based BeadforLife, whose programs work to eradicate poverty in Uganda. She then spent two years with Foothills United Way, while earning a Master's in Nonprofit Management from Regis University. Most recently she served as the Executive Director of start-up nonprofit, helping expand their local scholarship program to the national level and launch a new national program for pediatric cancer patients. Storey has also served as the Board Treasurer for the Boulder Youth Body Alliance and volunteered with the Community Foundation Serving Boulder County. She is passionate about creating opportunities for underserved members of the community to reach their full potential, and is excited to continue this work with "I Have a Dream". Storey lives in Longmont with her husband and two children. She enjoys yoga, the outdoors, and impromptu dance parties with her kids.
|
|
Golfing for a Great Cause! Save the Date!
We are proud to be celebrating our 14th year as one of Boulder County's BEST charity
golf tournaments at the Omni Interlocken Golf Course in Broomfield on Monday, July 25th from 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. This is a great
opportunity to play on one of the finest golf courses in the area and support the
future of Boulder County's low-income youth.
Our golf packages include the following: a continental breakfast, green fees,
golfer contests, on-course beverages, and gift bag. At the conclusion of play,
players will be provided with a fantastic awards luncheon.
|
|
| |
|
|
Upcoming Events
March 31
7:30-9:00 am
Plaza Conference Center
Longmont, CO
April 20
Learning Center Site Tour*
2:30-4:30 pm
Iris Class
Boulder High School / Broadway Housing (Boulder)
May 9
3:45-5:15 pm
Phoenix Class
Casey Middle School (Boulder)
|
"I Have a Dream's" volunteers contributed 15,800 hours in 2015, adding up to a value of $405,744!
|
Help us launch a Class in the St Vrain Valley School District!
|
|
See you soon!
Our 8th Annual
Dream-Maker Breakfast is this Thursday, March 31! If you already registered, we'll see you there!
|
|
Boxing for
"I Have a Dream"!
Our board president Kristen Solomon and her husband Ariel are boxing to raise funds for "I Have a Dream"! Their
training will culminate in a bout on Friday, May 20 at New Vista High School in Boulder.
"W
e are long-time, passionate supporters of the 'I Have a Dream' Foundation of Boulder County, and all that we raise will go to this organization. We see it as our chance to literally fight for all of the Dreamers in Boulder County."
Donate here:
Kristen Solomon
|
2016 Corporate Dream-Makers
|
|
|
|
|
About the "I Have a Dream" Foundation of Boulder County
Since 1990, the award-winning "I Have a Dream" Foundation of Boulder County has assisted 800 children from low-income areas in achieving their education and career goals by providing long-term personal and academic support, tutoring, mentoring and four-year tuition-assistance scholarships to each graduating student. The organization sponsors entire groups of students from elementary schools or from low-income housing sites and works with these children and their families from elementary school through high school graduation and then "to and through" college. Currently, there are seven active "I Have a Dream" classes in Boulder County, with three classes in Boulder, two in Longmont and two in Lafayette. The "I Have a Dream" Foundation of Boulder County has doubled expected graduation rates for its graduating classes of students and has awarded $2 million in scholarships. The program follows the national model established in New York in 1981 by founder Eugene Lang.
"I Have a Dream" Foundation of Boulder County |
5390 Manhattan Circle #200 | Boulder | Colorado | 80303
|
|
|
