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Dreamer Scholars Learn Valuable Employment Skills at CU Boulder
This summer, "I Have A Dream" placed nine youth (Dreamer Scholars & Dream Big Partner Students) at CU Boulder with internship hosts across various departments, including: the Office of Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement, the Pre-Collegiate Development Program, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Health Promotion, Public Achievement, and the College of Media, Communication and Information. Interns worked for six to eight weeks and earned compensation for this professional development opportunity. They also participated in weekly workshops to gain workforce skills. For information about hosting an intern next summer, please contact Nancy Mejia-Arias, College and Career Coordinator at 303-444-3636 x11 or
nancy@ihaveadreamboulder.org
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New Computers Provide Access to Technology for High Schoolers
In June, the Broadway East Boulder Housing Partners Community Center, where our Iris Dreamer Scholars attend programming, received new computers! The Center was upgraded with 12 Google Chrome computers, 3 Windows-10 computers, a new Cisco firewall, and a new copier/printer. Thanks to Boulder Housing Partners for the software and Boulder County, who donated the computers. Access to this technology helps our Dreamer Scholars complete homework, research papers, apply and prepare for college!
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Staffers Honored at National Conference
Congratulations to President and CEO Lori Canova, Griffin Class Program Director Marissa Seuc and Elk Class Program Director Jorge Cisneros, who earned awards at the national "I Have A Dream" staff conference! Lori earned an award for serving the organization for 20 years, Marissa for five years, and Jorge earned an award for best elementary school attendance! Check out pics below of Lori and Jorge with National President Donna Lawrence.
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Middle school and high school Dreamer Scholars from all our classes learned about the connection between altruism and their own wellness through "giving back" to younger Dreamer Scholars at the annual local Dreamer Conference, which focused on service learning. Weeks in advance of the conference, they spent time carefully planning and thinking about how they wanted to teach the younger students about empathy and combating stereotypes. They used videos, conversations, handmade "emojiis on sticks", stories, creative movement, art, and other structured activities to explore these themes.
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Our rising third and fourth graders in the Elk Dreamer Scholar Class took a pottery class with Studio Arts Boulder, a pilot project for a more intensive class we hope to host in the fall.
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Our first graders and their parents in the La Vista Dreamer Scholar Class attended a camping trip in partnership with Cal-Wood Education Center, thanks to funding from the GoCo grant through Nature Kids. For many of them, even parents, this was their first camping experience together!
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Our rising sixth grade Dreamer Scholars from the Rocky Dreamer Scholar Class participated in a filming project with the University of Colorado's Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, which through the program, Lens on Climate Change, works with youth to create films raising awareness to issues around climate change.
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Our rising eighth and ninth grade Griffin Dreamer Scholars studied Romeo & Juliet, first working with the instructor to understand the context of the story to their lives (comparing it to dating and texting), and then performed the classic play!
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Can You Spare a Few Hours?
We've got some great events coming up this fall and could use your help! If you are interested in volunteering for any of the events below or have questions, please contact Director of Volunteers Ashley Keltner at ashley@ihaveadreamboulder.org
Longmont Oktoberfest
Left Hand Brewery has designated "I Have A Dream" Foundation of Boulder County as its non-profit beneficiary for the 2017 Longmont Oktoberfest. We will need many volunteers to help collect entry fees and donations at the entrances. Additionally a group of four to six volunteers will be needed each evening to help clean up. Volunteer shifts will run on Sept. 22 (3:45pm-11pm) & Sept. 23 (11:45am-11pm) at Roosevelt Park in Longmont. To sign up for a shift, please use the following link:
http://signup.com/go/DGWvtAX
Our Dream-Maker Luncheon is our largest fundraiser of the year, and will be hosted at Ascent Community Church in Louisville on Oct. 5, 2017. Help is needed on Oct. 4 to set up the space and on Oct. 5 to clean up after the event. Both days will require manual labor and some heavy lifting.
Village at the Peaks Santa House
Village at the Peaks Mall in Longmont hosts a "Selfie with Santa" event starting around Thanksgiving and ending just before Christmas. Volunteers are needed to collect donations from the participants and share information about "I Have A Dream" Foundation.
Adopt-a-Family Program
Each year we host a gift drive for our Dreamer Scholars and their families in which donors select an individual or family and purchases gifts for each person. Gifts are then distributed at the class holiday parties. Volunteers are needed to help staff the gift drop off and organize the gifts for pickup. This usually takes place over 2-3 days in early December.
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Welcome New Staff Members!
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Katie Scolari Borden
Dream Big Project Manager
Katie brings 16 years of nonprofit leadership, management and partnership development experience to her role as Dream Big Project Manager. Driven by her passion for addressing the root causes and consequences of poverty, Katie has spent her career supporting large-scale change at international development organizations including Improve International, Water for People, and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. A Certified Nonprofit Professional, Katie holds a Bachelor's of Science in International Politics from Georgetown University Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, and a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Colorado Denver. After living and traveling all over the U.S. and the world, Katie's family has adopted Boulder as their forever home. Her family loves to explore the many wonders of the outdoors, camping, fishing, hiking and biking all over Colorado and the West. She also volunteers her time with Senior Support Services, her local Parent Teacher Organization, and NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado.
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Scott Krieger
Program Director: Giffin Class
Scott joined the "I Have A Dream" Foundation after finding his passion for education and serving the youth of his home state of Colorado. Before joining Team Dream, he taught for four years in the Denver area, beginning with 6th and 7th grade English Language Arts at STRIVE Prep - Westwood, and then transitioning to 11th and 12th grade English at Eaglecrest High School. After growing up in Golden, Scott graduated from Gonzaga University with a B.A. in Journalism. The two years following, he worked for a large corporation, knowing all the while that he was being called to education. He returned to school and received a M.A. in Education from the University of Denver, and has focused on providing meaningful educational and experiential opportunities to his students ever since.
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Nancy Mejia-Arias
College and Career Programs Coordinator
Nancy graduated from Colorado State University as a first generation student with a major in Human Development and Family Studies and a minor in Ethnic Studies. She was born in Los Angeles, California, but grew up in Denver, Colorado. Her passion for college access and educational equity has grown from her own personal struggles and growth. She has served as an intern, mentor, and in leadership positions with a variety of youth, specifically underrepresented students of color, all who are first generation and she supported them through the college process. Being Bilingual in Spanish and English has helped her enhance parent involvement within the College and Career Department at "I Have A Dream" during a year serving as an AmeriCorps member. In her spare time, she enjoys enjoy spending time with her family and friends, camping, hiking, playing soccer, traveling, and swimming.
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Teresa Byon
Aspen Class Program Specialist
Teresa Byon was born in New Jersey where she attended Rutgers University and studied art history, psychology, and religion. She moved to Colorado and joined the "I Have A Dream" Foundation of Boulder County as a volunteer and then served two years of AmeriCorps as a program coordinator. She is thrilled to be staying with the "I Have A Dream" family, serving the Aspen Dreamer Scholars as a program specialist.
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Liz Bolejack
Volunteer Coordinator
Liz, California born and Minnesota raised, came out to Colorado to attend the University of Colorado - Boulder, where she studied Sociology and Education. She has served "I Have A Dream" for two years in multiple positions, most recently as an AmeriCorps member in the Volunteer Department. She is excited to be building on her year of service as a full-time staff member, growing the Volunteer Department's capacity and continuing to recruit and train quality volunteers to support the Dreamer Scholars.
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Rebecca Blane
Executive Assistant
Rebecca Blane grew up in New Jersey and graduated from Hunter College in New York City with a degree in Psychology and Gender Studies. She began her undergraduate studies at the University of Vermont and her passion for the scenery and mountains is what drew her to Boulder originally. She served as an AmeriCorps member in the College and Career Department at "I Have A Dream" and is excited to continue on at the organization as the Executive Assistant. In her spare time she love spending time outside and connecting with good friends and family.
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Golf Pictures Are Here!
Thank you to everyone who came out last month to support "I Have A Dream" at our 15th Annual Golf Tournament.
Click here to see all the great pictures from a beautiful day at the Omni Interlocken Golf Club.
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Reserve Your Seat Today!
20th Annual Dream-Maker Luncheon
October 5th, 2017 11:00AM - 1:00PM
Questions? Please contact Storey Blackwell at 303-444-3636 x14 or storey@ihaveadreamboulder.org
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Upcoming Events
3:45 - 5:15pm
Phoenix & Iris Classes
Boulder High School & Broadway Housing
*Click to RSVP
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September 22nd
4:00pm - 10:00pm
September 23rd
12:00pm - 10:00pm
Longmont Oktoberfest
Portion of proceeds to benefit "I Have A Dream"
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October 5th
11:00am - 1:00pm
20th Annual Dream-Maker Luncheon
Ascent Community Church
550 S. McCaslin Blvd
Louisville
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October 11th
3:45 - 5:15pm
Oak Class
Columbine Elementary
Boulder
*Click to RSVP
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2017 Corporate Dream-Makers
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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 1,000 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 10 active "I Have A Dream" classes in the Boulder Valley and St. Vrain Valley School Districts. The "I Have A Dream" Foundation of Boulder County has doubled expected graduation rates for its graduating classes of students and has awarded over $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
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