Frequently Asked Questions
-What is IHAD's main purpose?
-How do you choose participating Dreamers?
-What is a
Dream Partner?
-What volunteer opportunities do you have other than becoming a Dream Partner?
-Where are you
located?
-When does your program take place?
-How is IHAD funded?
-How can businesses help Dreamers?
-How can
colleges help?
-I Have a Dream History
What is IHAD's main purpose?
"I Have a Dream" - Dallas (IHAD) provides long-term mentoring and dropout
prevention programs to promote higher education for inner-city youth.
The program works with Dreamers on a long-term basis from elementary levels
through high school and post-secondary education. Programming is designed
to enhance Dreamers' academic performance, social skills, and exposure to new
environments. The building blocks over the course of the program include
the following: Academic Programming, Summer Programming, Community Service
Activities, Social and Cultural Enrichment, Career Awareness and Employment,
Life Skills Education, Mentoring, College Preparation and Admission.
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How do you choose
participating Dreamers?
The sponsor chooses an entire grade from a public elementary school or an
entire age group from a public housing development. Sponsors make this
choice in consultation with local school and housing officials and
community-based organizations, identifying groups of socio-economically
disadvantaged children. As of now, the Dallas Project is
exclusively for the adopted children in the Cedar Springs Housing Development in
Dallas Texas.
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What is a Dream Partner?
A Dream Partner (mentor) is a volunteer who provides one-on-one support,
both academic and social guidance and companionship. This position should
take one hour a week of time and energy for at least one year.
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What volunteer opportunities do you have other than becoming a Dream
Partner?
Volunteers can assist planning events, help with administrative duties,
tutor the Dreamers, or chaperone field trips. Anyone in the community can
help the Dreamers. Individuals, churches and synagogues, sports teams,
civic and alumni groups and others lend their support in many ways: funding,
meeting space, tours, volunteer tutors, "career days," tickets to cultural and
sporting events, transportation, and more. Everyone can pitch in to help
educate our children. Everyone can nourish a dream.
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Where are you located?
Cedar Springs Housing
Development at 2601 Lucas/Dallas, TX 75219
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When does your program take
place?
The after-school program takes place Mondays through Fridays from 4:30 to
6:30. Occasionally, we will have events on weekends. There is also a
summer program.
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How is IHAD funded?
I Have a Dream is a private, non-profit organization funded through
contributions from individuals, corporations, foundations, churches, and
organizations.
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How can businesses help Dreamers?
Hundreds of businesses provide funding and in-kind donations, volunteer
tutors and mentors, role models, career guidance, internships and employment.
For example, Princeton Review has offered PSAT and SAT preparation courses.
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How can colleges help?
Many colleges provide interns and host on-campus activities during the
school year. Others host summer camps and offer internships and other
opportunities for Dreamers.
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I Have a Dream History
The "I Have a Dream" Foundation had its origin in 1981, when New York
businessman Eugene Lang returned to make a speech at the elementary school he
attended 50 years earlier. When he was told that 75% of students at P.S.
121 in East Harlem would probably not graduate from high school, he made an
extraordinary offer: he assured the 61 sixth grade students that funds would be
available for college tuition or vocational school. After a flurry of
media attention, the national "I Have a Dream" Foundation was officially
launched in 1986.
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