We Are DREAM

YOU'RE INVITED: Join us for one of our virtual DREAM Mott Haven Open Houses, where you'll hear Principal Platzer discuss our Grow the Whole Child education model and free after-school and summer programming, share information about applying to grades K-2 & 6, and answer any and all questions from you. All you need to do is click the link below, pick the date that works best for you, and join us on Zoom - we’ll take it from there! We're excited to meet you and to share DREAM's story with your family http://bit.ly/2YgQ4H1

DREAM Families! We've partnered with Mount Sinai Health System & AIRnyc to offer a free health & wellness concierge service. If you haven't already done so, please complete the brief survey we've created to help us better understand how we can support our community & provide improved access to health & wellness services. You can find the survey in your email and it will just take a few moments to complete. Thank you!

Today, as we reflect on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., a man who relentlessly stood for peace, justice, and equality, we recognize that the best way to honor his life's work is to instill these values in our scholars who represent the next generation of great leaders. In a year that has caused so much division, we find hope in MLK’s famous words The time is always right to do what is right. #MLK #DREAMBig

On Monday, our students arrived for their first day of in-person learning in 2021another dream realized in our team’s efforts to ensure a brighter, more equitable, and more just school year for our scholars. #WednesdayWins

In turbulent times, it is the task of educators to help our youth feel safe and make sense of the world around them. To all DREAM teachers and staff: Thank you.

You heard it here first DREAM is hosting its first-ever virtual Game Night Series and we’re giving you the home field advantage! Join us for a virtual trivia tournament, virtual poker tournament, or both as we #PlayForDREAM. Throw on your classiest couch attire, grab your beverage of choice, and join a few celebrity friends of DREAM as we raise critical funds for our scholars and families at a time of extraordinary need. Ready to get your game face on? Visit bit.ly/35m8zgc to get in on the fun.

Get ready for the elbow bumps, socially distanced hugs, and plexiglass high fiveswe are so excited to welcome back ALL grades to our schools today!

As DREAM families continue to grapple with the effects of the pandemic, it is DREAM's responsibility to make sure that their material needs are met during this time. Thanks to the generosity of long-time DREAM supporter Stefanie Katzman of Katzman Produce (Bloom Fresh), DREAM has hosted weekly food distributions for thousands of families since Aprilfirst in East Harlem, and now in the South Bronx as well. Better together: when #TeamworkMakesTheDREAMWork

Over the past six weeks, we’ve seen our educators, coaches, DREAM staff, friends, and families come together around the #DREAMIsFamilyFund an effort that’s allowed DREAM families to received direct financial assistance to meet the immediate needs of their scholars and loved ones. We could not be more in awe of the generosity and dedication we've seen displayed by and for our community. We want to thank each person who has given to this fund and remind our friends that although this campaign has come to an end, the need for support is ever-present. If you find yourself in a position to give, you can always find us at wearedream.org/donate

After 7 months - today's the day! Though our "first" first day of school was back in August, today we began our phased in-person reopening, guided by three core priorities: Our community's health and safety, our scholars' academic experience, and the social, emotional, and physical wellness of every child we serve. Welcome back, DREAM - let's do this. #DREAMIsWhereTheHeartIs

A few of our youngest DREAMers visited their classrooms last week in anticipation of our return to in-person learning which for some of our scholars begins tomorrow! Turns out PreK students are great mask-wearers & are just as excited as we are about being back! #WeAreDREAM

In 1991, we started this organization with two baseball diamonds for the neighborhood boys. That changed in 1993 when a group of girls proudly demanded a league of their own. They were some of the first fighters of inequity here and were the original advocates at DREAM. Today, on the #DayOfTheGirl, we celebrate them and all of the strong girls that have come through our doors since. We are better because of you.

When 8-year-old Ivan from Portland, Oregon found out about DREAM, he began hand-making and tie-dying masks with his family to sell in their community, donating all proceeds to support DREAM scholars & families. When one of our staff members received her stimulus check, she thought of the DREAM families who don't have an income or who don't qualify for government programs, and she decided to donate her check in its entirety to the #DREAMIsFamilyFund. We’ve seen extraordinary acts of kindness in the face of these extraordinary circumstances. With 48-hours left of our #DREAMIsFamilyFund, we ask that you give what you can to support our families at https://bit.ly/2Ez5Q9G. Our families are counting on us; we know we can count on you

With our in-person reopening right around the corner, today is our last #WFHWednesday & we’re taking a look at what Bettina Briccetti, Middle School Music Teacher (and creator of the latest video we shared this week!), has been up too since going remote. Bettina has found herself on her porch almost every day since quarantining with her family, where she can read a good book in the sunshine or create a virtual music curriculum for our scholars. It might sound fun but it sure isn’t easy, however, Bettina says she's enjoyed bringing so much music technology into her students' lives. She’s definitely missing her students and is so excited to be back in the DREAM music room soon! #WeAreDREAM

Election Day is less than a month away--are you ready to cast your vote and help shape the world that our scholars will grow up in? Be sure to register by Friday, Oct 9! Visit vote.org to get set up. #vote

We thought we’d start the week with a little #MondayMotivation brought to you by our incredibly talented & dedicated Middle School team. Here at DREAM, we know that #FunIsASeriousValue even when we are apart! Special shoutout to Bettina Briccetti, our Middle School Music Teacher, for putting this together https://bit.ly/2GAiiqC

DREAM is Family Don’t take it from us, take it from our Mott Haven scholars! We are heading into our final week of the #DREAMisFamilyFund campaign. Our teachers, coaches, and other DREAM staff have rallied together over the last 5 weeks to make sure our families are prepared for and supported through this back to school season like no other. Their hard work is making a huge difference, but in order to keep meeting the needs of our families, we need to continue to step up. Join our educators in supporting DREAM families by giving what you can at https://bit.ly/2Ez5Q9G

A note of encouragement from our distance learning world