Great Expectations

Dreamer Service Learning Program

This programming is designed to promote and encourage community engagement and civic leadership. Dreamers work on service-learning projects to give back. They learn about individual and community needs and how they can help and support others. They gain new skills and develop a sense of belonging and responsibility that comes with being part of a larger community.

This program provides service-learning opportunities for Dreamers to cultivate a culture of giving back through National Service Days:

• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Day • Global Youth Service Day

Depending on the projects the Affiliates choose, there may be costs to purchase materials. These materials can be donated or paid for by the Affiliate program. There are also limited funds that the national office can distribute to offset these costs.

80% of the participants should be enrolled in middle and high school. The National office will notify the affiliates of these events and if there is funding available. National will coordinate and share information with all the affiliates via email and individual outreach.

Contact Chief Program Officer, Richard Rivera at rrivera@ihaveadreamfoundation.org.

Great Expectations

IHDF is proud to say that Dreamers are 3X more likely to graduate compared to their low-income peers. The goal is to increase the number so that Dreamers are not just surpassing other low-income students, but also meeting, or even exceeding, their high-income peers.

To further this mission, National launched the Great Expectations Initiative to increase the supports we provide college-aged Dreamers. These additional supports help students cross the finish line to earn their diploma, changing the trajectory of their lives and generations to come.

Programs with the graduation cap symbol identify those which are part of the Great Expectations Initiative. As the network expands and deepens the services we provide to this age group, National provides Affiliates with additional resources and assistance to ensure that each Dreamer receives the strongest support possible.

The programs are available at no cost for Affiliates to use. National has grant funding available to those Affiliates needing assistance for their post-secondary programs.

Contact Director of Post-Secondary Success, Karlisle Honore at Khonore@ihaveadreamfoundation.org.

Inspire the Dream Mentoring Program

The belief that meaningful, long-term relationships can help change a life is at the foundation of our program. Mentoring is an invaluable tool to expand Dreamers’ network and provide Dreamers with additional care and support. National has the tools and resources to help Affiliates establish and enhance their mentoring programs. Our goal is that every Dreamer is matched with long-term, reliable, supportive, and caring volunteers who provide individualized guidance and connection and serve as positive role models.

Our Mentoring Model highlights the opportunity for Dreamers to be matched with peer-based mentors, community-based mentors, or academic-based mentors. This model promotes the need family engagement and provides resources to focus on anti-bullying efforts. Our commitment to our Affiliates is summarized below:

Program Preservation

● Inspire the Dream will become a reusable model for Affiliates nationwide

Grant Implementation & Compliance

● National will do the heavy lifting of federal grant compliance, supporting

Affiliates with detailed reporting schedules and timely reimbursement

Advocacy, Support & Technical Assistance

● National will provide comprehensive training and assistance to Affiliates ● National will leverage its partner relationships to assist in areas like recruitment and fundraising

There is no cost to participate in the Inspire the Dream Mentoring Program, however, Affiliates are responsible for the funding to cover volunteer background checks, recruitment, training and supervision. The Inspire the Dream Mentoring Program materials are available at no cost for all “I Have A Dream” Foundation Affiliates to use.

Contact Mentor Training and Technical Assistance Manager, Stephanie Rupay at srupay@ihaveadreamfoundation.org.

Literacy Pilot Program

The Literacy Pilot Program is an academic preparedness initiative that works to close the literacy gap. Most of the Dreamers we recruit are academically behind when they begin our program. They also attend under-resourced schools. Therefore it’s imperative that we develop an educational framework that enables Dreamers to achieve grade-level reading status by the end of 5th grade. Other goals of this program include, developing local strategies to identify and strengthen partnerships with Literacy experts and creating a culture that promotes a love of reading, writing and math.

National is partnering with EnrichedNYC to provide a Literacy Pilot Program through online services locally and nationally. For the 2022/2023 school year, National will support Affiliates who have recruited new Dreamers with:

○ Professional Development for Affiliate Staff and School Teachers ○ Pre-Assessments of students ○ Post-Assessments of students ○ Direct Program Services

This service is at no cost to affiliates

Contact Chief Program Officer, Richard Rivera at rrivera@ihaveadreamfoundation.org.