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Culture & Community
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DecaDe of DreamS
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By Susan Yerkes
San Antonio is a city of dreams, and DreamWeek brings those dreams together.
The diversity of this place, where adventurers under six different flags brought their hopes for new beginnings, is reflected in the colorful swirl of cultures you will find here. Native Americans, Spanish, Germans, French, Irish and other settlers from around the world have come here seeking freedom and prosperity, and stayed to build new lives—and they are still coming.
Today San Antonio is one of the fastest growing and most diverse cities in the United States. That makes it the perfect place for January’s DreamWeek.
DreamWeek is not a week. This year, the 10th anniversary, it extends over 18 days, from Jan. 13-30, encompassing more than 200 multi-cultural events and activities that bring people from all walks of life together to learn their similarities and discuss their differences in peace. More than 150 different community organizations are involved. All of the events are open to everyone, and most of them are free of charge.
It all started with an immigrant with big dreams. Shokare Nakpodia came to the U.S. from Nigeria in the 1990s. From New York he moved to San Antonio, where he founded a successful marketing and design firm. When a mayor appointed him to a volunteer commission on diversity, he became fascinated with the fact that San Antonio, where less than 10 percent of the population is Black, has one of the biggest annual Martin Luther King marches in the country. He started to imagine a way to bring people together to communicate across cultural divides about the issues King cared about— tolerance, justice and equality for all, and DreamWeek was born. Today DreamVoice LLC, which Nakpodia founded, manages the ambitious annual program.
This year’s theme is “The Future.” From the DreamHour Speaker Series and provocative DreamPanel discussions to a fancy Mayor’s Ball, concerts, ethnic markets, fashion shows and sports—even a “Million Push-Up Challenge,” this year’s events range wide. But the heart of DreamWeek is the focus on inspiring dialogue, promoting new ideas and bringing people together in peace.
“The underlying question for the future is: ‘Can we learn to get along?’” Nakpodia said. “We have to come together regardless of gender or religion or politics, and work towards this common goal that has been a beacon to the rest of the world. The world needs to see what it is like when people of different backgrounds live together. We are better together. And if you break bread with someone, or share the same dish, it is much harder to hate.”
DREAMWEEK
HIGHLIGHTS
DreamVoice Kick-Off Breakfast
January 14, 7:30-9:00am Briscoe Museum of Western Art
DreamHours Speakers Series
January 15, 16, 22 and 23 (Time and locations TBA)
Spurs DreamWeek Game
January 15, 5:00-10:00pm AT&T Center
35th Annual Martin Luther King March
January 17, 10:00am Start: Martin Luther King Freedom Bridge
Noche Azul: Canción Social
January 22, 8:00-10:00pm Esperanza Peace & Justice Center
African Market Festival
January 29, 5:00pm-midnight Brick at Blue Star Arts Complex
The Mayor’s Ball
January 29, 6:30-9:30pm La Villita
click on this:
DREAMWEEK 2022 www.DreamWeek.org 35TH ANNUAL MLK MARCH and LEGACY CELEBRATION www.SanAntonio.gov/MLK
DreamWeek’s schedule includes much breaking of bread together. The festivities open with a kick-off breakfast at the Briscoe Museum of Western Art, a historic, magnificently re-purposed library in the heart of the River Walk, where the Old West and New West come to life. A different kind of sharing will be spotlighted at “1000 Plates for the Hungry,” where church congregants and volunteers from all over will distribute food to some of San Antonio’s poorest residents. People in hijabs and yarmulkes, saris and New York runway styles and Indonesian batik sit side-by-side at lunches or panels in venues all over town, from historic neighborhoods to sleek modern buildings. College students in sweatshirts and businessmen in handsome suits share space and ideas. Recent immigrants and seventh-generation Americans share ideas and stories. If America is a melting pot, DreamWeek stirs the ingredients together.
“Ten years ago we talked about diversity and civil civic engagement,” Nakpodia said. “Many thought it was idealistic. Now I think many people realize how important that is. We propose in the next 10 years to learn to map and strategize collectively for the future. This year we will focus on conflict resolution. We will allow people to adventure and mix a little more, in environments they have never been to through fear or insecurity or lack of education. A Jewish religious celebration, a Scottish dance, a Nigerian restaurant…during DreamWeek these places are safe to try. The more people we have out there, willing to engage with those they may disagree with, the more likely there will be a spark that will germinate and change all our lives.”
WRITER’S BIO
Susan Yerkes is an award-winning journalist and travel writer. She has traveled around the world and written about the most interesting places, from Patmos, Greece to Kota Kinabalu, Borneo. She came home to San Antonio, where she is based. She loves the history and diversity, and looks forward to the future.
Hop On-Hop Off!
The iconic red, double-decker City Sightseeing© Trolleys are undeniably the most
fun way to explore downtown San Antonio. But they are also the most convenient
and informative way to visit all of the fabulous attractions in The Alamo City.
City Sightseeing is the world’s leading Hop OnHop Off trolley tours, in more than 130 cities across Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, Canada and the U.S. After reviewing many destinations throughout the country, operations began in San Antonio in December of 2010, and the fun never stops!
The unique Hop On-Hop Off concept allows visitors to experience the complete tour of downtown San Antonio, which takes about an hour, then design their own personal itinerary. “That in fact is what many of our riders do. They ride the route once to see all the stops and then on the next trip around, they get off at the stops they are interested in seeing,” says David Strainge, Owner of City Sightseeing San Antonio.
Tours begin at the Welcome Center in Alamo Plaza and include 19 stops located near the most popular attractions in downtown San Antonio. With the help of informative tour guides providing live narration, visitors receive comprehensive descriptions of both entertainment and historic venues along the route. “We really have a great group of driver/ tour guides. Each of them provides a great tour but with their own individual style and energy. They all mix in a bit of humor and entertainment, which the riders love. It is certainly about the history of San Antonio but it is also about providing a fun and entertaining experience for everyone,” says Strainge.
Armed with this information, visitors can choose to begin the day at The Alamo and then venture to other world-famous attractions like Tower of the Americas, La Villita and Market Square. Or explore historic neighborhoods surrounding downtown, such as Southtown, King William and Pearl with their flourishing culinary scenes. Perhaps family-friendly attractions are on the agenda. The possibilities are limitless, and with buses conveniently picking up at each stop every 20 minutes, between 8:40am and 5:30pm, it’s easy for visitors to set their own timelines. If your visit to San Antonio spans a few days, simply select between 1-, 2-, and 4-day passes (Purchase two days and get your third day free!). Or check out the variety of tour packages available. City Sightseeing has partnered with many downtown San Antonio attractions so adding a River Boat Cruise and a trip up the Tower is a must. Private tours are also available.
Whether visitors choose to ride in the climatecontrolled lower level or experience 360-degree panoramic views with an open-air experience from the upper level, the most enjoyable and comfortable way to explore historic downtown San Antonio is aboard a City Sightseeing Trolley. And all trolleys are fully ADA Compliant and handicap accessible.
