The National “ I Have A Dream” Foundation and “I Have a Dream” Foundation – New York teamed up for a very successful volunteer event to kick off the Martin Luther King Day weekend. On Friday, January 15th National staff, New York Metro staff, and New York Metro Dreamers joined approximately 35 volunteers from BET Networks and Viacom to create care packages for Dreamers in college across the affiliate network. We met at BET/Viacom headquarters in New York, near Times Square.
It was a team effort all around. Affiliates provided addresses for their Dreamers in college. National staff printed the labels, and secured the envelopes. New York Metro staff secured the supplies for the care packages, and the BET/Viacom volunteers created 200 care packages to send to our Dreamers in college. Each package included a hand written note of encouragement, snacks, goodies, a flash drive and BET/Viacom swag.
The activity started with an overview of the “I Have A Dream” Foundation by Maritza Guzmán, Senior Director for Strategic Partnerships. Matt Wright, Program Director for the Ravenswood Program with “I Have A Dream” –New York, then provided an orientation to the activity. Volunteers were joined by three Dreamers: Samuel Baez, Harleigh McLellan, and Diamond Grimes, who shared their dreams with volunteers, and why this activity was important.
There were several positive outcomes. The volunteers learned more about the “I Have A Dream” Foundation, and the difference we make in the lives of young people. They got to share words of advice and encouragement through their handwritten notes. Affiliates get to send a care package to their Dreamers during the bleak winter months. New York Metro Dreamers with an interest in communications had an opportunity to speak with and network with BET/Viacom employees. And Dreamers in college get a little boost from receiving words of support, and goodies. All in all, the event re-affirmed the spirit of Martin Luther King, who said “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?”