Spotlight On Dreamer Alumni: Stephanie Sosa

For July's Spotlight On Dreamer Alumni, we chat with Stephanie Sosa, a Dreamer graduate from our Melrose I cohort. A big thank you to Stephanie for sharing her story, which we hope you will enjoy as much as we do!

Name: Stephanie Sosa

Dreamer Cohort: Melrose I

Year joined program/Which grade were you in?: 3rd grade

What did you think about “I Have A Dream” – New York when you were in school? I was very appreciative of “I Have A Dream.”  I had somewhere to go after school and during the summer.  There was always something exciting going on and I never wanted to miss a day.

What High School did you attend, and what year did you graduate?  Talent Unlimited, Class of 2008

Did you go to college/secondary school? If so, where and what did you study? Siena College, Social Work Class of 2012 and New York University- Wagner School of Public Service, Master of Urban Planning Class of 2014

Stephanie Sosa in her NYU cap and gown!

What are you doing now? I graduated with my master’s degree in May and finishing up my community development fellowship at Fordham Bedford Housing until the end of June.

How would you explain the “I Have A Dream” program to someone who had never heard of it? The “I Have a Dream” program is a network of people who believe that children in need have the right to decide who they want to be in the future.  “I Have A Dream” provides Dreamers with the resources they need in order for them to benefit from the education system as much as possible and introduces them to a new family of people who supports and believes in them.

How did being a Dreamer affect you? Being a Dreamer raised my self-esteem and taught me that I can be whatever I want to be as long as I work for it.  I also gained a lot of academic and social skills that have allowed me to excel as a student and professional.

What were some of your favorite memories about being a Dreamer? I loved spending time and growing with my cohort.  We had our ups and downs, but we became a family and always supported each other. 

Would you be where you are today without “I Have A Dream” – New York? Why or why not? I believe that I would have gone to college and graduate school, but my situation would have completely different.  The level of support that I received while being in the program allowed me to accomplish a lot more than I probably would have been able to on my own.

What does your family think of “I Have A Dream” – New York? My family is appreciative of the program and all of the opportunities that it has provided for me. 

Are you still involved with “I Have A Dream” – New York? How? I am still involved with “I Have a Dream.”  I have spoken to Dreamers at different events about my experiences with the program.  I have also met with Dreamer Alumni in the past. 

If you are a Dreamer alum who would like to share your story for the blog, please contact Allison Curran at acurran@ihaveadreamny.org. 

Spotlight On Dreamer Alumni: Janet Gonzalez

This month, we talk with Janet Gonzalez, a member of Eugene Lang’s original Dreamer class. Many thanks to Janet for sharing her experiences, and for continuing to help Dreamers decades later!

IHDF-NY's first Program Director Johnny Rivera, IHDF Founder and Chairman Emeritus Eugene Lang, and Dreamer Alumni Janet Gonzalez

What did you think about “I Have A Dream”-NY when you were in school?  I felt it was a positive outlet.  The community center we would meet at on 110th street was a "fun" place where I saw my friends and we sat around and talk about what was going on in our lives with school, family, etc.  We also had writing and math classes that really helped me a great deal straight through college.   To me it was that place we called a "home" outside of home.  At least that's what it meant to me.

What high school did you attend and what year did you graduate?  Norman Thomas HS, 1987.

What are you doing now?  I currently work at Conde Nast.  I am the production manager at Glamour magazine.  I pretty much built a layout map and make sure our printing plant produces the book at the most efficient rate.  It's quite a challenge to achieve but greatly satisfying once I receive that first bound book in my hands!

How would you explain the “I Have A Dream” program to someone who had never heard of it?  I would say its an amazing foundation that helps children from lower income communities develop an appreciation for education.  It helps students with all academic challenges in junior HS, HS and eventually college.  Throughout your school years, the foundation will not only be a place where people care about you and help you in many areas academically or with employment for example, but a place you can go to anytime just to chat with friends.  The program also assist with college tuition.

How did being a Dreamer affect you?  What I mainly got out of being a Dreamer is a great appreciation to "always give my best." I remember clearly taking a writing class at the youth center with Ms. Julia Smith (our writing teacher at that time) and being pushed hard in such a loving, effective way.  She would always say to me, “Is that your best?” It was such an effective way for her to get me to write so much better.  Eventually, she helped me get a summer job at Citibank.  I'll never forget Julia.  She was a great asset to the program and someone I always remember.

What were some of your favorite memories about being a Dreamer?  Our outings!  We had some pretty fun activities at the youth center but occasionally our coordinator, Johnny Rivera would take us out on outings and those were always a lot of fun.  I remember going for lunch and dinner with Mr. Eugene Lang.  I always thought it was quite surreal that these inner city kids would be sitting at a restaurant with this multi-millionaire.  It was fascinating how we were able to have such interesting conversations with him and really enjoy it. These are fond memories I always cherish.  

Are you still involved with "I Have A Dream" - NY? How?  This month I will host an event at my work place where twelve high school students will visit.  The Dreamers will attend a seminar where my co-workers and I will talk about our work and how the magazine business functions.  The students will then be taken on several tours throughout the company.  I enjoy giving back to the community whenever possible.   I hope to help the Foundation grow and become more successful in the near future!

Guest Blogger: Aleaster's Take on SAT Prep

By Aleaster Williams

“I Have a Dream” - NY has helped me in a variety of ways. One of these was the New York Cares SAT preparation course, which drastically improved my scores. Every Tuesday from 6-8pm the Dreamers would study in small groups with a volunteer instructor and go over strategies for better test taking. The subjects that we covered mostly were English and mathematics. Before the SAT prep course, I was oblivious to the many strategies that were beneficial for taking the test. Every Tuesday whether it was math or English, we learned something new and had a lot of fun doing it.

My tutor, Jenna, consistently helped me. She tried her hardest to make teaching and learning fun and she was successful. Her efforts as well as the hard work of all the other Dreamers and me is what made it possible for us to have enough knowledge to even take this test. Jenna taught us vocabulary and she helped us by focusing on our weakest subjects. Now I know that being tutored isn’t always fun, but the fact that Jenna was so nice and supportive made the difference. 

Spotlight On: Dreamer Alumni!

As part of a new recurring series, today we are happy to share an interview with Fenton Joseph, a Dreamer Alumnus, who shares his past experiences as a Dreamer and his current career and life pursuits. Many thanks to Fenton!

Name: Fenton Joseph

Dreamer Cohort: Old Westbury; Jefry Rosmarin, Sponsor

What did you think about “I Have A Dream” – New York when you were in school? To sum up my impression of the “Dreamers” in one word, it would be: fortunate. This may seem counterintuitive, given the backgrounds of the youth that the program typically caters to; however, I knew that the Dreamers had more than just tuition assistance going for them. They had people who cared about them so much that they donated their time and money to ensure their wellbeing and success. That is such a blessing.

What High School did you attend, and what year did you graduate? Westbury Senior High School, 1999.

What are you doing now? I currently help manage the pro audio design firm that I co-founded in 2010, Ronin Applied Sciences. We design and manufacture microphones, microphone pre-amplifiers, and other high-end audio technology. I am also a communications professional specializing in branding. Above and beyond all other endeavors, I am planning my wedding for March of 2015!

How would you explain the “I Have A Dream” program to someone who had never heard of it? The “I Have A Dream” Foundation is an amazing organization dedicated to helping youth in generally low income communities achieve their potential, through mentorship (from elementary to high school and beyond) and tuition assistance. But it’s so much more than that. IHDF-NY works to give youth what they really need to be all they can be: relationship.

How did being a Dreamer affect you? I think that being a Dreamer really focused my desire to give back in some way. I have always been altruistic, you know, the kind of guy who helps old ladies across the street. Just the other day I saw someone transporting a mattress on the roof of his car and it had fallen off. I ran over to help him put it back on. He didn’t have rope, so I don’t know if it fell off again when he drove off but I did what I could! The selflessness expressed by my own mentors definitely helped point my altruism in the direction of youth. I remember the talks I had with my mentors and how much I appreciated having someone to talk to, someone who was just willing to listen. Sometimes, lending an ear can make all the difference to a young person. I’ve been told that I am a great listener. I’m sure being a Dreamer had something to do with that.

What were some of your favorite memories about being a Dreamer? Raphael Santiago was our on-site program coordinator. Many of us affectionately referred to him as Santiago, and he really helped bring the program to life. I remember walking down the "dead end" hall where his little office was tucked away. It was the only office in that hallway, so only the Dreamers went back there. It was kind of special to have a little place to go to. We loved spending time there chatting with him, so much so that he often had to kick us out and remind us that we needed to go to our classes! I still consider Santiago a very good friend.

Another fond memory was participating in a tutoring/mentorship program at a local elementary school. After school was out, a few Dreamers would stop by Powell's Lane Elementary School in Westbury and spend time with some really special children. We would help them with homework and partake in fun activities. This was the first time that I felt the joy of working with children. They were always excited to see us, and we were just as excited to see them. I had the pleasure of participating in this program for about two years. I don't remember the names and faces, to be honest, but I will never forget the feeling of joy that comes with helping a child. There's nothing quite like it. 

Are you still involved with “I Have A Dream” – New York? How? Yes I am. In January of 2014, I became a member of the Junior Board of Directors for the IHDF-NY chapter. It has been extremely humbling and inspirational to meet the people who donate their time and energy to this great organization, and I sincerely look forward to contributing to IHDF-NY’s success, as well as spending quality time with the current class of Dreamers.

If you are a Dreamer alum who would like to share your story for the blog, please contact Allison Curran at acurran@ihaveadreamny.org.