Dreamer Scholars Speak

In between being Dreamers and becoming Dreamer Alumni are Dreamer Scholars, our students who have graduated high school and are furthering their postsecondary education. What is this transition like? How are Dreamers adjusting to their new adult lives? Below, two Dreamer Scholars from the Plainfield, New Jersey cohort share their college experiences and provide their personal answers to these questions.

Phi Theta Kappa

By Jasmine Beaufort

My dad always told me there are three kinds of people in this world, “those who watch things happen, those who make things happen, and those who wondered what happened.” That inspirational quote allows me to evaluate myself and want to do more than “make things happen,” but rather be the “Dreamer” who turns dreams into a reality. On March 19 2014, I was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at Middlesex County College. I was also honored at the Student Recognition Ceremony on April 24 for leadership and academic achievement. I will admit this journey has not been the easiest for me but I manage to stay positive and focused. I am proud of all my accomplishments thus far and I am inspired to strive for excellence. I am very grateful for IHAD support from board members, advisors, volunteers, and mentors who have all invested time into the success of my future. I will continue to do my part and promise to be the best investment for IHAD and myself.

Finding Myself

By Halima Moore

College for me started out a little rough. Now, ending off my sophomore year I can honestly say I love it. I’ve come out of my shell and found the person I’ve been looking for all my life, which is my true self! Not only have I become a better writer and student but I managed to get involved with plenty of clubs on campus. I sit secretary of the Criminal Justice Club, member of the National Society of Leadership and a student ambassador. I’ve also been given the chance to study abroad in Chengdu, China for the upcoming fall semester. I’ve gotten a certificate from Hudson County Prosecutor’s office for a great amount of community service and certified in Basic Handgun training which will help me out during my Career in the Criminal Justice field.

Being a college student is not easy and I’m sure every other Dreamer can agree. It’s expensive, lots of studying and time management. Luckily, I had a lot of support from family, friends, Mrs. Janet, and other IHAD board members to guide me through the way. Two years down, three more to go (including 1 year for my Master’s Degree).

American Graduate Day 2014

The “I Have A Dream” Foundation had the honor of being featured as part of American Graduate Day, a love national, multi-platform broadcast event on Saturday, September 27. Sponsored nationally by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and in New York City by WNET, American Graduate Day celebrates the work of organizational nationwide that work to keep students on track to graduate. A seven-hour event, the day began with Early Learning and continued through College and Career Readiness, where “I Have A Dream” was featured. Additional topics during the day included Special Needs Communities, Dropout Prevention and Re-Engagement, and Caring, Consistent Adults.

IHDF-NY’s board chair Jeff Gural, Chelsea-Elliott I Dreamer Alum Zairia Benjamin, and Original Lang Class Dreamer Alma Ceballos were interviewed by William Brangham and discussed their experiences with the program. Zairia said that “My experience preparing for [the] American Graduate Day interview was simple. I made sure to speak slow and clear. I also had to think about positive things I wanted people to know about my experience with the program. Talking about the program is natural for me because I love it so much. Overall, it was a positive experience. Spreading the word about this great program is a duty all Alumni should hold close to their hearts.”

Please check out their stories in the interview below and, in watching, we hope that you will be as proud and inspired as we are!

On the Hunt with the Junior Board!

On September 20, our Junior Board members hosted a scavenger hunt for the high school Dreamers in Central Park.

DeHostos Dreamer Scavengers

Teams of Dreamers and Jr Board members explored the park with a list of items to photograph. Some involved being observant to find something specific: someone feeding pigeons, a pay phone, a police officer on a horse, or someone walking more than one dog. Others required finding Central Park landmarks, such as Strawberry Fields, Gapstow Bridge, and Belvedere Castle. Once each item was found, the teams took a photo of it with the hashtag #hunt4dreams and shared it on Twitter.

One of the photos for the clue "Find a tree that looks like something else - what is it shaped like?"

The winning team (the ladies of Ravenswood II) emerged victorious and were awarded homemade cookies and glow-in-the-dark glasses, with the boys of Ravenswood II in a close second.

The day was organized by the Dreamer Events Committee of our Junior Board. One committee member, Lauren Bernstein, remarked, "It was so much fun to be with the Dreamers in Central Park. They all worked together and it was really nice to get to know them." The Committee looks forward to organizing more events in the future to plan fun activities with the Dreamers, as well as help them develop professional networks and career-building skills.

All in all, it was a great day to spend in the park, learn more about New York City landmarks, and enable our Dreamers to have fun with young professionals!

Spotlight On Dreamer Alumni: Jamie Caceres!

This month, we chat with Ravenswood I Dreamer Alum Jamie Caceres. A big thanks to Jamie for sharing her story!

Name: Jamie Caceres

Dreamer Cohort: Ravenswood I

Dreamer Alum Jamie Caceres

What did you think about “I Have A Dream” – New York when you were in school? Growing up, I wasn’t allowed to hang out in the streets alone with my friends. The "I Have A Dream" Program was my only opportunity to see my friends, therefore as a child, I looked forward to going to “The Program” afterschool and during the summer.

What High School did you attend, and what year did you graduate?  My parents and I moved to Florida when I was 12 years old. I attended John I. Leonard High School in Greenacres, FL

Did you go to college/secondary school? If so, where and what did you study? I attended Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL and received my BBA degree with a major in finance.

What are you doing now? I work at Morgan Stanley as a Registered Client Service Associate.

How would you explain the “I Have A Dream” program to someone who had never heard of it? I introduce the program as an organization that focuses on creating an opportunity for youth to attain a higher education.   

How did being a Dreamer affect you? Being a Dreamer has affected my life immensely. It’s a part of who I am, the reason I am on path to the quality of life my ancestors fought for me to have. They brought my family to the land of opportunity and that is exactly what I received through being a Dreamer.

What were some of your favorite memories about being a Dreamer? Some of my favorite memories as a Dreamer were going to Morry’s Camp, attending Mets games with my dad, learning to swim at the Boys & Girls club and taking field trips.

Jamie's graduation photo

Would you be where you are today without “I Have A Dream” – New York? Why or why not? I don’t believe I would be where I am today if it weren’t for “I Have A Dream.” College was a thought introduced solely by “The Program” and only made financially possible by them. Not only did they assist financially, they also provided tutoring to help in your academic short-comings.

What does your family think of “I Have A Dream” – New York? My family didn’t have the means to put me through college. They are grateful for the role [that] “I Have A Dream” played in my success and in my childhood development.

Are you still involved with “I Have A Dream” – New York? Yes, I am part of the Dreamer Alumni Network of New York