MLK Service Day - Chelsea II

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Dreamers from New York Metro - Chelsea-Elliott II “I Have a Dream” Program prepared packaged lunches for the homeless and donated warm clothes and coats to the local Salvation Army. Eighteen Dreamers participated in this service event. Our Dreamers have experienced a number of great ways to giving back on MLK Day over the years but this has been our first official year we have been able to give back to the homeless.

Within our own community there are homeless individuals who we encounter daily, and for some it’s a new experience to introduce ourselves to the point of knowing one another on a first name basis. I think for many of our Dreamers the simple act of kindness by delivering food to the poor, while observing the gratitude they received in return, provided them with a new perspective towards the less fortunate in our society. We hope this experience of giving back to the homeless population had a bigger impact on how our Dreamers view the poor, in addition to allowing them to think twice before simply passing someone who may be in need.

MLK Service Day

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?”

Random House Reading Celebration

The I Have a Dream Foundation NY-Metro’s East Harlem site is extremely grateful to all the volunteers from Penguin Random House publishing who have participated in literacy events in the past two months.  The foundation was selected as Penguin Random House’s charity of the year, to the great benefit of the East Harlem Dreamers.  Over 400 hundred beautiful books have been donated to the IHDF East Harlem library and through a series of events every Dreamer has received six books to add to their libraries at home!

On October 26, Random House volunteers arrived at the East Harlem program for a much anticipated Halloween-themed Reading Celebration.  30 volunteers participated, each selecting some of their favorite childhood books and stories to share with the Dreamers.  Volunteers and Dreamers read and talked together in small groups of three or four, tucked away in cozy classroom corners.  Between the witches’ hats, transformer costumes and excited chatter it was difficult to tell who was having more fun!  The Reading Party was a great success, so much so that both kids and volunteers began asking, “When are we doing this again?”

Luckily we had an answer!  On November 13, new and returning volunteers from Penguin Random House joined the after school program for a career presentation on the many routes to and roles found in the publishing industry.  Representatives from the accounting, marketing, writing, editing and design departments all shared the ins and outs of their roles with the 65 East Harlem Dreamers.  They also took the time to explain what they originally studied in college and how they arrived in their current positions.  Most excitingly, they brought blank books for Dreamers to write and illustrate themselves!  During the book-making activity Dreamers had their own “About the Author,” photos taken for their books and were able to talk one on one or in small groups with professionals about their lives and their work.

We can never say which encounters will spark a child’s imagination, guide them onto a career path or inspire them to make a particular decision, and we can never truly know which children will be inspired most by the opportunities we provide.  It is sufficient to say though, that these kinds of interactions are inspiring to kids, help broaden their understanding of the world around them and ultimately help them make decisions about the kinds of lives they will lead.

Thank you, Penguin Random House!  Here’s to many more inspiring afternoons together!

Save the Date! Festivus 2015 Holiday Season Kickoff

The holidays are coming up, and that means that it's time for the "I Have A Dream" Foundation - New York's annual Festivus celebration! (Not sure what Festivus is? Let Seinfeld explain.)

Festivus Holiday Season Kickoff!

Hosted by the "I Have A Dream" - New York Junior Board and Dreamer Alumni Network
Monday, December 7
Latitude Bar & Grill (783 8th Avenue, NY, NY 10036)
6:00pm-10:00pm
Suggested donation $20
Drink Specials from 6-8pm
Music by Dreamer Alum DJ Dubbz
All Proceeds will Benefit College and Career Programming for our High School Dreamers

Don't miss out! Purchase your tickets early here: https://www.nycharities.org/events/EventLevels.aspx?ETID=8671

All friends are welcome! We can't wait to see you there!