Gallery
Challenger Day
On a clear, crisp fall morning, exceptional education students in Henrico County, Virginia got a taste of the sport of Challenger baseball. Everyone enjoyed games, activities, pictures and roaming mascots in addition to batting, running and fielding. Smiles and laughter were the order of the day for both participants and more than 200 volunteers. Thanks to all who came together as a community to make this a memorable event, with extra special thanks to Capital One.
Summer 2012
Our five week summer session was fantastic. The Dreamers were led by three superb teachers from the city of Richmond Public Schools. In addition to classroom academics, field trips were a big part of the program, with visits to local historical sites and Washington DC. All students participated in creative writing and drama activities. Top Dreamers received new bikes in recognition of their academic performance, participation in our programs, and performance of community service. Many thanks go out to Capital One for being a strong supporter of our summer program.
Volunteers
Our volunteers come from many walks of life - high school students, community leaders, educational professionals, retired citizens and college students. In a typical year, approximately 80 people volunteer over 2,200 hours. These dedicated workers serve in a variety of capacities including tutoring, mentoring, teaching, chaperoning field trips, fundraising and providing administrative support. THANK YOU!
We the People Room
"I Have A Dream" - Richmond is in the process of renovating a room at Boushall Middle School into an eye-pleasing, innovative, one-of-a-kind customized learning environment. About one hundred students at Boushall have been actively involved in the transformation of the room. The result is heightened interest and excitement about the project and increased pride in the fact that Boushall has such a resource. Students from all middle and elementary schools in the City of Richmond will be invited to use the room as a local field trip. A book of suggested activities will be housed in the room to enhance learning experiences, and initially, "I Have A Dream" representatives will be available to coordinate and conduct sessions for visiting groups.
Welcome Haitian Students!
"I Have A Dream" Richmond is sponsoring four students from Haiti to continue their studies in the United States. These young men and women are preparing to return to their country as community leaders. While here, they have had many new experiences and have traveled to destinations such as Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York and Washington DC.
Dreamers Get Outside
We're getting our Dreamers outdoors, teaching them about nutrition and providing environmental community service opportunities. The "Urban Outdoors" program is connecting area high school and college students to Dreamers as chaperones, instuctors and leaders. Monthly trips taken or planned include geocaching, hiking, rock climbing, harvesting crops, camping, cleaning up a waterway, and analyzing pedometer readings to relate steps to calories and nutition. A big thanks to Outdoor Nation and the National Association of Women Business Owners Richmond for providing funding for this project.
Annual Lunch in a Limo
For three years, "I Have A Dream" has given all students in their grade level the opportunity to read a book and complete a reading comprehension book report. As a reward for their efforts, all who turned in reports were treated to lunch during the school day and were taken to the restaurant in a limo!
Thank You Emerging Leaders
After learning of our Haitian Dreamer's desire to create a library in Hinche, Haiti, Emerging Leaders at Atlee High School coordinated a book drive. They gathered 3,400 books to donate. A big "thank you" goes out to these fantastic high school students!
Read More Books! September 2011
In parnership with First Book, "I Have A Dream" was able to do a second system-wide distribution to every elementary school student in the City of Richmond, plus ten schools in Henrico County. About 200 volunteers helped hand out 18,000 books over a three-day time period. In addition to First Book, a huge "thank you" goes out to all of our partners including SunTrust Mortgage, Capital One, Communities in Schools, University of Richmond, Pi Phi sorority , Salisbury Presbyterian Church, Capital City Lodge #107, Peter Paul Development Center, Chick fil-A Strafford Hills, Bison Printing, Harris Trucking, Quality Foods Delivered, Inc., the Do Good Bus and many, many others!
Summer Academic Session
In our 2011 summer academic session, Dreamers worked on increasing their reading levels and comprehension through novel studies and center activities. We explored the Civil War with a novel study and trips to Appomattox Court House, Tredegar Ironworks and Cold Harbor battlefield. We were introduced to the Holocaust through a novel study and a visit to the Richmond Holocaust Museum. Our science week included a novel study and lessons relating to fossils, culminating with a ferry ride across the James River to search for fossils at Chippokes Plantation State Park. We enjoyed sports-related books to complement our math week focusing on statistics. A big thanks to Dollar General Stores for funding a portion of our summer reading program!
Read More Books! June 2011
Every elementary school student in the City of Richmond and selected students in Henrico County received a new book for their home library in our first system-wide distribution. Almost 13,300 new books were given away!
Read More Books! April 2011
"I Have A Dream" is pleased to have given every student in two elementary schools a book to take home for their home libraries. Almost 500 books were distributed to pupils in pre-K through 5th grade. The Chick fil-A cow encouraged pupils to "Read More Books"!
Saturday School
Some of our Dreamers have been attending academic sessions on Saturdays, receiving help in math, reading, social studies and science. They are encouraged to bring work with them, or work on an online math and tutoring program with a volunteer. Dreamers have also discovered what type of learners they are and worked on classroom skills such as note-taking.
Project Clean Stream
Dreamers, their families and friends supported the Outdoor Adventure Klub in their participation in Project Clean Stream. We worked on the stream bed running behind Huguenot High and Thompson Midle Schools, collecting appliances, old tires and about 100 bags of trash. A special appearance by the Chick Fil-A cow was appreciated by all. Project Clean Stream is an annual stream and shoreline cleanup coordinated by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and partnering watershed organizations.
More Field Trips to Montpelier!
For the second time, "I Have A Dream" Foundation coordinated and chaperoned field trips to James Madison's Montpelier. This time, almost 500 elementary students from the City of Richmond Public Schools were able to enjoy a great day of learning, thanks to a grant from the Children's Memorial Foundation (administered by Montpelier). Students from eight elementary schools attended over a four day period. All groups toured the house and participated in other programs to further explore issues and life in the times of James and Dolley Madison.
Art 180 Open Studio
The Dreamers performed at the Art 180 Open Studio, showing off the paper mache' puppets they created!
Richmond City Students Visit Montpelier
"I Have A Dream" Foundation - Richmond coordinated and chaperoned field trips to the home of James Madison for over 200 students in three schools. Thanks to a grant from The Windsor Foundation (administered by Montpelier), students from Broad Rock Elementary School, Carver Elementary School and Boushall Middle School enjoyed a day of learning. Activities included tours of the home of James and Dolley Madison, a visit to an archeological dig site, participation in role-playing, exploration of woods and experiencing recreation like a child in the 1800's.
Visiting Professors in Haiti
Two professors from Barber-Scotia College in NC conduct classes for displaced Haitian students in Hinche, Haiti. Students are enrolled in four classes over an intensive four week session.
Artist-in Residence
Mr. Tunde Afolayan visited Boushall Middle School to lead an identity mask project. The process began with a short assembly where Mr. Afolayan introduced himself, his heritage and the project. The next step was for each student to make a mold of their face. This involved teamwork, as the students helped each other make the molds. It also involved trust on the part of the one having the mask made, since they relied on others to keep their breathing passages clear. The masks were then painted, with students encouraged to make the mask a representation of themselves in some way – through their feelings, hobbies, favorite colors or patterns, etc. Finally, students were asked to complete a writing prompt. As one student wrote “My mask bursts with lines, dots, color and designs. It represents me – excited and full of expression and creativity”. A big thanks to Target for partial funding for this project!
Black History Museum and Maggie Walker Field Trips
Fourth, fifth and sixth grade students toured the Black History Museum and Cultural Arts Center, and fourth and fifth graders also were able to visit the Maggie Walker House. Both museums are located in historic Jackson Ward in downtown Richmond and include exhibits that reinforce Virginia History Standards of Learning. The sixth grade students were fortunate to be able to view paintings by Tunde Afolayan, who also conducted an artist-in-residence program at their school. The paintings displayed were all created around the theme of the Underground Railroad, and each student received two books related to the subject.
Service Learning Through Volunteerism
The purpose of Service Learning Through Volunteerism is to extend education outside the classroom by promoting civic engagement in our community. Dreamers are required to complete a minimum of 50 hours of service learning during their three middle school years.
Dreamers Perform!
Three of our Dreamers attended a musical theatre camp, culminating in two spectacular performances. Proceeds from the camp were donated to our Hinche Scholars project and amounted to $7,000!! A huge "thank you" goes to the many volunteers and donors who helped make the camp a success.
Good Grades Rewarded!
Dreamers that earned all "A"s and "B"s on their report cards were treated to an evening of baseball. We had over 20 kids eligible to participate - way to go!
Classroom
A big thanks to Boushall Middle School for hosting our summer session! What a great way for rising sixth graders to transition to middle school.
Montpelier Field Trip
The Dreamers got to see James Madison's home after studying about his life and the Constitution. In addition to touring the mansion, they took a one-mile hike in the woods behind the house.
Dreamers Visit UVa
At the Rotunda on the UVa campus, we met several Dreamers from the Charlottesville program. These high-schoolers spoke to our Dreamers about their experiences with "I Have A Dream".
Luray Caverns Field Trip
After three days of classroom learning related to the formation of caverns, the Dreamers took a field trip to visit Luray Caverns. After touring the caverns, the Dreamers found their way through a garden maze.
Skyline Drive
After visiting Luray Caverns, the Dreamers went to the mountains! We leisurely drove down the Skyline Drive, stopping at an overlook and at Big Meadows.
Community Service
As a way of saying "thank you" to Art 180 for years of fantastic programs, the Dreamers sponsored a loose change drive at their school. Almost $60 was raised in a week. "I Have A Dream" matched their collections, and Art 180 was presented with a check for over $120.
Moving On Ceremony
A wonderful ceremony was held to celebrate the Dreamers "moving on" to middle school.
Art 180 Big Show
After creating their clay village over twelve sessions, the Dreamers enjoy sharing it with other program participants at Art 180's Big Show.
Family Night
Dreamers and their families attended “Parent Night” at Broad Rock Elementary School. After an interactive presentation, families were invited to create a family journal, with help from Art 180 and our volunteers.
Pamplin Park Field Trip
The Dreamers spent a wonderful day at Pamplin Park in Petersburg, Va. Who knew that learning about life in the civil war could be so fun? The hands-on activities were awesome!
Virginia State Capital
The Dreamers reinforced their knowledge of Virginia History by touring the State Capitol building in downtown Richmond. As we were touring the outside grounds, newly-elected Governor Robert McDonnell was walking through and stopped to greet the kids individually. As one Dreamer said, “I’ll never wash this hand again!”.
Richmond Christmas Parade
For several years, the Dreamers have been given special treatment at the Ukrop’s Christmas Parade. Escorted to a prime viewing section on a chartered bus, the Dreamers enjoyed the parade and a character luncheon at the Science Museum afterwards. A huge thank you for giving our Dreamers this memorable experience.
Computer Donations
Over the years, we have tried to leave a number of computers at each grade level as our Dreamers move on. We have been successful at procuring almost 50 desktop computers for classroom use!
Capital One
Capital One hosted our Dreamers at their corporate headquarters for two days and presented a Junior Achievement session centered around money. The experience provided a great hands-on look at office life. Thank you Capital One!
Tennis Lessons
The Dreamers were taught the basic of tennis and were given their own racquet, case and balls to practice!
Halloween
With the help of fantastic high-school volunteers, we had a special day of costume relay races, face-painting, apple bobbing and crafts for Halloween.
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