I HAVE A DREAM-OVERTOWN INC

I Have a Dream – Overtown (IHAD) is interested in the whole child, and through the “Dreamer College Readiness” project the program strives to build strategies and future possibilities as an enhancement to learning and meeting life's challenges. This project instructs and teaches the “Dreamers” on how to behave and carry themselves in experiences outside their norm. The IHAD “Dreamers” have the all demographic characteristics of children at-risk: approximately 60% live in single-parent households in a neighborhood that is severely economically deprived; they previously attended a traditionally low-performing public school (Phillis Wheatley Elementary School). The majority of them are qualified for reading intervention services. In the past years, after school and Saturday mornings and the summer academy have been dedicated to academics with an eye toward the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). This year we have concentrated on ACT and SAT prep (eight weekend sessions). During their middle school years, with the cooperation of Miami Dade County Public Schools the Dreamers attended a middle school outside their normal feeder pattern) where they were in an environment in which they can be challenged and flourish. Now in high school, the largest contingent are attending Miami Beach High School. They still need to continue to master essential reading/writing and oratorical skills in order to progress adequately and become proficient in all other subject areas at school In January 2004, the first-grade students at Phillis Wheatley Elementary School was chosen by the I Have a Dream – Overtown, Inc. program because of its very large low-income population, its location in one of Miami's most blighted neighborhoods, and its overall need to improve student achievement levels. Nearly 100 percent of its students are enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program. The students enrolled in the program now range in age from 12 to 14, 50% of whom are boys and 50% are girls. Approximately 77% are Black and 23% are Hispanic in ethnicity. From data collected on 47 of the “Dreamer”' families, we have learned that 27 live in a single mother household, 17 live in a two-parent household, and two are cared for by other relatives (an aunt and grandmother). Thirty-five of the parents did not graduate from high school and 11 (some of them immigrants from other countries) attended school no higher than eighth grade. Three did not even finish fourth grade. However, five of the parents attended some college and one has a Master's Degree (she is a teacher). The program was announced on January 16, 2004. At that time, the “Dreamers” and their families together with the program sponsors, began their 12-year-long commitment to working towards the goal of graduating from high school and seeking further educational opportunities in order to allow each “Dreamer” reach his/her full potential. A summer camp program followed by a four-week summer school program (sponsored by Miami-Dade County Public Schools) provided summer enrichments and continued academic skill building in past years. For the past five years our summer academy has been held on college campuses (Florida International University and Miami-Dade College). Currently the program is staffed by a project coordinator, a VISTA Volunteer, a CAP advisor, tutors, and community and college students who serve as volunteer tutors providing additional literacy tutoring every day during class and after school three days a week. Most of our Dreamers have volunteer mentors. The Project Coordinator, Eric Lewis, who previously served in a paraprofessional position at Phillis Wheatley Elementary School (and holds a degree in Special Education), is a constant in the “Dreamers” lives that they and their families can depend upon. Miami-Dade County Public Schools provides the I Have a Dream – Overtown program with space and he is on site every day. I Have a Dream – Overtown, Inc. is a private 501(c) (3) non-profit corporation founded in December 2003 by Co-Sponsors Mark and Margie Buchbinder. Its mission is to help children from low-income areas become productive citizens by providing a long-term program of mentoring, tutoring, and enrichment, with an assured opportunity for higher education. The objective of the I Have a Dream - Overtown is to inspire and motivate the “Dreamers” to do all things necessary, both personal and educational, to complete high school and to pursue education beyond high school to the highest level possible for each “Dreamer”. The Sponsors of the program will provide tuition assistance to a Florida college or accredited vocational/trade school, funded on a last-dollar basis that takes into account other financial resources, to those “Dreamers” who realize their full potential. A full time project coordinator is on site and available to work with the “Dreamers” and their families year round. I Have a Dream – Overtown, Inc.'s Advisory Council is made up of educators, community leaders, Overtown residents and neighborhood leaders. This is a longitudinal program that works with essentially the same 50 Overtown families from first through twelfth grade which differentiates it from other youth development and college prep programs in our community. In 2014-15, in our programs and services we continue to serve our population of “Dreamers” as described above. Our students have transitioned to high school and much work was done in college readiness and ACT/SAT preparation. Our after school tutorial program was supplemented by workshops in human growth and development, stress management, study skills, art, and theater. Enrichments included college tours, plays at local theaters, and visits to museums. The summer academy program originally was held on the Florida International University campus as part of the nationally acclaimed Algebra Project created by Dr. Robert Moses. For two summers, we worked with several FIU programs and colleges (i.e. the College of Education, the College of Nursing & Health Sciences, the College of Engineering, the Law School, and the School of Medicine). In 2013 the summer academy has incorporated a work experience/apprenticeship component to help our Dreamers earn a little money as well as enhancing their “real world” skills. Family involvement is a crucial element of our work by providing skill building assistance to parents in stress management, dealing with adolescent children, and helping children study and do homework. Supports and supplies are continually given to our students to bolster their educational needs and to their parents when there are social service issues by providing information and referral and guidance, as needed. Since the inception of this program the “Dreamers” have understood that their job was to stay and school, learn, and upon graduation, continue their education in college. As part of the enhancements to their academic learning in school, the program provides several field trips during the year to local cultural events (museums, theatres, exhibitions) and to local college campuses.