Collective Impact

Dream Keeper Research InstituteParticipants Served: The Dream Keeper Institute has 77 participants.Impact from funding loss: This was a 2yr contract agreement. The newest iteration of the program started 7/1/2024 and with the abrupt termination of the program caused the 77 participants to be immediately cut-off. Causing immediate financial harm to the participants who received monthly stipends. The reason for the incentives are because more often than not financial constraints and pressure(s) prohibit their participation in community initiatives such as these. While multiple barriers present themselves in the Black Community it is widely understood that financial burdens are at the top. Due to working multiple jobs or not being able to pay for childcare - this was a way to ease those burdens.Key Outcome: In 2024, the Jumuiya Research Institute, supported by the Dream Keeper Initiative, made significant strides in its mission to empower 77 participants within the Black community. Through Afrocentric research methods and African-centered educational frameworks, participants were trained to conduct their own research and share their stories on racial stress, focusing on the impact of anti-Black racism on Black wellness. This approach promoted career readiness by equipping participants with valuable research skills, while also fostering a deeper sense of identity through African Deep Thought, which helped them build intrapersonal and interpersonal agency.By integrating community-centered research practices, the program created space for participants to explore and document the lived experiences of Black individuals. This contributed to a more holistic understanding of racial stress and resilience. The outcomes of the Jumuiya Research Institute highlight the power of self-narrative and cultural identity in promoting wellness and advancing the Black communitys ability to reclaim its stories. Equipped with this knowledge and expertise, participants are now positioned to foster empowerment within themselves and their communities, while advocating for systemic change.