Dream Project Inc

Mentoring: the dream project's mentoring program served high school seniors and community college scholars transferring to four-year universities. From september to may, participants met weekly with our dedicated team of staff and mentors. Students engaged in group discussions and workshops, followed by personalized one-on-one advising sessions addressing the specifics of each student's college admissions process. Our mentors provided confidential guidance, informed specifically on college admissions pathways for non-citizens, supporting students throughout their journey to higher education. The 2023-2024 mentoring program saw record participation and resulted in successful college placements across virginia. Mentors also assisted mentees in choosing their schools based on educational and economic needs, and assisted students in negotiating financial aid packages.

Scholar, alumni support:dream project scholarship recipients, college graduates, and their families received comprehensive support through activities and programming designed to foster success in college and careers:"the dream project has partnered with beyond 12 to provide personalized college coaching services, helping students thrive in college and beyond. These services were provided to all freshman students as well as selected sophomores and students transferring from two- to four-year colleges. As most dream project students are first-generation college students, this coaching service proved crucial for their academic persistence and success. "the organization hosted a highly attended mandatory annual week-long dream summits for students and parents focused on supporting students in college and beyond. The focus of the 2023 summit was advocacy for self and community. In addition, the summer summit included presentations involving networking, job search, immigration developments and individual immigration guidance by volunteer attorneys, and wellness support."as needed, the dream project's case manager connected students with community and government resources providing additional housing, food, and physical and mental health support services. Internal support services included: the molly and joseph herman dream scholar loan fund, which provided interest-free loans to eligible students for unexpected emergencies and daca application fees. Students received loans up to $2,000 for undergraduate and graduate educational expenses, payable directly to educational institutions. Non-daca loans are repaid after graduation within two years, while daca loans are repaid in monthly installments over five months. O the emergency relief and mental health fund, which distributed grants to help students pay for housing, food, utilities, and healthcare when community resources were unavailable. O computer support initiative, which supplied refurbished laptops to students in need, enabling remote learning and academic success."the dream project worked to create systemic change by empowering young immigrant adults to lead community initiatives advocating for infrastructure changes through participation in community coalitions/groups, educational events, and the formation of the leadership council.

Family engagement and support:since its inception, the dream project has benefited from strong parent volunteering and support. What began as a small group of concerned parents hoping to send their children to college despite numerous obstacles has evolved into a robust community support system. In 2023-2024, the dream project hosted an annual week-long dream summit and regular workshops throughout the year, equipping parents with strategies to support their students' educational journeys. The parent committee actively contributed to the dream project's fundraising efforts, organizing multiple successful events throughout the year to fund a named scholarship and other dream project programs.