Dreamer Diaries
March 2015
In This Issue
7News Honors "I Have a Dream" Volunteer
Celebrating AmeriCorps Week
Iris Program Director Presents in New Orleans
New Dreamer class Launches this Month!
RSVP for Our Golf Tournament-June 5
7News Honors "I Have a Dream" Volunteer   
Volunteer Sheila Malcolm received a 7News Everyday Hero award. 
 
Our volunteer Sheila Malcolm was honored last month as the 7News Everyday Hero. In February, the station visited the Iris Dreamer Class to surprise Sheila with the award, and a video of the presentation aired on the news station a few times throughout March.

Sheila, who was a teacher for more than three decades before starting as a volunteer with "I Have a Dream," has been volunteering with the Iris Dreamer class for more than six years. As Dreamer Leslie said in the video, "she became like a second mother to us." 

Sheila serves as a mentor and tutor to the students, helping with homework and personal issues. "She's not only trying to educate us school-wise, but she's trying to educate us as a person, and how to be a better person," said Leslie.

We're so proud to have one of our volunteers noticed and honored in this way!
Celebrating Our AmeriCorps Alumni for National AmeriCorps Week!
Trey and Megan Foskett

In celebration of National AmeriCorps Week, we're highlighting two of our AmeriCorps Alumni, Trey and Megan Foskett!


Megan graduated from college in 2001, and moved out to Boulder to serve as a Notre Dame AmeriCorps Member with "I Have a Dream" with the Pioneer Class. During her year of AmeriCorps, she met her now husband, Trey Foskett, who was also serving as an AmeriCorps at "I Have a Dream" for the Sanchez Class!

After her year as an AmeriCorps member, Megan continued work in the Boulder Valley School District as an ESL tutor and then used her education stipend to pursue a teaching certificate and MA in Education at the University of Colorado-Denver.

Megan and Trey married and moved to South Africa so that he could start a biotech company there. They now live in Cambridge, MA with their two daughters, Maya and Harper.

Megan says "I love the work of 'I Have a Dream' because the organization's philosophy recognizes that change takes time, and supporting kids and their families through all grades and all stages of development and growth are key to allowing children to become happy, successful, and confident."
"I Have a Dream" Program Director Presents in New Orleans! 

Iris program director Francisco Mejias attended and taught a workshop at the Prep�rate National Conference in New Orleans, March 9-10. Francisco taught a workshop on how to engage Latino parents in learning about the college process. The workshop was taught with "I Have a Dream" partners Adelante! and and Boulder High School. 

Francisco has 18 years of experience working with Latino parents and their children; he was a teacher locally for more than a decade before serving as a Program Director at "I Have a Dream." He served as the program director for the Broadway Class from 1999 to 2009 and now leads the Iris Class.
On April 29th we will welcome 80 new Dreamers into our program - our largest Dreamer class ever!

The largest class of Dreamers ever, with 80 second graders, will be welcomed into the "I Have a Dream" community on Wednesday, April 29, with a dedication ceremony at Boulder High School. The students, from Boulder Housing Partners housing communities and Columbine Elementary School, will share the dreams they intend to pursue as they embark on their journey to high school graduation and collegiate success with "I Have a Dream." Special thanks to our main partners, our Dreamer Sponsors, BVSD, Boulder Housing Partners, and the City of Boulder for helping make this new class possible!

 

At the helm serving as the new Oak Program Director, will be Tracy Leffingwell, who has a B.A. in Spanish Language and Literature from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Masters in Foreign Language with a Teaching Emphasis from the University of Northern Colorado. As part of her studies, she worked and volunteered in the Dominican Republic as an English teacher and a sports camp instructor. Tracy has worked and volunteered as a literacy, math, and study skills tutor in Colorado for a number of years. She also taught Spanish in the Boulder Valley School District for four years at a college preparatory and character education school.

 

If you're interested in joining us for the dedication ceremony, please RSVP by April 17th by contacting Paulette at 303-444-3636 ext. 10 or [email protected].

SAVE THE DATE: 
June 5, 2015, for our Annual Golf Tournament    

Golf Collage

Friday, June 5, from 6:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Indian Peaks Golf Course
Lafayette, Colorado

 

We are proud to be celebrating our 13th year as Boulder County's BEST charity golf tournament at Indian Peaks Golf Course in Lafayette. This is a great opportunity to play one of the finest golf courses in the area and support the future of Boulder County's low-income youth.

 

Our golf packages include the following: a continental breakfast, green fees, golfer contests, on-course beverages, and gift bag. At the conclusion of play, players will be provided with a fantastic awards luncheon.

 

Please go to www.ihaveadreamboulder.org to register to play or become an underwriter. 




Upcoming Events

Wednesday, April 15
2:30 p.m. - 4:30 pm
Iris Class (Boulder)
 
Saturday & Sunday, 
April 25-26 
Dream Kitchens Tour!


Thursday, May 14
3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Rocky Mtn. Class (Longmont)
Join us for Breakfast!
Tomorrow we're hosting our annual Dream-Maker Breakfast! 

April 1, 7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Plaza Conference Center
Longmont, Colo.

If you forgot to RSVP, don't worry, we can still find you a seat! Email Kasia Szewczyk at [email protected] before 5 p.m. today, Tuesday March 31. 
Last Call for AmeriCorps Applications
Time is running out to apply for one of our 25 AmeriCorps positions, and make a difference in our community and at "I Have a Dream"! 
Learn more and apply before it's too late! 
Since 1998, "I Have a Dream" has trained and hosted 281 AmeriCorps members, creating future leaders and educators in our community.

"Celebrating 25 years of Educating Low-income Youth"
Our Corporate Breakfast
Dream-Makers












Taggart Insurance Logo 2011

  



About the "I Have a Dream" Foundation of Boulder County
Since 1990, the award-winning "I Have a Dream" Foundation of Boulder County has assisted 780 children from low-income areas in achieving their education and career goals by providing long-term personal and academic support, tutoring, mentoring and four-year tuition-assistance scholarships to each graduating student. The organization sponsors entire groups of students from elementary schools or from low-income housing sites and works with these children and their families through high school graduation and post-secondary education. Currently, there are seven active "I Have a Dream" classes in Boulder County, with three of these classes located in Boulder, two classes located in Longmont and two classes located in Lafayette. The "I Have a Dream" Foundation of Boulder County has doubled expected graduation rates for its graduating classes of students and has awarded over $1 million in scholarships. The program follows the national model established in New York in 1981 by founder Eugene Lang.

"I Have a Dream" Foundation of Boulder County
3012 Sterling Circle, Suite 200
Boulder, CO 80301
303-444-3636