Youth Dreams

Before the grand opening on May 8, 2010, the Youth Dreamers had to do a lot of planning. First we had to pick a date, the theme and the food that we would serve. We did most of the work in Project Class–painted signs, made wand nametags, painted the yellow brick road and placed them in the house, made First Year Funder ribbons, cleaned the house and weeded the yard. We also wrote the story “The Dream House: There’s No Place Like Home,” designed our book cover, made posters, spray painted our ruby slippers for the board and Youth Dreamers, created bookmarks, made bios for everyone, bagged M&M’s as parting gifts, and created puzzles pieces to honor all of our funders. Purnell (8th grade), designed the stencil for our t-shirts and we spray painted the shirts so everyone would know who the Youth Dreamers were in the crowd. We wrote a press release to let the media know about our event and encourage them to come out and see us. During Homework Club, our kindergarten through fifth graders created the ribbon that was wrapped around the house for the ribbon cutting ceremony, and Atiya Jacobs (7th grade), made the big red bow. Cierra Cary (original founder) designed the invitations that the students stuffed and got ready for mailing. We also designed and prepared the glass for our mosaic Dream House sign with help from our community artist Ms. Sarah. The day before the event, we decided on the jobs that all of the Youth Dreamers would have during the Grand Opening.
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On Saturday April 17, 2010, the Youth Dreamers had a service day where we painted flowers pot. To prepare for this day, we had to make flyers for the community and we went pavement pounding around Carswell, Gorsuch, and then the Shepherd’s Clinic. Once we did that, we sent invites to Towson, Stevenson University, Public Allies Maryland, and our Board. Before we went shopping for the materials for this wonderful service day, we had to look at our budget. After looking at the budget, we made the shopping list for Ms. Tina and then she bought the materials. Before the service day, Shionnia and Dominique helped paint the pots wonderfully white so the volunteer’s designs would pop. Then we were ready for this service day. Yay!!!!! (Written by the Community Engagement Team)
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By Alexis Bennett

Homework Club is a program run by the Youth Dreamers from the Stadium School. During Homework Club, Stadium School students are hired to tutor children from Abbotston Elementary School from Pre-K to 4th grade. Homework Club is on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:40 until 4:00. After the tutees are dismissed, staff meetings are held from 4:00 to 4:30.

In order to be considered for Homework Club middle school students have to:

I. Fill out an application
II. Do an interview with your potential supervisor that has previously worked in Homework Club
III. Complete three sessions of training before starting HW Club
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Written by Mykel, Cashmire, Taylor, and Alana

BEFORE
Based on the success of our first Back to (Old) School Blackout in September, the Youth Dreamers decided to do another one. This fundraiser forces Youth Dreamers to give up their electronics for one day, to be replaced with FUNdamental activities. Youth Dreamers raise money by asking adults to sponsor them to not text, not use the phone, not watch TV, not visit Facebook and MySpace, and not use their IPODs. Flyers and sponsor sheets were created for the second Blackout to take place on Presidents Day- a February holiday from school. We posted our flyer on our website and watched the donations pour in. Unfortunately, Snowmaggedon hit in February, forcing us to postpone the event to Saturday, March 13th. Continue Reading »

Written by Mykel Chambers, Shionna McCarty, Jada Harris, Purnell Gray, Joi McCoughtry, Denera Brown, Maya Gasque, Deja Joseph, Tamara Lemon, and Blair Coleman

On October 30th, 2009 from 4-6pm we had a Youth Dreamers Halloween Party at the Stadium School that featured games, music, costumes, and a special teacher dance-off!

Planning
Before we had the party we had to plan it first. First we had to get permission from Mr. Ron to use the gym and have the party. Then we had to make and take flyers to pass out to the advisories. We also presented at the staff meeting to ask teachers to dance. Some of the Youth Dreamers taught the teachers to dance. We also had to sort through Halloween decorations so our Halloween party could be the best. We had to buy snacks and make a music play list for the party. Some of the Youth Dreamers went pavement pounding to get gift cards from local restaurants for the teachers.

Before the party started we had to put up decorations. Ms. Kristina ordered pizza, and everyone helped to set up tables and chairs. Some Youth Dreamers went to classrooms and sold tickets.

The Party!
During the big Youth Dreamers party we danced, ate, and had an R&B music selection thanks to Cierra. We also took pictures, sold pizza, chips, and Capri Suns to the students at the big jam. All of the students at the party enjoyed snacks, pizza was $1.00 and snacks and drinks cost .50. However, there wasn’t enough pizza for the students so we had to keep ordering more. We had a Halloween costume contest. Our first place winner was a student dressed as a homeless person. Last but not least, we had a teacher dance off. There were no winners, but they all did an excellent job at their silly dances. These dances were the Stanky Leg, the Swag Surf and the Jerk. Finally, the funniest dance of all was Mr. Roycroft dancing to Single Ladies.
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Written by Stephen Scott, Miriam Harris, and Keyani Kenny

BEFORE
To come up with this fundraiser, the high school Youth Dreamers met at the house (on milk crates) and started brainstorming. We broke into teams to come up with ideas. The idea of a “Text-a-thon” was pitched and we thought all the people who hate texting wouldn’t pay for it… so we decided to do the exact opposite and have a “Blackout.” We know adults would pay for us NOT to text! We planned on how it would work.

We decided that Youth Dreamers and their friends would participate and adults would bring food to support us. Phones and other electronics would be taken and replaced with FUNdamental activities. We would get sponsored by others for money. So, we made a flyer and a sponsor sheet, recruited friends to participate, started asking adults to sponsor us, emailed our supporters, and posted the information on our website. The following Youth Dreamers participated: Stephen Scott, Danielle Parham, Dominique Davis, Miriam Harris, Keyani Kenny, Deja Joseph, Chekana Reid, and Cierra Cary. Mark, Jamal, and Jazmine—friends of these Youth Dreamers—also participated.

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Report written by Chekana Reid, Keyani Kenny and Dominique Davis

The Youth Dreamers Live Out Loud Again Summer Program took place from June 29th to July 29th on Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at The Stadium School. We had 14 students from grades 5 -9. We received funding from the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts, Baltimore Housing’s Office of Community Services, and Youth Works. In photo: Summer program staff Miriam Harris (l), Dominique Davis (c) and volunteer Chekana Reid (r)]

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MICA’s Master’s in Community Arts’ Summer Institute held its final exhibition and celebration at the Youth Dreamers Youth Center on July 25 – a wonderful day of art and community. Following are messages sent by Cinder Hypki and Paula Phillips, faculty members the MACA program.

Check out some of our furniture ideas for the youth center!

Mark your calendars for July 25th from 11 to 3 as the YD’s host the Summer Celebration where all 6 sites of MICA programming come together for a cookout and fun. Artwork from all sites will be displayed in the house and at the clinic and we are hoping to put on "Razzle Dazzle 101" a performance out on the lawn of original and existing scenes by our drama group. All residents on Carswell Street will be invited as well as family and friends of youth from all six summer sites.

(Click image for larger version.)