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DREAAM is partnering with Urbana Neighborhood Connections Center to bring you the Champaign-Urbana Drill Team! But we need your help. We have a few more spots to fill, so please help us get the word out. Do you know any kids at Champaign Unit 4 middles schools that are interested in dance, cheerleading, or drums? Invite them to check us out! For more information, please contact jessica@dreaam.org or (217) 600-1578.

Oh what a fun-filled and inspiring few weeks we had at our five Dream Big! summer locations! Enjoy these photos of all the special memories we made!

It's a work of art! And you can grab your copy here! During our Dream Big! Summer Program, our DREAAM Girls tribe put their heart and soul into a special project. And in the end, they were able to create this beautiful book with a collection of all their hard work! We have a limited number of copies available for a donation of $15 or more, so grab your copy now at https://bit.ly/3xagkml and make sure to designate DREAAM Girls in the drop down menu. We are so proud of our DREAAM Girls!

DREAAM has been busy with our Dream Big! Summer Program and so much more. Read all about it in our newsletter here.

DREAAM's Dream Big! Summer Program started this week, and as you can imagine, the beauty of our DREAAMers shined through on Day 1! We'll have many upon many fun and inspiring stories that will come out of these next few weeks, but we have a beautiful and powerful one to share with you from our first week. To kick off our summer session, our DREAAMers started creating an "About Me" art piece. These photos show our DREAAMers having an emotional moment as they spoke life-giving affirmations to themselves in a mirror. As one of the boys started saying his affirmations to himself in the mirror, he started crying. When our staff member asked him to share his feelings, he said, "This is hard because I never hear positive affirmations about me. This is the first time I've spoken affirmations to myself." This moment immediately blessed our staff member. When he shared this moment with the rest of the staff, it blessed us all. And we hope by sharing it with you, you will be blessed by this beautiful moment. Truly, it starts with you. Speak positive, life-giving affirmations to yourself. You are worthy. You are beautiful. You are amazing... And you can change the world. Believe in yourself and see where life can take you!

You're invited to the Kappa Kappa Gamma 51st Annual Flower Sale, with proceeds going to DREAAM!!! "The motivated kids from DREAAM (Driven to Reach Excellence and Academic Achievement for Males) will have a role at the colorful and sweet-smelling fundraiser on April 30 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and May 1 (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.) at Indian Acres Swim Club in Champaign." Read more in The News Gazette article here... https://www.news-gazette.com/coronavirus/top-of-the-morning-april-14-2021/article_f702baf4-64fb-55f7-a751-2777d5a93787.html?fbclid=IwAR3IRHC40fGzMSUxtHpRhhurji0G3c1FKcbszOi3EYu5ODQ1nHS8dU8Nq0Q

Our DREAAMers visited the home of DREAAM volunteers, Larry Lister & Vanessa Lane, this week, to learn about Mardi Gras and the culture around the celebration. Laissez le bon temps rouler means let the good times roll in English, and DREAAMers sure know how to have a good time...that is, after all their school work has been completed, of course! Read more about this fun visit and Mardi/Yardi Gras in The News-Gazette article... https://bit.ly/3ay1UDC

In the wake of the attack on the United States Capitol, DREAAM would like to share this letter and these family activities as we continue to process the pain and trauma this attack has caused. We want you to know we care deeply about our families, and hope our words will be received as those of support, comfort, and perseverance. As we continue into this MLK week, please take the opportunity to reflect and rest. Here are those links (#3-6): https://www.mhanational.org/talking-kids-about-fear-and-violence https://centerracialjustice.org/resources/resources-for-talking-about-race-racism-and-racialized-violence-with-kids/ https://www.facinghistory.org/educator-resources/current-events/responding-insurrection-us-capitol https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOWDtDUKz-U

Join the Movement and GIVE - whether it is some of your time, a donation, or the power of your voice in your local community. We couldn't make life-changing impacts without the dedicated staff, volunteers, and donations. You can make it possible for DREAAM to fulfill its mission. This Tuesday, please consider paying it forward with DREAAM in whatever way makes best sense for you.

Read all about DREAAM updates in our Fall Newsletter.

In October, we featured Lina Mongwa on our blog, who began running 401 miles in 100 days in mid-June and finished in late September. Here, Mongwa describes her inspiration and motivation and what she learned through the journey... "At the start of this endeavor to run 401 miles in 100 days, in the heart of 2 pandemics, I knew that there was a lot to learn. During my 401-mile journey, I listened to audio books on race; I listened to sermons; I listened to Uncomfortable Conversations With A Black Man; I listened to GirlTrek, Michelle Obama and other podcasts; I listened to music that got me to dance; I also listened to music that healed my soul. I have learned a lot of lessons during this journey and will share some of them here: I appreciate even more now that God is limitless in the ways in which He can move us and use us to do His work. I was blown away by the all who ran the half marathon with me, all who joined the 5/10K, all who supported with their presence and prayers, and all who donated and continue to donate to DREAAM. I believe in DREAAM (Driven to Reach Excellence & Academic Achievement for Males). I believe, because DREAAM is an organization that seeks to provide opportunities for Black men and Black families as a whole. 2020 has been a year during which my eyes have been opened up even more (than I had previously experienced and thought) to the very many ways the Black community has been disenfranchised for centuries now. While I am saddened by it all, I recognize that the good Lord, our creator has put us all on this earth for a purpose. History has us where we are now, however we all can change, improve, and do more with how we move forward. One of the ways my family is committed is by supporting DREAAM yearly in one way or another. My sisters who live in other parts of the country have taken on the challenge to run/walk 402 miles in 2021, 403 miles in 2022, 404 miles in 2023, etc. to support a local organization of their choice. Growing up in Cameroon, West Africa, I heard this said a lot: “Blessed to be a blessing.” Yes! We are blessed regardless of our circumstances. Some have sight, some can hear, some have wisdom, some have more resources, etc. This is not just about money. It’s about conversations with one another, people around us; it’s about just being present for someone. There are just so many ways to do better. My plea is that as I seek more ways to do better, we all take this challenge to do better for ourselves and help others do same for themselves and others around them. OUR HUMAN RACE NEEDS US ALL TO WORK TOGETHER. Even as we seek avenues to do better, please consider contributing to the cause at DREAAM.org Love and Blessings, Lina Mongwa