dreamprogram.org The DREAM Program
The Village Mentoring Organization
@DREAMprogram
Hollow Drive DREAM Quarterly Report September – November 2013 Greetings from DREAM! The Hollow Drive DREAM program has finished up another wonderful semester of activities. Though youth are sad to see their mentors leaving for winter break, they look forward to their return in January. Here is a summary of all the Hollow Drive DREAM happenings from the last quarter.
Highlights from the quarter include: • The Hollow Drive Local Program recruited eight amazing new mentors this term! Mentors from
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three Dartmouth DREAM Local Programs collaborated throughout the recruitment process and spent weeks advertising, holding information sessions and interviewing potential mentors. Each new mentor makes a wonderful addition to the Hollow Drive DREAM community. To celebrate another great term with DREAM, Hollow Drive mentors and mentees traveled to the Great View Roller Skating Rink in Enfield, New Hampshire on November 16 th for their Culminating Experience. Mentees are sad to say goodbye, but are looking forward to the mentors’ return from break in January!
Fridays: • Hollow Drive mentors and mentees had fun spending time together on and off campus this term. • Dartmouth DREAM collaborated with Literacy in the Upper Valley for one Friday afternoon. • •
Mentees spent time reading and drinking hot chocolate and each took home a book of their choice. On campus, outdoor games of soccer and baseball were played in the milder weeks of October. Off, campus, the group took trips to Worthy Burger for dinner, went on pizza outings, and went apple picking!
Special Events for Children and Mentors: • •
A group of Elm Street mentors and teens hiked a portion of the Long Trail as part of UVM’s Catamountain Classic. This event raises funds for a scholarship for a DREAM teen to attend an Outward Bound Program each year. Thirteen older teens from across Vermont gathered for the second annual Teen Futures Retreat, where they wrote intros for their college essays, had a frank discussion about the pressure of drug use, and discussed their goals for life after high school. Thanks to all of the residents of The Swamp for hosting DREAM, and to Tristram Coffin, U.S. District Attorney, for facilitating conversation around The Opiate Effect. Lastly, DREAM thanks Paul Espina and Katie Purcell for all of their help!
Capacity Building and Fundraising: • DREAM was honored to receive a $20,000 capacity-building grant from Ben & Jerry’s. We look •
forward to continuing this meaningful partnership! On November 18, DREAM launched our Annual Appeal. Keep a look out for your letter and please consider donating. So far the Annual Appeal has raised $1,540 from 16 donors.
Office: 30 Community Drive, South Burlington, VT | Mail: P.O. Box 361, Winooski, VT 05404 │ (802) 338-8979 | info@dreamprogram.org
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Hollow Drive recruited eight new DREAM mentors this quarter.
Mentor Training and Workshops: • •
New Dartmouth DREAM mentors received Mentor Boundaries and Guidelines training as well as an introduction to DREAM’s Theory of Chance and DREAM’s Core Values. Mentors across Vermont attended DREAMstock, a fun 24-hour event graciously co-hosted by Bolton Valley Resort and Comcast. Vermont mentors participated in sessions about age-specific programming, building relationships with families, and meeting facilitation. DREAM thanks Paul Espina for his help, as well as National Bank of Middlebury, Five Guys, City Market, and Shelburne Orchard for their financial and in-kind support.
Camp: • Camp Work Days and Days of Caring occurred in late September and early October. More than 50 volunteers assisted staff in painting the new Camp Store, building wooden bridges, and building cubbies for the lean-tos.
Alumni Involvement: •
DREAM launched its Alumni Appeal on October 29. Mentors participated in phone-a-thons, during which they called alumni, asking them to contribute to the appeal. So far, the Alumni Appeal has raised over $12,000 from 100 donors.
Office: • In September, staff and AmeriCorps members participated in a two-day staff retreat in Guilford, •
VT. Discussion topics included giving and receiving feedback, DREAM’s budget, and goal setting for the year. DREAM Executive Director, Michael Loner, and Boston Regional Director, were honored to present at the New England Regional Mentoring Conference in Hartford, CT. Their presentation was titled "Working with Youth in Affordable Housing: Challenges and Opportunities."
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The DREAM Program is very proud to have been the 2013 recipient of the Miles Jensen Award, which is sponsored by Housing Vermont and recognizes the outstanding contributions of volunteers who work with residents of affordable housing communities in Vermont. Housing Vermont chose to recognize DREAM due to the thousands of hours DREAM mentors spend with youth from affordable housing sites all over Vermont and beyond, stretching the children's ambitions and uncovering opportunities.
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The DREAM Program recently completed the requirements for graduation from the BBVT Performance Institute. DREAM was selected to participate in the Performance Institute through a rigorous and competitive selection process, and we used our work with the Performance Institute to better define the outcomes we want for youth who participate in DREAM’s Teen Programming. DREAM was excited to welcome Jason Desrosier in September as the new Boston Programs Director! Jason comes to DREAM with an inspiring background as a community-based learning coordinator, an AmeriCorps member, and a youth advocate.
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DREAM is sad to say goodbye to Mike Ewan, former Program Director, Advanced Support and AmeriCorps member supervisor. Mike recently transitioned into a new position as a special educator, where he will continue his work supporting youth. Finally, DREAM is so excited to announce that Brian Fuller has joined the staff as the first Programs Director in Philadelphia! Currently he is recruiting mentors, raising funds, and working with Mike Foote, Director of Strategy and Growth, to build capacity for Philadelphia’s very first DREAM pairing: Temple University and the Cecil B. Moore Village Apartments.
Thank you for your ongoing support of DREAM. If you would like additional or more detailed information, please contact me by email or by phone. You can always look back at past reports or other programs’ reports by going to: http://dreamprogram.org/mentor-program/vermont/local-program-reports.
DREAM big, Kate Cahalane Program Empowerment Director VYT AmeriCorps VISTA kcahalane@dreamprogram.org 802.338.8936