Mission & Impact

Our Mission

DREAM provides youth with opportunities to play, learn, and grow. Our mission is to level the field by empowering all children to recognize their potential and realize their dreams.

DREAM’s Maxims

From our classrooms to our ballfields, and from our back offices to our most public-facing events, DREAM’s maxims build on our mission and show us what it means to be a member of the DREAM community, every day.

all kids can. this kid can.

DREAM IS FAMILY.

fun is a serious value.

teamwork makes the dream work.

FAIL. PERSIST. EXCEED.

DREAM BIG.

Humble Beginnings

In 1991, DREAM, then Harlem RBI, was founded when a group of volunteers transformed an abandoned, garbage-strewn lot into two baseball diamonds for the youth in East Harlem. Over time, we began to address the greater needs of the community, like low literacy and high school graduation rates, through summer and after-school enrichment. It soon became clear that out-of-school time was simply not enough. In order to have a lasting, long-term impact on kids and the community, we needed more time with our students, especially during the school day. So in 2008, we opened up DREAM Charter School to more deeply serve the community of East Harlem.

Growth

Over 2,500

Boys and girls served per year

Since then, DREAM has grown to annually serve more than 2,500 boys and girls in East Harlem, the South Bronx, and Newark with a unique program model that uses team-based methods to provide a comprehensive, enriching experience for young people.

The DREAM List

We’re focused on helping our kids achieve the outcomes on our DREAM List. Our goal is for all of our youth to become:

College graduates

Mentally and physically healthy

Socially and emotionally competent

Advocates for themselves and others

We look forward to expanding our proven program model to new cities in the country while continuing to innovate and improve to maximize our impact in all the communities we serve.

Read our new Strategic Plan

Read our 2018 Annual Report

New York State Tests 2017 – 2018

DREAM Scholars in grades K-8 outperformed their district in both Math and English Language Arts on the New York State Tests this year. We’re so proud of their success!

Math (% proficiency)