DREAMLETTER: June 2025

We thought this would be a perfect strategy. We could provide the academic support that was needed to the children who were going into first grade and we wanted that long-term commitment—first grade through college; we thought that was  essential. That is continuity that many other programs do not have. And that's what I think has made the difference.

I also like the holistic approach that has always been incorporated in “I Have A Dream,” which includes partnering with the family, providing enrichment activities, such as art, music, sports, job shadows, and internships, to ensure that students have access to those life-enhancing experiences.

That was a big part of it. Number one, we had so much respect for the parents trying their best to do a great job. We weren't trying to replace the parents, but we wanted to work as partners with the parents. And that worked out well. That's a great component.

And then for the enrichment experiences–hiking or skiing or art or music–we had this group of volunteers who would come in and help provide that, and so many different organizations over the years from golf to tennis to skiing, snowboarding, have made those experiences possible, and so that's been tremendous.

What has your involvement been over the years? 

I was the first board president, and then treasurer, a mentor, tutor, and fundraiser. I worked on helping to build community partnerships, which are vital to our success, and as an AmeriCorps member and staff member for seven years.

Tell us more about your time as a mentor and tutor.

I had several students, a couple informal, one very long relationship with one of our students in the first class named Sovany Ros, and we stayed together all through her career, all through her educational career, and then even as she was a young adult, just staying together, friendship, lending support, I even went to her daughter's high school graduation. 

She is a very loving person and she ended up in the medical profession. She was taking care of some of the teachers that she had when she was in school who had now aged and were in assisted living in Boulder. She has a great heart for being so kind to older people.

What makes you proud when you think about “I Have A Dream”?

I'm so grateful to all the people who came forward to help with this wonderful dream, to help the Dreamer Scholars succeed academically and in life. From the beginning, we wanted our organization to be connected to the community. It has had a far-reaching effect in Boulder County and brought so many people together who otherwise would not have met.

That was a major goal. Our first model was that one individual or one couple would sponsor the whole class, all the expenses start to finish, and that was a reality when we started in 1990, though not so much today. But it was just our core group of people that started “I Have A Dream.” We felt it was so important to get our Dreamer Scholars into the community, for them to be known by the community, to get them to know the community. This was to build a healthier, stronger community.

And so by developing partnerships with the school districts, CU, different organizations, that was a goal. That was pretty hard work at first because people didn't understand the concept. It was very educational, at that time, to let people know, even what's happening in our own community, that there were people here struggling, they didn’t have everything that they needed.

And then, of course, with the school system too, they didn't have a great graduation rate at that time, but they do now. They've improved tremendously. Those partnerships with Boulder Valley, St. Vrain, Front Range, and CU were so important. Of course, we have had partnerships with all kinds of different organizations providing enrichment activities and job shadowing, job tutoring, job sharing for kids.

Why have you stayed involved with “I Have A Dream” for these 35 years? 

I believe in the program. Our dream is a world where every child has equitable access to the education and career opportunities that will ignite their innate potential. And there are always ways to help at “I Have a Dream.” Things evolve, things change, but there are always ways to help. And we have shown over the years that “I Have a Dream” works for the Dreamer Scholars and their families.

I've always loved seeing the Dreamer Scholars experiencing new opportunities, broadening their horizons. It's so exciting. And I have the greatest respect for the parents and families who are working hard to support and encourage their children in their pursuit of education. 

It's been exciting for me, personally, to work with positive, creative people who contribute to their community who want a better world for all. All the staff, volunteers, donors, AmeriCorps members, and community partners are amazing. And that is inspiring to me–to be with people like that, who really want to do something; people that are doing good things in the world. 

And now I see many of our Scholars out in the community doing their work, in leadership positions and contributing. It's really so much fun to see how well they're doing, and many have families of their own and their parents, and grandparents are doing well. It's wonderful.

As you look at IHDF, now 35 years down the road, what do you see as perhaps surprising about it today, and what do you see that is still the same core? What's most different and what's most the same?

I think the elements probably that are most the same would be because of the model, the children we serve, the families. I feel like the challenges they face are still pretty much the same. The need for acceptance and to be included in the community is important and the same.

And what's so striking to me, I remember when we started, we were determined to make it. And, there were challenges a lot of times, but we never, ever said we were going to quit. And so I  appreciate that in the ongoing years. There are going to always be challenges but it's never an option to let it go. And so I do appreciate that of all the years of management, expertise and leadership, that we were able to keep it going.

It's important to sustain a business. Anybody can start a business or nonprofit, but to keep it going, that takes a lot. And that takes a lot of talented, creative people through the years and I am  glad that we've been able to attract people to be able to do that, to keep it going so I don't worry about that. I feel like even during this unusual climate that we're in right now we'll find a way. And we keep providing the services that we all can agree upon are important to the people we serve in the community.

What are you excited about these days with “I Have A Dream”?

What excites me about the program now and what I think about the future is that I'm very optimistic as "I Have A Dream" continues to thrive and serve more students. The addition of staff support through college and career programs is a plus. And I think the new parent engagement program is excellent. As we move forward in the future, we will continue to meet the needs of students and families and communities.

And, I think for any nonprofit to continue to thrive and survive, you have to be flexible. It's like any other kind of business. You have to meet the needs at the moment. And so I can't project what's going to happen, how it'll look, but I know that there will always be great people coming forward that will support this mission, and sure, we'd love to see that we would live in a society where no one needs help, but that's not realistic. So I think the need will be there.

Why do you think giving to IHDF is a good investment?

I think investing in youth is so important. “I Have A Dream” financial funding is critical to the work, so the work can continue. That's the financial piece of it. 

Also a big important piece is the group of volunteers who invest their time, expertise, and caring; that is so crucial. “I Have A Dream's” volunteer program has been essential to our success over the years. There have been many hundreds of people, maybe thousands, of people that have come through. And that is so critical and we appreciate that so much: people. And that's the caring piece. People really end up caring about the Dreamer Scholars and their families and that's so wonderful to see.

Do you have any favorite memories and experiences connected to “I Have A Dream”?

I have so many—it's so heartfelt. Seeing the Dreamer Scholars achieve their goals–that is truly wonderful–interacting with students from earlier classes who are now contributors and leaders in our community, launching new classes. It's always so exciting and with the children and the parents. I love spending time with the Scholars and families, and some of our alumni are now AmeriCorps members, staff members, board members, and volunteers, giving back to the community.

And some of my happiest memories are working with the staff, board, volunteers, partners who share the common commitment to “I Have A Dream.” I mean, that is not even work, that's just a wonderful thing to be able to do in the world and it's  such an important part of my life! So good.