Sunday Afternoon of Music

On Sunday March 25, 2012  the Dreamers were invited to the University of Miami to enjoy the musical talents of Russian pianist Kirill Gerstein.  Gerstein performed classical and jazz renditions of: Bach, Busoni, Knussen, Weber, Schumann, and Schubert.  The Dreamers listened attentively and were exposed to some of the historic melodies that have inspired many muscians both past and present.  Special thanks to Doreen Marx, Executive Director of Sunday Afternoons of Music for Children, The University of Miami, the Maurice Gusman Concert Hall directors, and the Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music for hosting such a wonderful event.  Special thanks to the lovely Mrs. Lewis for chaperoning!

Test Taking Workshop @ FIU

On Saturday March 24, 2012 Florida International University's Black Student Union (BSU) hosted our Dreamers to a Test Taking Workshop.  The idea of the day was for our middle/high school Dreamers to discuss test taking strategies with current college students.  The day began with simple introductions by members of the BSU and Dreamers.  Next, BSU members presented an informative powerpoint that shared habits that can be used before taking an exam, during the exam, and after an exam.  Next, the Dreamers participated in "FCAT Jeopardy".  An interactive question/answer game that rewarded participants with candy, chocolate, or BSU Shades (The dreamer ALL loved the chocolate and the Shades)!  The day was concluded with a delicious lunch of Papa John's Pizza and Fruit Juice (provided by the BSU and interesting conversations that included everything from "not only joining clubs/teams but being leaders or office holders" to the social hot topic of Trayvon Martin.  Overall the day was AMAZING!  Special thanks to BSU members: Jerron J., Lillie W., Solange D. and Larry B.  GREAT Job Ms. Goodlette for putting everything togeher!

Parent & Mentor Mixer

Thanks to Take Stock in Children and willing community members, most of the Dreamers have dedicated mentors who meet with them on a regular basis. Some of the Dreamers have been with the same mentor for years and have developed meaningful relationships with them! Because the Dreamers are the core focus of the I Have A Dream organization, it is very important for the main adults in their lives to meet and develop a relationship of their own: the parents and the mentors.

The Parent & Mentor Mixer was held at Phyllis Wheatley Elementary School. Here, Dreamers, parents, and mentors came together and laughed over great food and conversation! After the introductions, the evening took off with a very FUN trivia game. The game asked various questions about the Dreamers (e.g. favorite color; top choice for college; hobbies; etc) in which the parents and mentors had to figure out which Dreamer the responses matched. It was a nice and fun way to test how much each parent and mentor knew about their Dreamer. Most importantly, the parents and mentors had the opportunity to get to know one another. At the end, parents had to state 3 things they learned about their child's mentor. It was very nice to see them interacting!

THANK YOU to all the parents and mentors who attended this event!! You guys are AWESOME!!!



Trivia Game begins!



The Smith Family & Martinique (mentor)

Patricia (mentor) & the Spells Family



Simon (mentor) & the Cruz Family




Greg (mentor), Malik,  and his mom (Ms. Johnson)



Jennifer (mentor), Estrella, her mom (Ms. Ulces)

Mentor(n): an experienced and trusted friend and adviser

"Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction." {John C. Crosby}

Field Day!!

Nearly 90 Dreamers spent their Saturday (March 3 2012) at a Field Day in Greynold's Park! To enjoy this day of Egg-N-Spoon Race, Water Balloon Toss, Potato Sack Race,and Tug-of-War, two I Have A Dream programs came together: the middle/high school Dreamers from Overtown and the fourth/fifth grade Dreamers from Hibiscus Elementary. It was nice to see the older and younger Dreamers come together in play, conversation, and over GREAT food!

Although working in different locations and with different youths, both programs share a common vision: to have our Dreamers attain educational goals that will allow them to lead positive lives. Knowing this common goal, it is only natural for the two groups to not only enjoy each other's company, but also learn from one another. There is so much that the older Dreamers can teach the younger Dreamers; and believe it or not, the older Dreamers can also learn from the younger Dreamers as well. It was an AWESOME collaboration...one worth repeating in the near future :)

A VERY special thank you to AmeriCorps VISTA Glenn Howard, Project Coordinator Jonas Severes, Co-Project Coordinator Micah Whitney, and ALL of the volunteers who gave up their Saturday to help.

Black Police Precinct & Courthouse Museum

In honor of Black History Month, the Dreamers toured the Black Police Precinct & Courthouse Museum in Overtown on February 25 2012.

The Precinct & Museum was constructed in 1950 in the Black community of Colored Town (now known as Overtown). Although short-lived, the Precinct & Museum was very successful: Officer Otis Davis was one of the first Black homicide detectives in Miami, Florida; the Precinct was responsible for confiscating numerous fire-arms and making the streets of Colored Town safe; and more than 6000 cases were tried by a Black judge, Judge Johnson.

Dreamers learned that despite the hard work of the Black police officers, they all faced discrimination:
1. They were denied the opportunity to take the Police Exam
2. Were called "patrolmen" instead of "policemen"
3. They did not receive a pension, although the white police officers did
4. Only Black police officers had to walk or share the one bicycle in the Precinct

Dreamers were also able to see the courtroom, Judge's chamber, and the jail cells. It was a nice trip and I urge all followers of this blog to take a visit.

A HUGE "Thank you" to our tour guide, Shelby D. Goodman!! You were AWESOME!!

Retired Black police officers responsible for making the precinct a historic museum

White officers in KKK gear during a funeral procession of a fellow officer

Otis Davis: one of the first Black homicide detectives in Miami, FL

Black officers had to walk or ride a bicycle

Inside the courthouse

Jail Cell

Group Picture :)

A Day at a Community Farm in Little Haiti

On January 28 2012 the Dreamers took a very interesting field trip to an urban/community farm in the Little Haiti community of Miami, Florida. As the school bus drove to the location, Dreamers were surprised and skeptical to believe that a farm actually existed somewhere in between the houses and apartment buildings off 76th street. But they were pleasantly surprised...

This urban farm sits on approximately 2 acres of land and is located behind a house, all owned by Ray Chasser. Dreamers walked through the house, entered the backyard, and suddenly found themselves on an farm! Unlike a farm in Texas, Mr. Chasser's farm was less traditional, but was eccentric and eclectic: potted-turtle-shaped plants; music playing in the background; road signs and other postings that normally would seem out of place, but fit right in; and other little artifacts (shells and empty coconuts hanging from trees). All of these details made the farm so much more unique and inviting.

Mr. Chasser first began the field trip by sharing with the Dreamers how and why he started the farm. Mr. Chasser purchased the home at a time when drugs and crime was at an all time high in the Little Haiti area. He wanted to create a haven for the youths in the area as well as provide a healthier food source for the members of community. Today, community members are able to purchase goat milk, eggs, papayas, ackee, mangoes, collard greens, peppers, and honey from Mr. Chasser!

Dreamers began the tour by feeding the animals (mostly goats, an Emu, turkey, and a pig). The Dreamers also learned about the compost techniques that Mr. Chasser uses...the most interesting was human waste!! As Dreamers ventured further onto the 2 acre farm, tree houses, and an outdoor bathroom and kitchen appeared. People actually live in the tree houses!!

Few interesting facts Mr. Chasser shared:
1. Chickens can lay approximately 300 eggs per year
2. A rooster is NOT needed for a chicken to lay an egg
3. Chicken-Rooster=eggs found in the store
4. Chicken+Rooster=eggs, that if kept at a certain temperature for 21 days, hatch into baby chickens
5. Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the nation's bird because it has traces of red, white, and blue

Hope you all enjoy the pictures!!

Thank you Ray Chasser for opening up your home and the farm to I Have A Dream-Overtown Inc.

Owner, Ray Chasser

Alejandro feeding an Emu

Treehouse

Compost

Collard Greens (left) and Green Peppers (right)

Papaya Tree

Warm eggs laid by chickens!

MLK Day of Service: A Day ON, Not A Day OFF

January 16th is a day when most schools and businesses are closed. Many students and working adults are happy when this day of the year approaches because it is one less day of the week that they have to attend school or go to work. As a result, many spend the day relaxing.

But when people realize the importance of this day, that this, the birth date of activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., January 16 takes on a new meaning. No longer are people only concerned about relaxing and attending a parade, but a need a to "serve others" is inspired. Dr. King once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'"

To answer the above question, on January 16th 2012, twenty-two Dreamers, along with hundreds of other students and community volunteers, joined City Year-Miami on a beautification project at Miami Northwestern Senior High School. Opening in 1955, the high school was the first vocational school of its kind in a generation to serve African-American Miamians. Today, Miami Northwestern continues to serve predominately Black students and is a landmark in the Liberty City area. Knowing its history and the "B" status the school has received, Miami Northwestern was a perfect place to host MLK Day of Service.

Hundreds of people were dispersed around the entire school painting and gardening. The Dreamers were responsible for painting the Reading Hallway on the third floor and did a great job!! A special THANK YOU to City Year-Miami and all the Dreamers who attended!!



Volunteers gather in the Courtyard for the Opening Ceremony

 

Dreamers hard at work :)

Our future artist



MDCPS Superintendent: Alberto Carvalho:
"Collectively we get to see a better tomorrow..."