5 years, 174 selections, $26,888 in donations
Since January 2020, the U.S. Dream Academy has been selected to benefit from the Giant Food Community Bag Program 174 times at 163 different Giant Food locations. In total, the organization has received $26,888 in donations to continue empowering kids to dream big and helping them build the skills they need to achieve their goals. Below is an interview with C. Diane Wallace Booker, CEO of U.S. Dream Academy.
Tell us about the U.S. Dream Academy.
We believe a child with a dream is a child with a future. People often think that dreaming is something that comes naturally, but there’s a skill to it. When young people have experienced trauma, they often face anxiety, depression, and fear, which can make it difficult to imagine a positive future. We recognize that and strive to create a safe space where they can begin to envision what’s possible. That vision is what propels them forward when life gets tough.
The U.S. Dream Academy is a positive youth development organization focused on supporting children who have had parents or family members incarcerated. We also serve young people living in communities impacted by multiple risk factors such as poverty, overexposure to violence, and limited resources that hinder academic achievement.
We believe a child with a dream is a child with a future.
Our work centers around three pillars: skill building, character building, and dream building. We help young people strengthen literacy and math skills, learn how to make positive contributions to their communities, and discover their passions.
I often say, “When young people catch a glimpse of themselves in the future achieving their passions and dreams, it lights a fire within them.”
We use that inspiration to help them craft a plan for the future and build the skills necessary to pursue it.
Our national headquarters is in Silver Spring, Maryland, and we operate in the DMV area as well as cities including Philadelphia, Orlando, Houston, Salt Lake City, and San Bernardino, California.
The organization began in Washington, D.C., when our founder, Wintley Phipps, had a vision to support children and families affected by incarceration. That was 27 years ago. As an attorney, I volunteered to help with the legal work to get the organization up and running. I had no idea it would change the course of my career and my life — but it did. It’s been a blessing.
What services do you provide to the community?
We provide positive youth development through our innovative relational model. This is delivered through after-school and in-school programs, including leadership development and mentoring. Our mentors are adult volunteers from the community, including employees from Giant, local colleges, businesses, and faith-based organizations.
Volunteers meet with a young person once a week using our DreamJourney mentoring curriculum. Through this program, youth learn more about themselves, their community, and the world. At the end of their time together, each mentoring group creates a community service project to put their learning into action.
We also have highly trained staff who deeply understand how to support youth healing from trauma.
Our after-school program operates 11 to 15 hours each week and provides a safe, supportive space for students every day. They work on homework, literacy, math skills, character development, and leadership. In addition to academic support, students participate in activities focused on teamwork, leadership, and conflict resolution. By the time they leave, most have completed their homework and have had a healthy snack.
Through our programs, we aim to help young people build a positive self-identity. Many of the youth we serve have experienced trauma and may carry a sense of shame, especially if a parent has been incarcerated.
Unfortunately, trauma can lead young people to believe they have little control over their lives. We help them understand that they have more power than they realize. Every day, they can make choices that shape their future — showing up to school, participating in class, finishing homework, and learning how to resolve conflicts. When they recognize their own agency, it helps them make better decisions.
When they recognize their own agency, it helps them make better decisions.
The skills we teach are valuable for all young people. They need to learn decision-making, understand consequences, and regain a sense of control as they heal. This growth happens in the context of caring, trusting relationships where adults share power with young people and expand the possibilities for their futures.
How has the U.S. Dream Academy used donations from the Giant Food Community Bag Program to further its mission?
Funds from the Community Bag Program directly support our programs and activities. For over 27 years, we’ve honed a model that centers on building caring, trusting relationships with young people to support healing and inspire achievement.
This work depends on the daily relationships our staff and mentors build with youth. That’s why it’s critical we raise funds to support staff salaries, materials, healthy snacks, enriching field trips, and ongoing training for both staff and volunteers.
We screen all adults who work with us, invest heavily in training, and hire support staff to maintain high standards. Donations from Giant Food and others allow us to offer these high-quality after-school programs free of charge to families who might otherwise be unable to afford tutoring or enrichment programs.
Tell us a story about a program, service, or initiative that the Giant Food Community Bag Program has supported.
One young man joined our program in second grade and remained actively involved through eighth grade. We continued to support him during high school with mentoring as needed.
Throughout his life, both of his parents were intermittently incarcerated. His mother also struggled with addiction, which deeply impacted their household.
The Dream Academy became a refuge, a place where he could focus on his future instead of the day-to-day challenges he faced. From a young age, he told us he didn’t want to end up on the street selling drugs. That vision helped guide his path.
He graduated from high school and later from college. Today, he serves his community in meaningful ways. He is currently completing a fellowship in New York City and is an advocate for criminal justice reform and increased access to addiction treatment. He’s working to ensure that families affected by addiction receive support and services, not just punishment.
What advice would you give other nonprofits participating in the Giant Food Community Bag Program?
Communicate, communicate, communicate.
We’ve found it helpful to spread the word through email and social media to our donors, partners, mentors, students, and families. People often want to help but may not know how or may have limited resources. The Community Bag Program is a low-cost way to engage with Giant and support local nonprofits like the U.S. Dream Academy.
Even though it may seem like just a couple of dollars, it makes a huge difference. It’s a fantastic program that allows broad community participation and has a powerful impact on the nonprofits involved.
It’s a fantastic program that allows broad community participation and has a powerful impact on the nonprofits involved.
Interview with C. Diane Wallace Booker, CEO