A Dream For Boulder County
Here in the affluent Boulder County community, there are “invisible,” impoverished communities whose young people face tremendous obstacles to academic and life success. The “I Have a Dream” Foundation of Boulder County is dedicated to helping these low-income youth achieve a brighter future.

The program “adopts” groups of 50 low-income students "Dreamers" (students eligible for free and reduced lunch or who live in low-income housing sites) in third grade who are deemed to be at high risk of dropping out of school. We hire a project coordinator and establish a learning center exclusively for that group and provide the Dreamers a year-round program of tutoring, mentoring, after-school enrichment, computer technology training, life and social skills, and college and career preparation until they finish high school.

The ultimate goal of the long-term program is to provide these youth with the guaranteed comprehensive support and trusting relationships they need to complete high school prepared for higher education or a fulfilling career. When they do, they receive a four-year tuition-assistance scholarship for college or vocational school. To read what Dreamers think about the program, check out our "Dreamer Quotes" section.

Unique program aspects:

The "I Have a Dream" program is a long-term and year-round program that works with the same group of children from their elementary school years through college.

One-hundred percent of the Dreamers are low-income: they either live in low-income public housing projects, or they are eligible for the federal free and reduced lunch program at their school.

"I Have a Dream" does not pick the "cream of the crop" or the children most "at risk." Every project casts a broad net, giving each child, regardless of ability, an equal opportunity to achieve his/her academic and career goals.

"I Have a Dream" provides more than just academic enrichment to help our students achieve their dreams. We know that relationships and life skills make a crucial difference. We build a bond of trust and friendship that often makes our staff the only safe harbor in our Dreamer's stormy lives.

Dreamers are taught at an early age that college is possible for them. As they mature, they receive extensive career and college preparation guidance, visit campuses, and are assisted through the application process.

Our staff works with parents to encourage greater understanding of and support for their child's academic development. Staff serve as a liaison to teachers, counselors, and community leaders.

Productive citizenship is the ultimate measure of success and is measured individually.

"Helping Dreamers become Achievers, One Child at a Time."