What's Next
Since our humble beginning on 101st Street, DREAM has evolved, pivoted, and grown to meet our community’s needs. In our third decade of this work, in a world where it is even more critical, we have big plans to serve more families in more places than ever before.
From DREAM to Reality
Our history gives us the foundation to dream big and bold for the future – and our strategic plan for the next decade gives us the blueprint to do so. It means ensuring transformative outcomes for youth and being a workplace driven by a unified sense of purpose and a shared commitment to equity. It means expanding to dream even bigger, including growing to serve 4,000 youth across New York City each year. And it means working ceaselessly toward postsecondary outcomes that allow our students to achieve their visions of success, on their own terms.
2,500
At scale in the next five years, DREAM will operate three PreK-8 schools and one high school to serve 2,500 students.
1,000+
Our Legends alumni numbers will grow from 600 currently to over 1,000 by 2030—with accompanying program supports that include career exposure, pre-college bridge programming, near-peer mentorship opportunities, and so much more.
$98M
In order to realize these strategic objectives, DREAM’s annual operating budget will grow from $45M to $98M over the next decade.
DREAM’s Strategic Plan
DREAM’s vision for our youth is bold and ambitious. We know firsthand how hard this work is. But our children deserve our commitment to and belief in their limitless potential.
“It’s not a revolutionary idea that children need to feel seen; need to be listened to; need schools that take holistic approaches, caring for their students’ whole selves. What is revolutionary about DREAM is that we demand this same level of excellence in education for Black and brown students, for low-income families, for communities that have been historically underserved.”
- Richard Berlin, DREAM Co-Chief Executive Officer
Our Next Big DREAM
Our Next Big DREAM is a state-of-the-art school in Mott Haven which includes DREAM Mott Haven K-8 and the new home of DREAM Charter High School. This building, which opened its doors in 2022, is not only a physical destination for the next generation of changemakers, but a vision realized for all those who believe that every child deserves a level playing field and their turn at bat.
Welcome to our next big dream. If it feels ambitious, audacious, ahead of its time – know this: We’re only getting started.