Grand Rapids Dreams Believe to Become program featuredin the Grand Rapids Times

Trenton Hobson has his eyes on the prize. After high school, Trenton wants to attend the University of Michigan and become an undercover police officer.

He attended the Grand Rapids Dreams and Mosaic Life Real World Now program.

via Education.

Grand Rapids Dreams has received a capacity building grant from the Michigan Non-Profit Association.  The grant which is a part of the Recover Michigan Now program provides resources and tools for developing non profits to build organization capacity. The grant is a result of participation in a strategic planning process for organization development which was funded also by the Michigan Non-Profit Association.

Grant funds will be used to develop board governance, build a fund base and provide support and technology resources for program development.

We have just received notification that Grand Rapids Dreams has been chosen to be a Schools of Hope after school provider for the  2010-2011 school year. We will serve students in grades 1-3 at South East Academic Center with literacy/reading challenges.

Summer 2010

Beyond the Corners: June 26 -Aug 13th

Summer Day Camp and Learning Enrichment for youth grades 1-6

Beyond the Corners -Splash:

Real World Now: June 21-July 30

Summer Fun and Learning Enrichment for 6,7, and  8th grade youth (students enrolled in GRPS given first preference)

Grand Rapids Dreams is seeking  colleges students for two project mentor positions in our summer learning enrichment program Beyond the Corners Splash. Project mentors will engage 6 ,7, 8 grade youth from Grand Rapids Public Schools with already provided, unique daily activities, and leading one-on-one and group projects. The position is 15 Hours a week with a competitive summer wage. BTC-Splash runs Monday-Friday in the afternoons. Interested parties should email info@grandrapidsdreams.org for more information or call 616-855-1688

The following individuals or companies donated items for our recent Beyond the Corners Fund raising auction

• Andre Daley
• Argos Books
• Betsy Ratzsch Pottery
• Calvin College Bookstore
• Eastown Antiques
• Eastown Frame Gallery
• Ellen Waalkes
• Forest Hills Foods
• Gojo Ethiopian Cuisine
• Kava House
• LaFontsee Galleries
• Lamb Boutique
• Lissa Schwander
• Mamoja Beading Company
• Nancy DeYoung Studio
• Richard App Gallery
• Sanctuary Folk Art
• The Soma Center
• Spirit Dreams
• Stan Barnes
• TulipFox Creations
• Wolfgang’s

Thank you to all those who donated items  and participated in our first successful auction.

For immediate release

MEDIA RELEASE

Summer Learning = School Achievement

Select Grand Rapids Students to Explore New Experiences

WHO:     Grand Rapids Public Schools middle and high school students

WHAT:     17 summer experience programs and 578 summer experience offers

WHEN:     Summer 2010

WHERE:     Targeted Grand Rapids neighborhoods

WHY:     In Grand Rapids Public Schools, achievement tests show that after working hard all year, some students lose up to 40% of their learning during summer vacation.

GRAND RAPIDS – Thanks to an infusion of private local funding, 578 middle and high school students in targeted Grand Rapids neighborhoods will receive “summer experience” offers this month. Some students will experience arts outings, field trips and college visits, while others will be offered part-time jobs… all designed to combat a phenomenon known as “summer learning loss.”

Through a collaborative effort of Grand Rapids Public Schools, Grand Rapids Student Advancement Foundation, Area Community Services Employment and Training Council (ACSET), W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and The Douglas & Maria DeVos Foundation, 14 organizations have been selected to design and deliver experiential summer learning programs for 2010:

“This is a great opportunity for our youth, the future of our neighborhoods and our community,” said Nkechy Ezeh, associate director of United Methodist Community House. “These comprehensive summer programs provide a great way for students to catch up, embrace new experiences and make good decisions for the future.”

Students selected for the scholarships by GRPS educators will receive a brochure outlining summer experience options. The funded programs will include jobs, music, computers, outdoor and citizenship activities in combination with creative reading and math elements.

SUPPORTERS OF SUMMER LEARNING

Area Community Services Employment & Training Council

Child and Family Resource Council

City of Grand Rapids
Community Research Institute at Grand Valley State University

Frey Foundation

Grand Rapids Community College
Grand Rapids Community Foundation

Grand Rapids Public Library

Grand Rapids Public Library Foundation

Grand Rapids Public Schools

Heart of West Michigan United Way

Kent Intermediate School District

Kent School Services Network

Literacy Center of West Michigan

Our Community’s Children

Sebastian Foundation

Steelcase Foundation

Student Advancement Foundation

The Douglas & Maria DeVos Foundation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 25, 2010

Community Foundation grant for Grand Rapids Dreams and Eastown Community Association summer program partnership

The Grand Rapids Community Foundation has provided a grant to support the programs of the summer program partnership between Grand Rapids Dreams and the Eastown Community Association called ‘Beyond the Corners’. Youth today have very few options for a safe, and enriching way to spend their summer vacations. Many youth will spend the time just hanging out at home or sitting on the corners. ‘Beyond the Corners’ provides a safe fun day of activities for children in grades 1-6.

The grant from the Community Foundation will support many program opportunities for the group such as: travel to Meijer Gardens; the Grand Rapids Museum; a visit to the farmer’s market; art supplies; tools for a community garden and much more. “I am excited about the kind of program that we can provide for the youth of Eastown and surrounding communities with the support we have received from the Community Foundation”, says Andre Daley Chairperson of the Board of Grand Rapids Dreams and its Acting Executive Director.

Grand Rapids Dreams is a non- profit organization formed by Mosaic Life which seeks to help people discover, nurture and act on their dreams. Daley says “Through ‘Beyond the Corners’ we can help local youth dream big and look beyond the corner of their block to the city of Grand Rapids to live their dreams.”   ‘Beyond the Corners’ was started as a partnership between the Eastown Community Association and Mosaic Life/ Grand Rapids Dreams in the summer of 2008. The program is available to any member of the Eastown community with a particular focus on youth within the boundaries of Wealthy, Ethel, Franklin and Fuller Avenues.

‘Beyond the Corners 2010’ starts on June 21 and runs through August 13. The program operates from 9-1 p.m. daily, Monday through Friday.

For more information about ‘Beyond the Corners’ and Grand Rapids Dreams visit the website at www.grandrapidsdreams.org

GRD Fundraising Auction for Beyond the Corners has been rescheduled for Friday May 21. If you have an item or service to donate please message us.

Our VITA site is now closed