DKN feb

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Hello,  Friend of Dreamline. Here is your February Dream Keeper News!

To follow a few things from the January news, hope is on the ground in Veracruz, Mexico where youth leaders Edwardo Salas and Celina Bautista are launching a first-ever Dreamline road trip to four cities next week.  They’ll be training Home Depot staff about Dreamline to support Home Depot’s Dreamline sponsor program! We’ll be posting on social media @globaldreamline as they go! Training Last Week

Another follow-up and cause for hope is that the Dream Keeper campaign we started in December has hit the ground running, already raising over $16,000 in contributions toward a goal of $35,000. I’ll be in touch with some of you directly about that.  Of course if you wish to give right now you can do it here.

Hope on the ground is the theme of this month’s update so here’s the news:

NOT ONLY FROM OLNEY

DONATED GALLERY SPACE PUTS HOPE IN THE CITY

In one of the most foot-friendly areas in any city in the US, Metropolitan Gallery 250 is donating their space in February for NOT ONLY FROM ONLY. Opening this Sunday, it will be an installation of digitally interactive Dreamline works on cloth created by high school students at Olney Charter High School, in one of Philadelphia’s most underserved neighborhoods. Also in the exhibit will be Dreamline Banners recently created in  Veracruz, Mexico along with others in our collection from across the country and around the world. Foot traffic and friends will find hope a few steps away from the sidewalk.
Not Only From Olney

WE ARE THE DREAM KEEPERS WEARABLE

WORK OF ART ON A SHIRT CREATED FOR DREAMLINE

You’ll be stunned by the beauty, simplicity, and hope you see in the newly created art that’s soon to be wearable on a soft cotton shirt from local Philadelphia artist and longtime Dreamline supporter Grace Bridy. It’s in our store for pre-orders. Don’t miss this.
We Are the Dream Keepers Tee

LEANING INTO HOPE AT LAWRENCE MIDDLE 

NEW JERSEY MIDDLE SCHOOL BRINGS HOPE INTO FOCUS FOR 330 STUDENTS IN TWO DAYS

In a whirlwind of impact, Dreamline co-presenter Dan Lai and I taught 330 middle schoolers about Dreamline, hope, and direction, working with fourteen sections of students in two days. Transforming their library space into a sea of Dreamline Banners from around the world, students found shared hope from places they might never have dreamed of. And then shared their own. Look for an upcoming blog on this. Sneak peek: the soccer metaphor that really worked. What is it that little kids, all crowded around the soccer ball, don’t yet get?
Lawrence Library Twitter Post

HOPE BEYOND THE HORIZON

IN DISTANT JUNE DREAMS WILL FLY

Though we’re having one grey rainy day in Philadelphia after another, the days ARE getting longer and the 2020 Dream Philly Festival–with all parts and partners of Dreamline involved–is starting to warm up. We’re on Eventbrite, and the wheels are starting to turn. Mark it and make it part of your commitment to hope in 2020.
Dream Philly Festival 2020 on Eventbrite

One of the things I  believe strongly about hope is that each and every child comes to school with it. Life experiences often erode it. But Dreamline does the opposite. The job of Dreamline is to nurture what’s already there, and help that hope grow into confidence and action.

Yours in hope,

–Jeffrey

DKN jan

unnamedHey there, Friend of Dreamline! Here is your monthly Dream Keeper News! Our goal is to create something that’s quick to read and easy to dig into.

As promised in our inaugural letter, this month’s news has a more readable 5 item format (not 16!)

To me, January is Dream Commitment Month, a time to commit to our dreams in the coming year. I’ll be in touch with more about that soon.

Now here’s the news:

BUILDING A BETTER WORLD IN MEXICO
HOME DEPOT COMMITS TO 4-STORE FUNDRAISER 

From February 15 to April 15, every Home Depot customer who checks out at Veracruz, Poza Rica, Cordoba, and Xalapa will learn how to help students at 4 campuses of the University of Veracruz build a better world for all of us, starting with Dreamline! Through “Round-Up Register” funds and materials will support training of local graduates to carry the program to other campuses and get it going. It’s already on fire at Huasteca Campus, thanks to leadership from Dreambassador Amanda Earl! Check out this banner with student recording in NAHUATL, one of several indigenous languages spoken by students there–also with English translation.
Huasteca Banner in Nahuatl

DALLAS DREAMERS COMMIT
FIRST WEEKS IN MAY, VENUE IN PLAY

The DFW (Dallas Fort Worth) Dreambassador Planning Team is hot on the trail of a fantastic venue (African American Museum of Dallas we hope) and a time that works to host a regional (and their second) Dreamline Festival that will best last year’s by light years (even though last year’s was awesome.) With some strong support at the DISD (Dallas District) level, this project looks to be a trailblazer for other groups around the country. Keep your hats on!
Last Year’s DFW Dreamline Festival

KING DAY COMMITMENT TO DREAMS
DREAMLINE WORLD OUTFITTERS FEATURES KING DAY KITS AND MORE

One of the latest offerings of Dreamline World Outfitters, our new online store, is a complete curriculum kit for community groups to use on King Day to create a Dreamline walk-up activity table or in depth workshop. Our commitment through our store offerings is to focus on timely events where dreams connect and to support Dreamline leaders in work with lasting impact.
King Day Kit

ON THE GROUND COMMITMENT IN WEST AFRICA
NAMIBIAN PEACE CORPS TEACHERS TAKE DREAMLINE TO VILLAGES

With the help of WhatsApp low bandwidth video, ten teachers and I talked about dreams at the village level last week. This group of teachers-in-training are about to start their assignments and many will be packing Dreamline materials with them! Led by Dreambassador Sarah Kinder, they will connect across the country. Can’t wait to see the results!
Training in Namibia

COMMITTED PARTNERS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
MURAL ARTS PARTNERS FOR ANTI-GUN VIOLENCE PROGRAM IN PHILLY

In December, Mural Arts Philadelphia called a meeting with individuals from Dreamline, their Restorative Justice Program, their Mural Project Program, Philadelphia Office of Violence Prevention, Mothers United by Angels, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Violence Prevention Program, the Bianca Nikol Roberson Memorial Foundation, and Community Representatives from the Logan neighborhood.

We were there to strategize and plan “In Search of the Mustard Seed: Combating Gun Violence,” a program initiated by Mural Arts to use art and community action in an effort to raise community awareness and provide direct services to areas hit hardest by gun violence in Philadelphia.

At this stage of planning, it looks like there will be neighborhood outreach and programming, resulting in the creation of Dream Banners and mobile Dream Booths which will circulate around the city and be the inspiration for a mural project to be completed in fall of 2020. We’ll keep you posted as we work with this group, arguably the most successful nonprofit to create public art for public good in the country.
Mural by Planning Group Member Felix St. Fort

It is so inspiring to me to see the actions that committed groups are taking. In each and every case, it starts with one individual who then connects to others. That is what Dreamline is about, and we want to teach that skill to our children at the youngest age possible, then reinforce it over and over again.

In this time of fractious division in our world, we need programs that bring us together. We need commitment to those efforts.

I’ll be in touch soon.

Yours,

–Jeffrey

DKN dec

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WELCOME! 
THIS IS FOR YOU.
Welcome to Dream Keeper News, a newsletter for the entire Dreamline community! Our goal is to create something that’s quick to read and easy to dig into. I’d love to know how we’re doing, so any and all feedback is welcome!  

This has been an incredible fall for Dreamline, so I’ll give you a short bit about many things that are growing and improving our program to help students around the world move in the direction of their dreams.

FAIR WARNING: There are 16 items listed here.
Our goal is to communicate monthly  and keep it to 5! But here goes…

DC DREAMS CHARTER CONFERENCE 
NATION’S CAPITAL WRAPPED IN DREAMS
Dreamline went to the FOCUS DC Charter Schools Conference in October, connecting with leaders from DC Charters–which serve nearly half of the students in DC. Now we are in conversation with more than 20 DC schools about joining Dreamline this year and building a Dreamline around the Capitol! FOCUS

BULK MAIL PLUNGE
USPS + 1,000 EDUCATORS = IMPACT
Dreamline got its feet wet with USPS Nonprofit Bulk Mail this fall, sending out our first ever mailing. More than 1,000 educators across the nation received a 10×13 envelope full of Dreamline materials and information. This was made possible by a small but dedicated army of volunteers at our October “Mail Party!”  Video Clip

TAEA IN GALVESTON
THE ART OF CONNECTING DREAMS
Dreamline was a vendor at the Texas Art Educators Association conference in November, connecting with more than 180 interested art educators from across the state. Also as a result, we’re in discussion with the TAEA about becoming part of their statewide Big Art Day on March 5th.   Video Clip   TAEA

SCHOOL ARTS MAGAZINE
INVITATION TO BRAG
The editor of School Arts Magazine, the nation’s oldest magazine for arts educators (print circulation of 20,000), invited us to submit a 1-page article on Dreamline for an upcoming issue. They feature one nonprofit each month, and want to tell everyone about us!  School Arts Magazine

NEW TECHTAGS & TEACHER SUPPORT
TALKING BANNERS & CURRICULUM CLARITY
In addition to streamlined curriculum guides and educator information focused on outcomes and learning objectives which we created this fall, we’ve developed a new system called TechTags. It’s a sticker that goes on a Dreamline Banner so anyone with a smartphone can instantly access the digital version of the Banner with voice recording, map, and social sharing–fabric that talks and travels.  Making Magic Banners

PMA AFTER SCHOOL SELECTS DREAMLINE
THE ROCKY STEPS LEAD TO DREAMS
The Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Delphi after school arts program, serving 160 middle school students from Philadelphia city schools each week, selected Dreamline as their first project of the year. Fantastic art is under way, guided by their teaching artists and soon to be completed. Can’t wait to see it.  Philadelphia Museum of Art Delphi Programs

RONALD McDONALD HOUSE DREAMS
HOPE & EMPATHY FOR FAMILIES IN NEED
Philadelphia Ronald McDonal House has reached out to us to bring dreams to their programming for  the families of seriously ill children who stay there. They already did a Dreamline pilot that  was a huge success, and there’s more to come.  Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House

SHOWER OF HONORS FOR DREAMLINE
CITY, STATE, AND NATIONAL CITATIONS FOR OUR WORK
Thanks to the longstanding devotion of Divine Change, Inc., a faith-based after school tutoring program serving youth in North Philadelphia, I and the Dreamline Program were recognized and honored. At their awards banquet, we received individual citations from Philadelphia’s Mayor, Philadelphia’s City Council, our Governor, the State Senate, the State House of Representatives, and a member of the US House of Representatives.  Divine Change, Inc.

MURAL ARTS EXTENDS THE DREAMLINE
MAGIC IN MURALS DRAWN FROM DREAMS
We were thrilled when Philadelphia Mural Arts came to us this fall to discuss collaboration for their program to focus on responses to gun violence in three of Philly’s hardest hit neighborhoods. They invited us as not only thought partners in the process but also to help them utilize Dreamline to engage community, spread the word, and create a mural summing it all up in visual form on a building. We’ll keep you posted.  Mural Arts Philadelphia

IB SCHOOLS TAP DREAMLINE
LEARNER PROFILE = CONNECTED DREAMS + SDGs
With an article connecting IB and Dreamline by International  Baccalaureate leader Kelly Cordera at Caleb Greenwood School  in Sacramento, CA along with strong support for exploring global collaborations in the international IB network from Dean Harris, Dean of Learning and MYP Coordinator at DC International Charter School, we are fast recognizing and developing the direct line of connection between Dreamline and the IB Learner Profile, guiding schools around the world.  IB Schools

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC & DREAMLINE
MORE THAN MAPS, EMPOWERING EMPATHY
After initial conversations with the Director of Educator Networks from National Geographic at the DC conference, we are in conversation with Geographic’s Kenie Richards, Senior Director of Networked Communities, about collaboration since one of their newly established goals to reach 200 MM youth with programming to develop empathy over the next 5 years.  National Geographic Education

SALESFORCE & DREAM SUPPORT
SAN FRANCISCO DREAMERS IN THE MIX 
In addition to enjoying the huge organizational benefits of the free version of the information organizing software Salesforce provides, we’ve recently been in discussion with their Global Grants Program Manager, thanks to Dreamline fan connections at their Dream Force convention in San Francisco. We’ve got language in common, and will see what comes next!  Dreamforce

DREAMLINE STORE AT LAST
MERCH, MATERIALS, AND MAGIC
We finally have a store! Now Dreamline can provide all of the project-specific materials groups need to participate in Dreamline along with professional development and training services, exhibition materials, and of course DREAM MERCH! We’ve got some products up and others arriving every week. Check it out. And all proceeds support our nonprofit.  Store.Dreamline.org

DREAMLINE IN MEXICO WITH HOME DEPOT
BUILDING A BETTER WORLD, STARTING IN VERACRUZ
Dreamline Ambassador Amanda Earl has taken Dreams to Veracruz, Mexico where she is conducting her doctoral research for Columbia University. And then there’s Home Depot. Talks are under way to create a Dreamline Program at multiple sites, with support from Mexico’s Home Depot and their mission to “Build a Better World.” Veracruz this spring and then we spring ahead. Stay tuned.  Photos from Veracruz  Sample Banner 

NOTEFLIGHT COLLABORATION PILOT
THE MUSIC OF LINKED DREAMS
Online composition tool Noteflight helps students to compose–at any age. Music, like dreams, reaches across culture and language. So this year, funded by a grant, Lawrence Middle School and its star music teacher Melissa Clark will run a pilot program where students first make Dreamline Banners, then compose music about them, then link the music to the Banners–online. Listen in for more.  Noteflight

JUNE 7 DREAMLINE FEST
CELEBRATING THE FABRIC OF DREAMS
The second annual All-Dreamline-Program Dream Philly Festival will blast off on Sunday, June 7, 2020 at Cherry Street Pier with an all day event that everyone can join–live or remote. Mark it now and watch dreams fly.  Cherry Street Pier

Yours truly,

–Dreamline Jeffrey

***
Jeffrey Harlan
Dreamline Founder
jeffrey@dreamline.org

The Sun Never Stopped Shining

My last blog post was titled “I don’t want anyone to miss this!” Now a while later since we’ve been so busy, I get to write about what really DID happen on May 12th because, truly, I don’t want anyone to miss THIS EVENT STORY and FB LIVE VIDEO BELOW:

EVENT STORY

On May 12th in Philadelphia this year the temperature was about 40 F / 4.5 C and it was pouring rain. We had planned for months. The vendors. The workshops. The Zoom call with students in Cairo.

dreamline under clouds1People had really put out. The Photobooth vendor driving up from Wilmington. The artist who designed the Dream Spiral.

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The Dreamline teachers from Dallas who arrived with 1,000 Dreamline Banners from their schools and other as well.

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The folks who were doing workshops on fabric printing, social media for change, and more.

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The dedicated event volunteers who showed up early and worked tirelessly to get everything in place, ready, and rolling.

The spoken word and hip hop artists who were donating their time and talent–and it was a lot of talent.

We had a huge lineup of activities and fun and expression all set for everyone! You can check out the program:

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Click to download the pdf

May 12th was the coldest most rainy Mother’s Day imaginable.

But the sun never stopped shining at Cherry Street Pier!

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Right before 1:00 when we were scheduled to start, they started to come. And they came, and they came. I couldn’t believe it when the Pier reported to us after it was all over that more than

450 people

walked through the doors to learn about and support the dreams from students across our city and around the world!

Ciro Screen

You just can’t stop this thing!

 I am so exceptionally grateful, and can’t wait until next year.

PLEASE ENJOY A SAMPLE OF OUR FACEBOOK LIVE STREAM SEGMENT HERE!

EVEN INTRODUCTION IN ARABIC

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