Dream City (formerly known as The Dream City) was founded on May 30, 2012. Conceived by Frederick Newell, Dream City originated as a response to the growing number of youth being affected by absentee and non-involved fathers. In working with these target populations, it became apparent that in order to effect positive change, a more holistic, family focused approach was needed.
Currently, Dream City offers a variety of programs for youth and adults that are designed to empower them with the skills and attitudes they need to be successful. In each of our programs we provide our clients with a positive, nurturing environment that encourages leadership, community involvement, and personal responsibility.
Our organization is known as one of the leading social service providers for families in the Johnson County community and currently provides programming many youth, fathers, and families through the following four academies:
- Family Academy: This academy provides families with individual and group counseling to address parenting issues such as adjusting to parenthood, handling environmental stress anger management, coping with grief and loss, and regulating emotion. This academy also works to reduce barriers to successful transition to our community and create partnerships and services that addresses the needs of core participate and their families.
- Youth Leadership Academy: This academy addresses issues affecting young men and women and assists them in overcoming obstacles hindering their educational experiences. Our academy provides youth with individual, group, and family counseling and helps students develop self-respect, respect for others, and personal accountability.
- Performing Arts Academy: Research demonstrates that performance arts improves academic performance and school attendance, builds self-esteem, and increases reading comprehension. This Academy nurtures, develops, and showcases the creative talents individuals in our community possess through dance, poetry, song, and performance.
In addition to having a track record of working with minority families in Johnson County, we also have a centrally located building that our youth and families are familiar and comfortable with, that is easily accessible to our target population, and that supports our ability to provide services to a large number of youth and families on a year round basis.
Finally, Dream City approaches programming from a holistic, family centric approach. This approach, is central to our mission of inspiring change through advocacy, art, wellness, and community connections. One of our central goals and beliefs is that for children and families to succeed, they need to have access to a community of support.
