About
Our Mission
Dreaming Out Loud is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance a more ethical world that allows underserved children, youth and families to thrive in the global community.
How do we do it?
- By promoting ethics through our Adinkra Symbol Ethics Mirror
- By providing programs that improve education and reinforce our Adinkra Symbol Ethics Mirror
- By shaping advocacy in areas that affect the communities we work with
- By helping young people and communities mobilize grassroots initiatives to affect change
What is the Adinkra Symbol Ethics Mirror?
The Adinkra Symbol Ethics Mirror, referred to simply as the Ethics Mirror, is the common thread that binds all our programs, defines our culture and the vision we wish to promote as the foundation of a vibrant citizen sector. The Adinkra Symbols, which come from Ghana, comprise the universal values we advance through our unique ethics, character and leadership development approach. The universal values set forth by the Ethics Mirror intersect with every aspect of human endeavor, including academics, business, sports and more.
Who We Are
Founded in 2008, Dreaming Out Loud, Inc. was created in response to the educational disparities in underserved urban communities. Our aim is to transform some of the prevailing negative attitudes youth have about education and to direct them towards positive character development. Our services have focused primarily on Wards 7 and 8 in Washington, DC, where some of the most pressing economic, educational and social development needs converge to affect young people.
Since its inception, DOL has worked to realize our vision of nurturing young, healthy minds through strong programs that enable creative expression and strengthen academic skills. In furthering this vision we have drawn talented and committed individuals, engaged diverse communities, and formed strong partnerships.
During 2010, DOL will celebrate the success of our programs: Walking the Dream Path, an after school program designed to engage children in activities that are both fun and academically enriching and Project Dream Green, which brings together youth from the District of Columbia for comprehensive environmental education and work experiences to impact environmental degradation. We continually look to improve our programs so that DOL produces the best possible outcomes for the young people we serve. Reaching children as young as five and youth as old as twenty-one requires that we hold true to our core values and seek support from those who share our vision.
Our programs leverage human, financial, and other resources to affect change. Partnering with organizations such as Groundwork Anacostia River DC; the National Park Service; a grassroots environmental think-tank called GreenTHINK; the Sierra Club and charter schools, DOL has developed linkages across private, public and social sectors. Central to our success has been connecting curriculum and community to the environment in meaningful ways with the guiding mantra: “When Dreams Emerge, Communities Arise!”
Our Core Values
Who Makes it Happen
Board of Directors
Programs
