Thanks to our supporters, we will be traveling to Madrid from February 18th-21st

DOL heads to Madrid to "start more than a car."

On February 18th Dreaming Out Loud’s Executive Director, Christopher Bradshaw, will be traveling to Madrid, Spain representing the nonprofit organization as one of forty winning charities in The Ford Focus Global Test Drive. The innovative campaign launched by Ford invited the public to submit a 2 minute video on Facebook, expressing how they would “start more than a car” with $10,000 for their favorite charity.

Facebook users selected Dreaming Out Loud’s winning video from among more than 300 entries from across the globe. The winners will be greeted, hosted and coached by the versatile Tanner Foust, HISTORY television personality on the American edition of Top Gear. Teaming with 24 Hours of Le Mans, Trans-Am and American Le Mans Series (ALMS) veteran Justin Bell, Foust will host, coach and assist the winners in the first-ever Focus Global Test Drive program. The National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA), near Madrid will provide an astonishing locale. As an aeronautical research facility, INTA and its varied surfaces make an ideal location for dynamic driving events.

“Focus Global Test Drive will be a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience for the participants,” said Foust. “I’m looking forward to helping these drivers put the next-generation Focus to the test, and to benefit the driver’s charities of choice.” At the three-day event, Feb. 18-20, 2011, consumers and bloggers will be able to experience the Ford Focus in a unique new manner. Each challenge and course will highlight the driving dynamics and technologies in the vehicle. And throughout the event, charities will benefit.

After a few weeks of waiting and constant promoting, DOL received notification of the win on Martin Luther King Day! Receiving the news on this specific day could not have been a better sign to reaffirm a commitment to service… 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.We are certainly proud to be listed among dedicated individuals working towards amazing causes and social change. In our programs we engage young creative minds in underserved communities by building leadership capacity, providing character development and cultivating skills so that they can plan and execute innovative solutions to issues of concern in their communities. Our video shows our real, not supposed, impact and how we can use $10,000 to support the purchase of gardening equipment, art supplies and provide training that will develop young leaders. We began 2010 serving 10 students at one school, but by the end of the year we were serving 80. In 2011 we will be engaging over 100 underserved youth and we need your support.

Here are a few ways you can help spread the word about this great achievement for Dreaming Out Loud:
1. Forward this press release to a friend and encourage them to signup for our newsletter.

2. “Like” Dreaming Out Loud on Facebook and dedicate your status update:

“@Dreaming Out Loud, Inc. named 1 of 40 winners of the Ford Global Test Drive video contest. in Madrid. Become a fan and follow this great organization as they “start more than a car in Washington, DC’s underserved communities”

3. Follow us on Twitter and dedicate a Tweet:
“Check out @doldc one of 40 winners of the Ford Global Test Drive. Follow how they start more than a car from #Ward 7 #DC to #Madrid, Spain.”

When Dreams Emerge - Tuesday December 7th from 6-8pm at Busboys and Poets

Join us for When Dreams Emerge: A Dreaming Out Loud Celebration and Fundraiser on Tuesday December 7th from 6-8pm at Busboys and Poets (14th and V). The occasion will applaud our successes over the past year and serve as a commitment to continue our efforts in creating the inclusive and vibrant community we all envision. Busboys and Poets – the District’s hub for social justice, arts and progressive conversation – will serve as hosts for this fundraiser and documentary screening. Our host will be Justine Love from WPGC 95.5 with a performance by Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist Christylez Bacon and keynote speaker Dr. Greg Carr, Chair of Howard University’s African-American Studies Department.

You will see the impact we were able to have on the District’s youth in the debut of our short documentary called Project Dream Green: A Youth Environmental Revolution. This film tells the story of Project Dream Green, a youth-centered environmental learning and work experience designed by Dreaming Out Loud and Groundwork Anacostia River DC.

During the summer of 2010 these organizations hosted 72 youth participants ages 14-21 who worked throughout Ward 7 in Washington, DC to improve their community, the environment and themselves. The film moves swiftly through some of the District’s most striking scenic gifts including the Botanic Gardens and Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens giving the audience a glimpse of some of the treasures we must preserve.

The Executive Directors — Chris Bradshaw and Dennis Chestnut — serve as the guiding voices of the documentary as they describe the mission of the two partner organizations, the dynamics of the partnership and their vision for the future of Project Dream Green.

The theme of the night, “When Dreams Emerge,” stems from our motto, “When Dreams Emerge, Communities Arise!” This philosophy is firmly rooted in the recognition that when one realizes their dream, success is no longer limited to that individual; rather it serves as the impetus for the progression of the entire community.

Your participation will make a difference in so many lives! Over the past two years the organization has grown from just a dream to an organization leading the way in impacting young peoples’ lives and developing the youth changemakers that will help to transform the District.

If you can’t make it, you can still contribute: Donate Now!

Subscribe to Our Newsletter: http://bit.ly/aDlPFs

Follow us at:

www.facebook.com/doldc

www.twitter.com/doldc

www.vimeo.com/doldc

Join us at Marvin from 5-9pm on 6/28!

Come join us for a Happy Hour Fundraiser on Monday June 28th at Marvin (2007 14th Street NW) from 5-9 pm.

• Enjoy one of DC’s best rooftop locations, one of the City’s hottest DJs and a great cause!
• Empower young people to improve the environment, the community and themselves!

We need your help! We have set a goal of raising $1,000.00 to provide supplies for group-projects such as markers, paint and more. Come out and support our summer program from 5-9pm and then party at Marvin (2007 14th Street NW) on their legendary Monday nights!

This summer Dreaming Out Loud will host 72 young people (ages 14-21) with the launch of a new program called Project Dream Green. Working from three different sites in Ward 7, we will be working to improve the environment through river clean-ups, caring for trees and trails in our National Parks and doing community outreach to promote energy efficiency.

$10 suggested donation (but more if you can!)

www.facebook.com/DOLDC
www.twittter.com/DOLDC
http://supportdreamgreen.eventbrite.com/

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