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!

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Thank you for reading Dreaming Out Loud’s first newsletter. We will be producing the newsletter bi-monthly and on special occasions to keep our supporter updated about what is going on and how we can work together to build a better world. We truly believe that when “Dreams Emerge, Communities Arise!” and hope to inspire your dreams, fuel hope and build a world that allows all of us to thrive. Help spread the word about our organization!

Click the link to signup to receive the newsletter and don’t forget to tell a friend!  http://eepurl.com/bipF5

Warmest Regards,

Christopher Bradshaw, Executive Director

Dreaming Out Loud's First Newsletter!

DOL submits grant to Ashoka's Changemakers

On August 11th, Dreaming Out Loud submitted a project proposal called “What do We Reflect?: A Community Conversation” to Ashoka’s Changemakers program. The competition — called Strong Communities: Engaging Citizens, Strengthening Place, Inspiring Change — has the aim to identify innovative projects and ideas that engage citizens to steer change and build strong communities.

Our project would take place within the context of Project Dream Green’s school year program with our charter school partners.  In this project we will use the placement of interactive public art to initiate a community dialogue regarding ethics, character development and community-building. Our young people will help to plan, create and place interactive public art in six locations throughout Washington, DC. These six works of public art will be large (approx.4ft X 4ft) plaster castings of the symbols.

Each symbol asks a set of essential questions related to building sustainable, healthy and ethical communities. The public will be encouraged to contribute to a dialog generated by the Adinkra symbols using email messages, photos, drawings and other submissions. In addition, the youth participants will use MiniFlip video-cameras to conduct interviews. Leading the youth will be Intergenerational Leadership Partners consisting of a college intern and a retired professional/teacher.

A panel of independent judges selected by Ashoka or CommunityMatters will select eight finalists from all of the entries submitted in the competition. From among these 8 finalists, the Changemakers’ online community will vote for three winners. In the event of a tie, the tie will be broken by a vote of the independent judges. Any person may sign into and register with Changemakers at: http://www.changemakers.com/en-us to vote.

Following our progress and Click here to read and comment on the project.

Dennis Chestnut gives reporters a tour of the Center for Green Urbanism.

In the May issue of the East of the River Magazine, Groundwork Anacostia River DC’s Center for Green Urbanism was featured as one of the Ward 7 community’s newest additions. Executive Director Dennis Chestnut gave the magazine an exclusive tour of the Center in its opening phases.

Located at 3938 Benning Road NE, the Center for Green Urbanism (CGU) is positioned primely between both Minnesota Avenue and Benning Road Metro Stations. In addition, it sits directly across from the recently completed Benning Neighborhood Library.

This summer the Center has played a central role in the implementation of Project Dream Green – the program collaboration between Groundwork and Dreaming Out Loud. With 72 youth participants reporting and working from the Ophelia Egypt Center, Ward Memorial AME Church and SEED Public Charter School the CGU provides a central meeting point.

Important program activities such as training the Team Leaders responsible for supervising the youth participants; communications and video-camera training for youth media teams; and tool-safety training have been hosted at this historic building. In the coming months, the CGU will also play a key role in hosting high-school green teams from local charter schools as Project Dream Green enters a new phase.

A view from the front.

Help plant trees along the Fort Circle Trail Connector

Save the date and Join
Groundwork Anacostia River DC,
Anacostia Watershed Society
and
Casey Trees
To plant new trees along the NEW
FORT CIRCLE TRAIL CONNECTOR
and
Cleanup Watts Branch and the Anacostia River
Saturday, April 24, 2010
8:00 am – 1:00 pm
Meet at 42^nd and Hayes Street N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20019
For Information Contact Dennis Chestnut 202-286-4970
groundworkanacostia@gmail.com

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