DREAM

Sponsored by: the DREAM Program, Inc.
Executive Director: Mike Loner
Contact: Mike Loner

DREAM's mission is to build communities of families and college students that empower children from disadvantaged circumstances to recognize their options, make informed decisions and achieve their dreams.  DREAM pairs college students with children (K-12) living in public housing developments.  In Chittenden County, DREAM has programs run by students at Champlain College, the University of Vermont and St. Michael's College, who mentor children living in Birchwood Mobile Home Park in Milton, the Elm Street & Franklin Street communities in Winooski and Franklin Square & Riverside Apartments in Burlington, respectively.  DREAM's mentors form one-on-one mentoring relationships with the children through a combination of group activities, trips, events and a weekly program on campus. DREAM also provides an on-site summer program and operates a summer residential camp for children in DREAM.

First Year of operation: UVM: 2002, SMC: 2002, CC: 2004
Minimum age for mentor: Freshman in College
Minimum time commitment: 3 hours/week
Minimum length of commitment: remainder of time at college, unless substituting