Project DREAMS

How We Got Started

Though the need to address the effects of racial disparities has been ongoing, demands for accountability were high during the summer of 2020. COVID-19 shed light on how the built environment affects a range of health risks and outcomes for BIPOC. The senseless deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor also sparked a focus on institutional commitments to racial justice. In response to summer 2020 events, Marion City Schools passed a Social Justice and Equity Resolution that bolstered support for students, teachers, and staff to teach and learn about racism and oppose policies that reinforce inequitable learning. Meanwhile, The Ohio State University established a $1 million fund that provided seed grants for interdisciplinary research and creative work that could contribute to the elimination of racism and solve its underlying causes and consequences. “Ohio State has both the opportunity and the responsibility to lead reconciliation and drive transformational and sustainable change at this pivotal moment in our nation’s history.” Through a process of dreaming, drafting, and writing a proposal, Ohio State University – Marion County Extension was awarded $50,000 to allocate material resources and support for young people and community partners to engage in photography and storytelling that identified policies, practices, norms, and behaviors that produce racial justice and injustice.

The program Dreamkeepers was developed, named from Gloria Ladson-Billing’s book, “The Dreamkeepers: Successful Teachers of African American Children” (2009). The author introduces readers to culturally relevant teaching and exemplars of successful teachers. Similarly, Marion Dreamkeepers was designed to challenge the community, K-12 schools, and intuitions of higher education to co-create conditions for non-white youth to thrive. A first annual Equity Day recognized the youth-led, participatory action research (YPAR) in July 2021. The final report for Marion Dreamkeepers can be found at go.osu.edu/mariondreamkeeperfinalreport

Present Day

Three years later, communities throughout Central Ohio have reimagined the program and the program transformed with additional resources like a facilitator guide, youth project book, and new name, Project DREAMS (Dialogues for Racial Equity, Advocacy, and Mattering in school). The names of students from the Class of 2023were Abdullahi, Allisen, Amanda, Caleb, Noelle, Dionisio, Clay, Joshua, Kellen, Maureen, Nelease, Olivia, Oscar, Pray, Sophia, and Trey. With sessions written by national leaders in the field of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), this program is a promising opportunity for schools and youth-serving organizations. Project DREAMS incorporates the values of DEI with educational and workforce standards. The experience gained in the program can be applied to any industry or college readiness: problem-solving, digital technology, systems thinking, communication, collaboration, shared leadership, and project management. The authors of the curriculum — Whitney Gherman and Dr. Lindsey Lunsford — drew inspiration from the arts and futurism as well whereas we imagine the program as a portal to a reality where youth of color are affirmed, valued, and loved.