Artivism Music Wellness Resilience

About Summer of Dreams

In the past couple of months we have seen immigrant communities, people of color, Black communities suffer injustices. However, this is not the first time Black and brown bodies have suffered injustices. Due to a broken and racist system that was not built to serve people of color. But we have also seen communities come together and organize; winning battles like the DACA decision by the Supreme Court this June 2020,  taking over streets to fight for Black Lives, protest outside of state and local legislative buildings, hold spaces outside of detention centers and demand change in policies and systems that have made an impact in our communities lives because we ORGANIZED!

United We Dream, the largest youth led immigrant rights organization is so excited to invite you to our 3 week Summer of Dreams 2020 program. This training program will convene for 4-hour sessions 3 days per week from July 20th to August 7th virtually via zoom or similar technology. The program aims to empower youth from immigrant communities including youth from mixed status families, refugees, people of color, and LGBTQ+ from the of ages 15 to 20 years old. 

The program is open to youth in the communities where United We Dream has state hubs: Miami, Houston, DC-Maryland and Virginia area and the California Central Coast and Central Valley, as well youth members from participating affiliate organizations please contact your local United We Dream affiliate for details. 

Summer of Dreams is a program led by United We Dream organizers to create spaces for youth in our community to feel welcome, supported, accepted and grow as community leaders. Summer of Dreams supports organizers to learn and gain knowledge on the history of social justice movements such as immigrant rights, LGBTQ+, Civil Rights movement, and civic engagement strategies to better understand and help build the political and social justice movements we are a part of. Participants will learn and be supported by local organizers on the basics of grass-roots organizing and how to play a role in local and national campaigns for the freedom of Black and brown bodies communities. Gaining knowledge on organizing philosophy, campaign training and critical thinking skills through an intersectional lens. Participants will gain these new skills and knowledge through interactive learning and group activity sessions with the national cohort and smaller break out groups where youth will learn and explore artivism, music, wellness and resilience practices. 

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What We Focus On

Application Requirements

Ages: 15-20

Comfortable in an English-based learning environment with mostly bilingual youth participants from diverse communities and experiences that welcomes youth who are in the process of learning English.

Commitment to learn about the history and approaches to drive social change in our communities through community organizing, civic engagement, and online engagement strategies.

Commitment to learn and engage in United We Dream’s national and local state hub or affiliate campaigns accordingly.

Available to participate for the duration of the program (3 weeks) Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays for 4 hours. Some days will be substituted for weekend activities where participants will have the option to participate.

Download the Toolkit

This March marks 21 years of ICE CBP & DHS terrorizing our immigrant communities.

Ever since their creation, ICE and CBP have targeted, detained, abused and deported immigrants while separating loved ones and tearing apart communities. Donate 21 dollars to help us fight back against the 21 years of terror.