A sign with the words “Dream Big” hangs over Lori Canova’s desk. It’s a message the President and CEO of the “I Have A Dream” Foundation of Boulder County lives by.
About 600 of the 16,800 students from low-income families in the Boulder Valley and St. Vrain Valley school districts are currently “Dreamer Scholars.” They are mostly Latino students in multiple cohorts sponsored by the foundation, which hires a program director for each cohort to help the students and their families find success in school, all the way through college.
Canova says the key elements of “I Have A Dream’s” success are the program director, the long-term relationship with the child and family, and offering the hope of a brighter future and college.
Still, she said, “There’s so much more to do.”
Lately, Canova has focused a lot on increasing community partnerships, so that more students receive the academic, social and emotional resources needed to succeed. This partnership is called Dream Big. It’s a collaborative of Boulder County nonprofits, government agencies, Boulder Valley School District, businesses and other community organizations, including the Community Foundation Boulder County.
“We need Dream Big because it takes more than one organization to close the achievement and opportunity gaps,” Canova said.
The vision of Dream Big is that by 2040, all children in Boulder County are succeeding academically and reaching their full potential.
Across Boulder County, agencies are partnering to close the achievement gap, starting as early as possible:
Boulder Housing Partners is offering Bringing School Home – an innovative new program that brings together quality, affordable housing and educational opportunities for families with children 0-5 years old in partnership with Emergency Family Assistance Association and “I Have A Dream.”
Boulder County Public Health is leading the Raising of America Partnership in Boulder County. Government agencies, nonprofit organizations, business and families are working together to engage the community in supporting families and young children.
The Family Learning Center hosts a monthly roundtable with nonprofit and government partners to collaborate on summer learning opportunities for children from low-income families.
Bright EYES Longmont is a city-based initiative to promote quality programs for preschool-aged children.
“How can we provide more high-quality childcare for Hispanic and low-income families?” asked Melanie Kelsey, Longmont’s Community Coordinator for Early Childhood.
Longmont runs a free lunch program in city parks during the summers. Partner agencies are invited to attend the lunches and offer their services to those who need them.
“Families come to get a free lunch, but they’re accessing other services,” Kelsey said.
She recalled a family that came to the park to receive a free lunch. While there, the parents registered their preschooler for the Mayor’s Book Club, which mails a free book to participants’ homes each month until the child turns 5. Their teenager connected with a bilingual counselor to help him deal with some difficult issues at school.
“Seeing a family like that, I find the program to be a really big
success,” Kelsey said.
by Chris Barge
