Boulder, Colorado

The "I Have a Dream" Foundation

AmeriCorps members will be working directly with the "Dreamers,” low-income youth who reside in Boulder County who have been "adopted" by the "I Have a Dream" Foundation of Boulder County (IHAD). Many of the Dreamers and families are recent immigrants from Mexico; therefore we are especially seeking applicants who are bilingual (Spanish/English). AmeriCorps members serve as tutors, mentors, and positive role models.

AmeriCorps members will also:

• Help the project coordinators plan for the daily after-school center programming
• Spend time with the Dreamers in their school classes
• Work with the other community organizations with whom IHAD has long-standing partnerships
• Assist with the planning of special events (i.e. holiday parties, field trips, parent meetings, etc.)

Site Director: Cathie Williamson
Phone: 303-444-3636 ext. 12- E-mail: cathie.williamson@ihadboulder.org

Broadway Community Center - In 1999, with the assistance of a Department of Education GEAR UP grant, a fourth group of Dreamers was adopted. This class is comprised of 41 children (7th - 11th grade) from four City of Boulder low-income public housing sites (Broadway, Kalmia, Iris/Hawthorne, and Diagonal Court). This class is a partnership with City of Boulder Housing Authority, University of Colorado at Boulder and the Boulder Valley School District. Since these students are in middle and high school, the majority of the work that NDA members will do with these Dreamers will relate to academic support, college and career preparation and all issues that relate to working with teenage youth.

Casa de la Esperanza, Longmont, CO - In 2000, IHAD expanded its programming to 49 new Dreamers from the Boulder County Housing Authority's Casa de la Esperanza low-income housing site in Longmont. These Dreamers are 3rd-12th grade. AmeriCorps applicants, who would like to work with a variety of students in terms of their age, might want to consider this housing-based program. Many of the Dreamers are recent immigrants from Mexico and still visit there frequently. Due to the large age range, NDA members at "Casa" will work in a variety of ways with the Casa Dreamers; basically, it will be a combination of many of the other center's descriptions.

Columbine Elementary School, Longmont, CO - In 2002, the eighth class of Dreamers was adopted from Columbine Elementary School. Up to 50-second graders on the free or reduced lunch program comprise this new Longmont class. AmeriCorps members who will be assigned to this class should have the desire to work with a large number of 3rd graders every day. Typically, these Dreamers will work on their homework or other literacy or math based academic assignments that enrich what they are learning in the classroom. There are also a variety of other activities, such as field trips to plays, sporting events, and book fairs which the AmeriCorps members will help plan and chaperone. Check out their website at http://www.stvrain.k12.co.us/COEL/columbine.html.

Pioneer Elementary School, Lafayette, CO - This class of 39-second grade Dreamers on the free or reduced school lunch program was added in the fall of 2000 from Pioneer Elementary School in Lafayette. In the fall of 2004, these Dreamers will be 6th graders. AmeriCorps members who will be assigned to this class should have the desire to work with a large number of 4th graders every day. Typically, these Dreamers will work on their homework or other literacy or math based academic assignments that enrich what they are learning in the classroom. There are also a variety of other activities, such as field trips to plays, sporting events, and book fairs which the NDA members will help plan and chaperone.

Sanchez Elementary School, Lafayette, CO - In 2001, the seventh class of Dreamers was adopted from Sanchez Elementary School. Up to 50-second graders on the free or reduced lunch program comprise this new Lafayette class. AmeriCorps members who will be assigned to this class should have the desire to work with a large number of 5th graders every day. Typically, these Dreamers will work on their homework or other literacy or math based academic assignments that enrich what they are learning in the classroom. There are also a variety of other activities, such as field trips to plays, sporting events, and book fairs which the NDA members will help plan and chaperone. Check out their website at http://www.bvsd.k12.co.us/schools/sanchez/.

Notre Dame Mission Volunteers - Americorps
403 Markland Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21212
Phone:(410) 532-6864 - Fax: (410) 532-2418

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