‘I Have a Dream:’ Giving Children a Chance

by Porsha Lackey

When New York businessman Eugene Lang was asked to speak at a sixth grade graduation, he was told that a high percentage of the children would not graduate high school.

After hearing this disturbing news, Lang promised to pay for all of their college tuition if they graduated.

The “I Have a Dream Foundation” is designed to give low-income children the opportunity to attend college after graduating high school. Ken and Ida Brown, from Asheville, saw a feature on “60 Minutes” about the foundation and decided to approach the national organization.



Left to right: Angele Mainhart, Alphonso Speaks, Anthony Jones, Mellemba Jima,
Te’Quan Clark, Last Jima, Jen Matthews, Mattie Smith, Keiara Singleton, Melasia Skyes, Savon Wadsworth, Tyler Goforth, Azaela Mullen-White, Fran Loges, Katie Bridgman, Shanequia Holliday, Quentin Williams.

Now
based in Pisgah View Apartments, the “I Have a Dream Foundation”, began
last September and has 18 children from the apartments attending the
after school program.


Jen Matthews,
the on-site director of the program, says that by next fall, once they
move into their new building, they will have up to fifty children in
the program. However, because of space limitations, they are currently
able to cater to only a small number of students.



College tuition
can be very expensive depending on what school the child decides to
attend. “Funding comes from Ken and Ida Brown and each individual
program has its own sponsors. We provide them with a last dollar amount
of tuition assistance and that amount is based on in-state tuition at
UNCA” says Jen. A child is allowed to move away as long as they keep in
touch with the program. “Once they’re in the program, they’re in. The
only way they can be expelled from the program is by having severe
behavior problems or if a parent withdrew them. They have to graduate
on time and enroll in college within two years” says Jen.



The program is
designed to accommodate the same first, second, and third graders until
they graduate high school. They do this through the after school
program set up at Pisgah View Apartments. The after school program is a
place where the Dreamers go once they leave school and work on their
homework, play with their friends, and even do fun activities. All of
the children live in the apartment complex, so their parents don’t have
to drive anywhere and pick them up.



The “I Have a
Dream” program is currently looking for applicants for fall semester.
“The eligibility requirement is for first, second, and third grade
students as of August 2006 who live in Pisgah View Apartments. We will
probably cap the program at about 50 students,” says Jen.



The impact that
the “I Have a Dream Foundation” has had on students can be seen around
the country. High school attendance has gone up, GPAs have risen, and
more students are graduating college. This program should be recognized
worldwide. If we as a society don’t help our children, who will?