"I Have a Dream" Foundation - Fort Worth
"Making a difference through education."
About Our Programs
Many Fort Worth children are exposed to risk factors including socio-economic issues, non-English speaking households, and transience that increase their likelihood for dropping out of school, especially when they may lack the academic foundation and family support needed to mitigate the risk.
As the size of the at-risk population of students increases, teachers and other educational professionals lack the time to provide the individualized intensive involvement the IHAD staff and volunteers are able to give during the multiple years that the Dreamers are in our program. Personalized tutoring is an integral piece to supporting and reinforcing the skills necessary to achieve a desired grade, which boosts a Dreamer’s confidence and helps encourage their desire and intention to stay and succeed in school.
Current Programs
Manuel Jara Program
Our program on the north side of Fort Worth provides assistance to 107 children adopted by IHAD as first graders at Manuel Jara Elementary School. These Dreamers, now proud seventh graders, continue to benefit from daily programming at our facility adjacent to the school. Over the last six years, on average 97% of our Dreamers passed the standardized state testing compared with 70% average of the students in the Fort Worth Independent School District.
Along with the after school tutoring that helps them with their academic success, Dreamers participate in community service projects, summer programs and field trips designed to broaden their imaginations and experiences.
During the 2005-2006 school year: These Dreamers distributed books to Hurricane Katrina evacuees, planted a tree at a local park, attended TCU athletic events, donated community service hours at a local rest home, and went on field trips to local colleges in addition to studying for TAKS and other school subjects. Tutors from University of Texas Denton, University of Texas at Arlington and Tarrant Community College assisted the Program Director and volunteers throughout the school year.
Ripley/Butler Program
Our original Ripley Arnold Program had 71 adopted students from the Ripley Housing Project which was sold. Residents moved into houses and apartments throughout the city of Fort Worth with students enrolling in over 20 area schools. In spite of this, we have been able to keep up with 49 of the Dreamers. Twenty-seven have graduated from high school, three have obtained or are obtaining their GED, one is on active military duty and one is a Job Corps graduate. Six of these students are taking advantage of their scholarships offered by IHAD and pursuing college degrees. The other eleven students are currently in high schools all over the district.
Our original Butler Housing Project Program adopted 78 children in the Terrell Elementary School. The Butler complex, as well as Ripley Arnold, has a high rate of mobility, historically 30%, so keeping up with our Dreamers is a difficult task. We have been able to stay in contact with 50 of the original Dreamers entrolled in 20 schools locally. 96% of these Dreamres are at grade level for the 2005-2006 academic year.
Due to the transitory nature of the residents, the Ripley Arnold closure and the Dreamers in so many different schools, the two programs were combined into our Butler/Ripley Arnold Program. These 10th to 12th grade Dreamers are provided with tutoring at the schools as well as at the office site located in the Butler Housing Community. They also participate in community service projects, summer programs and field trips designed to broaden their imaginations and experiences. Field trips to local colleges have been increased as students approach graduation day and our counselors work with individual students on college paperwork and additional scholarship applications.
During the 2005-2006 school year: These Dreamers produced a video for a grant application, organized and participated in joint events with the Boys and Girls Club, visited and entertained at local rest homes, toured local colleges and worked very diligently at obtaining their high school diplomas. Several have graduated and 60% are planning to use their IHAD scholarship funds to further their education.