The "I Have a Dream" Foundation motivates and empowers children from low-income communities to reach their education and career goals by providing a long-term program of mentoring, tutoring, and enrichment, culminating with tuition assistance for higher education.

Description and/or History:
The Melrose II "I Have a Dream" Program is currently providing services to 9th graders living in the Melrose Houses in the Bronx These services include tutoring, mentoring, arts, drama, Wellness Program,summer employment field trips to various social and cultural landmarks, etc. Our focus is to expose Dreamers to different careers and universities. We are building their leadership skills and preparation for the Regents exams.
The "I Have a Dream" program was created in 1981, when philanthropist Eugene Lang made an impromptu offer to class of graduating sixth graders at P.S. 121 in East Harlem. He told this class that any member who stayed in school, graduated an qualified for college, would, through him, be assured of having the financial resources to pursue his or her education- his or her "Dream". Local IHAD projects across the United States "adopt" entire grades from public elementary schools, or corresponding age-groups from public housing developments. The "Dreamers" are then provided with a year-round program of academic, social and recreational activities throughout their elementary, middle school and high school years.

Contact person: Ray A. Llanos, Program Director, (718) 401-3223, (email)

Address:

277 E. 153rd Bronx, NY 10451 (See a map)

Directions:

2, 4, 5 trains to 149th Street and Grand Concourse. Walk two blocks to Morris Avenue and turn left towards 153rd Street.   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: 2, 4, 5,   Walk distance (in minutes): 5 mins   Nearest Bus Stop: BX 19, 2 mins minute walk