Supporting Scholars, Opening Opportunities
Our organization started with a group of invested parents around a kitchen table. A decade later, our work is still rooted in the conviction that everyone deserves a place at the table.
Our Mission
The Dream Project empowers students whose immigration status creates barriers to higher education by working with them to succeed in college through scholarships, mentoring, family engagement, and advocacy.
Our Vision
Our vision is to be a supportive and inclusive community where Dreamers and their families
are empowered through education to pursue their dreams and achieve their full potential.
It all started around a kitchen table
In 2010, a group of parents, educators, and students gathered with one thing on their minds: access to higher education.
Congress had just failed to pass The DREAM Act, which would have ensured access to higher education for students with undocumented status. The cost of college seemed insurmountable. Undeterred, one mother spoke up: “Well, I can cook.” And with that, they rolled up their sleeves and got busy—infusing their salteñas with traditional flavors and hope for the future—and launched the first Dream Project fundraiser. More than a decade later, the Dream Project is still one of the only organizations in Virginia that focuses on educational opportunities for students who face barriers due to their immigration status. We have grown from offering scholarships to four students to funding the education of one hundred Scholars each year and supporting a network of alumni as they propel their careers forward.
Our Values
Equity
We strive to ensure that all students have fair and equal opportunities to achieve their academic goals, regardless of their immigration status.
Excellence
We believe that a rigorous and enriching education builds a student's capacity to overcome the formidable challenges they face as a result of their immigration status and fosters their intellectual, professional, and personal growth.
Collaboration
We cultivate a community of Dream Scholars, alumni, families, mentors, volunteers, donors, board members, educational institutions, partnering organizations, community leaders, and elected officials and believe that through intentional collaboration and solidarity we can more effectively serve and support our students.
Holistic Support
We believe that providing financial, social, and emotional support is foundational to ensuring that students thrive in a holistic way.
Annual Report
We are incredibly proud of what our Scholars have accomplished this year. The investment of our community and donors has an enduring impact. Get to know our Scholars and initiatives through this retrospective.
Strategic Plan
We’re committed to meeting the needs of our students in fresh and innovative ways. As the challenges students face change, so must our approach. Learn more about the ways we’re advancing our work in scholarships, mentoring, and advocacy.