The Dream in Me

AN INITIATIVE POWERED

BY GCI HEALTH AND IG

The Dream in Me is a 6 month-long initiative led by IDEAS Generation and GCI Health to guide the next generation of young Black leaders (ages 18-28) to develop and communicate about their visions for the future.

This program is part of a long-term effort to promote IDEAS (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access, and Social Justice). Each participant will each receive $500 to implement their vision.

GCI Health is an award-winning global integrated healthcare communications agency Inspired by People. They share their clients’ desire to improve the health of all people around the world and work tirelessly to contribute to their ambitious goals. Their approach to communications is rooted in looking at all stakeholders – patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, policy makers, reporters and payers – as people with distinct perspectives that shape how they think about health. They create breakthrough, people-driven programs that drive tangible results for their clients and the people they serve.

All Fellows are required to attend all program workshops. Workshop times are will be determined by the general availability of the Fellows selected. Workshop dates are as follows:

Workshop #1: Wednesday, 3/27/2024
Workshop #2: Thursday, 4/25/2024
Workshop #3: Wednesday, 5/22/2024
Workshop #4: Thursday, 6/27/2024
Workshop #5: Wednesday, 7/24/2024
Workshop #6: Thursday, 8/22/2024
Workshop #7: Wednesday, 9/25/2024

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FAQs

Q. Who is eligible for this program?

A. Any person who identifies as Black or African American between the ages of 18-28 years old. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States and have a US bank account to participate.

Q. Why must I be a young Black or African American person to be eligible?

A. The Dream in Me program is designed to reflect who Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was and to encourage and inspire young Black leaders to see themselves in the legacy Dr. King created by following suit and making their impact as leaders in the world. As a young Black leader, Dr. King was able to inspire all people to make positive changes, and we are hoping to help aspiring TDIM Fellows work towards their vision for social change or justice.

Q. What is required in my submission for this program?

A. Entrants must submit a 60-second video or audio file or 500-word essay answering the question “What is your vision for social change in the world?” Past participants have developed projects including:

Facilitating a panel for professional women to discuss their experiences with race and ethnicity as they rose in their careers
Creating a summer program for middle school students to expose them to different career paths

We encourage creativity in your writing, audio or video. You are not required to be on camera yourself. You will be judged by your content and creativity, not by the spelling or grammar of your essay, or camera quality of your video.

Questions?

Email us at info@ideasgeneration.org

Q. How will the leaders be determined?

A. IDEAS Generation will review all submissions to determine the selected TDIM Fellows from each age category. Selection will be based on your ability to clearly communicate your vision. We will be looking for people who are able to motivate and inspire others through their creative ideas for improving societal conditions or a brighter future for people who are impacted by inequities. Consider what you want to see changed in your community. What’s the biggest challenge for you or people you seek to impact and how can you implement change to help overcome those challenges?

Q. How many future leaders will be selected this year?

A. Up to 8 TDIM Fellows will be selected in 2024. We will re-evaluate this number for future years.

Q. When will I find out if I was selected to participate in the program?

A. We will be in touch with those selected by February 26, 2024.

Q. What do I need to commit to if I am selected?

A. We will ask that the TDIM Fellows selected commit to participating in seven (7) quarterly workshops facilitated by IDEAS Generation regarding their vision to improve their communities.

Additionally, we ask that the selected leaders commit to working with IDEAS Generation and GCI Health staff through monthly check-ins to ensure support and that goals and objectives are met. You will be encouraged to work within your cohort. This is not a guarantee of employment, this is an opportunity to be guided by experts in their field.

Q. How long will the program last?

A. The Dream in Me is intended to last for 6 months following the announced selections.

Q. What is expected from me during The Dream in Me program?

A. We will ask that the TDIM Fellows participate in seven (7) monthly workshops approximately 2 hours each and monthly check-ins with their mentor.

Q. What will be expected from me after the program has ended?

A. Our hope is to continue the program annually. You may be asked to share your experience with the next set of TDIM Fellows selected in forthcoming years.

Q. Will participation in this program provide me access to a job at GCI Health or IDEAS Generation?

A. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee you a position at GCI Health or IDEAS Generation in the future. However, we hope for this to be an ongoing relationship as part of a multi-year commitment.

Q. How will the stipend be distributed?

A. The stipend will be distributed in two parts throughout the program (at the midpoint and at the end) upon receipt of required program deliverables.

“[This was] amazing! [My young leader] is a wonderful young woman who is incredibly driven, motivated and efficient. She took feedback well and it was great to see her growth across the program timeline.”

Alex Canale

Coach

“I think the most unique experience for me was to shift my mind outside of just research and knowledge to more of a creative lens. I highly recommend especially to those who can dream big but are sometimes intimidated by their own dreams.”

TDIM Fellow

Alana Mariano

2024 TDIM Fellows

Alexis Hopkins

As a Dream In Me Fellow, Lexi will leverage this opportunity to lay the groundwork for her non-profit organization, Wellness ’N Color. This organization aims to enhance the wellness of Black women+ through community-based programming. Her project will focus on developing strategic plans and processes to ensure Wellness ’N Color is sustainable and impactful.

Read Bio Here

Eno Oduok

Eno's project vision is to create and provide more resources and initiatives for individuals in the African diaspora with nontraditional professions or pursuing nontraditional endeavors; to fund and invest in the next generation of innovations and innovators. This includes providing funding to business owners, creating more grants/scholarships, networking sessions, and more opportunities. The project will incorporate one or more of these aspects.

Read Bio Here

Jazsaii Danner

Jazsaii's project vision is to create a career day program that will help students get exposure to different career opportunities. The program will be held at their school and will provide students with access to career opportunities and planning for their future.

Read Bio Here

Lauren Eckels

Lauren's project vision is to establish a community in NYC where Black women can feel empowered to embrace their authentic selves, prioritize wellness and rest, and freely pursue their dreams.

Read Bio Here

Mikaela Adolphus

Mikaela's vision is the development of a

Student-Athlete Micro Internship Program.

The goal of the micro-internship program offers student-athletes short-term, flexible work
opportunities that accommodate their demanding schedules. This program fosters professional
growth while allowing athletes to balance their academic and athletic commitments effectively.
The micro-internship program addresses the gap in professional development opportunities
often experienced by student-athletes during their college years. This provides them with
valuable real-world skills and experiences outside of their athletic endeavors.

Read Bio Here

Schuyler Walker

Schuyler's project is based on creating a PSA style film that educates young people about sexual assault while raising money in support of sexual assault victims.

Read Bio Here

TaNia McClary

TaNia's project vision is to create a vodcast featuring young minority adults with disabilities looking to share their unique and mutual experiences. The vodcast aims to diversify the media representation of young minority adults with disabilities and provide them with a platform to tell their own stories.

Read Bio Here

IDEAS Fellowship named #1 Fellowship Program of 2023 by ProFellow!

THE DREAM IN ME

FAQs

Alex Canale

Coach

TDIM Fellow

Alana Mariano

2024 TDIM Fellows