Our Mission

DREAM!’s mission is to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline by helping students and educators acquire the confidence and practical skills they need to resolve conflicts creatively and productively, increasing students' engagement with learning and supporting academic success.

History

In 2009, Aisha Norris co-founded DREAM! to offer media arts programming to establish community-based organizations and high schools in the Bronx and Harlem two boroughs that are dear to her. Aisha was born and raised in the South Bronx and spent most of her adult years working in Harlem.  She developed her experience in the field first as a student and later by becoming program manager of Harlem Children’s Zone’s TRUCE, a media literacy program. With 12 years of experience in the facilitation and management of arts programming, Aisha’s goal was to offer a TRUCE-like experience to as many Bronx and Harlem communities as possible. Aisha’s belief is that arts-based training enhances young people’s ability and desire to think outside of the box, find their voice, become critical thinkers, and discover talents that can ultimately lead to amazing career opportunities, as it has done for her!