Each and every one of us has a dream but the men behind D.R.E.A.M. a new student organization under Intercultural Affairs have turned their dream of providing young African-American men with hope inspiration and opportunity into a reality.
D.R.E.A.M. is an acronym for “Dramatically Reconstructing Education through African-American Men.” Ten African-American male students at Pepperdine founded D.R.E.A.M. in October 2009 and sought to address the problems of diversity and inequitable academic norms on college campuses.
“Our freshman year2007 five of the 10 people who founded D.R.E.A.M expressed a lack of diversity thatPepperdine had senior Clarence Tooles, the organization’s co-founder, explained. We expressed that something had to be installed— some kind of club.”
“These are things we would continually talk about senior Justin Clardy added. A day came we were like why are we still talking about the problems? Let’s put it into action and find a solution.”
The men behind the organization have been working to address the issue of diversity through networking outreach and community service ever since.
On Wednesday Oct. 20 D.R.E.A.M. sponsored an Apollo Night Talent Show in Raitt Recital Hall raising awareness and funds benefitting the mission of the organization.
“All the proceeds from Apollo Night are going to go to a college fund Clardy explained. Even minority students who are prepared for the academic rigor still have to foot a bill.”
D.R.E.A.M. is also sponsoring a Madden NFL and NBA 2k11 video game tournament in the Waves Café starting Monday Oct. 25. It is just $3 to enter the tournament and the winner will receive a cash prize.
Likely the biggest accomplishment of the D.R.E.A.M. men thus far has been gaining administration approval to conduct a minority graduation ceremony in the spring 2011 semester.
Although the ceremony is a celebration of the accomplishments of graduates diplomas will not be distributed. Rather specific tokens of culture will be exchanged in representation of each participating student’s cultural background such as sashes made of kente cloth for African-American students.
“It’s going to be a graduation ceremony that is geared toward celebrating culture and heritage Clardy explained, adding that all students are welcome to be involved if they submit an intent to participate form, which should be available in January.
The men of D.R.E.A.M. continue to have high hopes for future endeavors and success for their organization, as well as the long-lasting and far-reaching impact that D.R.E.A.M. could potentially have on college campuses.
In addition to taking D.R.E.A.M. to a non-profit status, there are plans to expand the organization’s influence.
We have plans to start other D.R.E.A.M. clubs on different campuses around the U.S. co-founder seniorKwaku Prempeh stated. We’ve spoken to different African-American men on other campuses. They feel like they need the same thing on their campuses as well. We can really take our vision and influence all over.”
Tooles added that he would like to “see Pepperdine put forth more of an effort to reach out to the students that we’re trying to contact that we’re trying to bring to this campus.”
One thing is certain: These determined men plan to stay involved with the organization that they helped found.
“The beautiful thing about this organization [is that] it doesn’t just stop at college Prempeh explained. We’re always going to be leaders.”
More information about D.R.E.A.M. is available on their website www.dream-men.org.