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  • Every student has strengths and is capable of thriving.
     

  • Every student who practices a growth mindset responds successfully to any challenge with their best effort, thoughtful strategies and knowing when to seek help and from whom to seek help.
     

  • Self-reflection, self-discovery and self-regulation are tools that educate, equip and empower students to have positive outcomes both personally and professionally.
     

  • Goal setting and goal management are essential to the success of completing a life plan.
     

  • Student and adult partnerships create a safe environment to help students develop pathways for successful and faithful living.

Program Directors,
Minister Marlin and Linda Jones


The Dream Academy has become an outstanding youth community outreach program comprised of a diverse group of students who reside in the Wake County Region and is thriving under the auspices of the Pleasant Grove Foundation, Inc.

This dynamic and unique mentoring and life skills development program is currently branching out into national initiatives, two of which are the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Program and Robotics.

Experts have come to prepare our teams for local, national and international competitions. If you have the inclination to become a part of the village that it takes to assure that this generation of future leaders is fully equipped to not only become successful in life but to also share their expertise with the generation behind them, please feel free to join us.
Thank you so very much!

 

Minister Marlin and Linda Jones
Program Directors~ The Dream Academy

 

Two Program Pillars

 

The Dream Academy programs are supported by two pillars:  mentoring and life planning.

The Dream Partner (A Mentoring Relationship)
The role of the Dream Partner is to help provide students with life enriching opportunities and identify resources to fulfill their dreams. This mentoring relationship promotes two-way dialogues where passions, interests, and talents are expressed by students and nurtured by mentors.

The Life Plan
Every student, with the support of a skilled coach, will develop a plan to thrive in each of the four platforms of the Academy’s framework. Monthly group coaching will be provided within the context of a research based Youth Development curriculum for groups ages 10-18. (Step It Up 2 Thrive created by The Thrive Foundation) Each Life Plan will focus on the domains and thrive indicators laid out in the Step It Up 2 Thrive curriculum (Six domains defined by Dr. Richard Lerner of Tufts Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development; and twelve thrive indicators created by Step It Up 2 Youth Thrive.

 

Dream Academy Program Components

Empowerment Sessions
We offer dynamic quarterly discussion with community experts to introduce innovative concepts, increase knowledge and build skill sets. We also create a safe environment for shared learning and challenge students to explore and participate in new experiences for personal growth.

 

Practicum Excursions
Students actively participate in professional work settings quarterly. Excursions provide students the opportunity to explore career possibilities through hands-on work experience. As a consequence, students have a better understanding of the practical and professional skills required in the fields that interest them.

 

Success Coaching
Every 3rd Saturday students participate in an interactive and shared learning environment, where all students discover their Sparks and learn how to develop and manage goals.

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