BU DREAM Program

tudent as their model. What is the time commitment? To plan for the following programming as well as check in on how we can improve more, we meet for a one-hour weekly meeting, usually Monday nights, from 9pm-10pm. Saturdays are the day we mentor. Generally programming goes from around 12 to 3 pm; however, about once or twice a month, a mentor will be on either pick up or drop off which requires about an hour and a half before or after. It is generally expected that you will commit to DREAM for more than one year. The kids who we work with deserve positive role models and the stability of having such an inspirational person in their lives for more than a year, since studies have shown that having a mentor in a child’s life for less than nine months can even have negative effects on him or her. We do ask that you commit for the rest of your college career if possible (excluding study abroad). What do you usually plan for programmings? We try to create a variety of activities for our mentees to experience throughout the semester through programming. Some examples of programming have been attending BU basketball games, different activities at FitRec, ice skating, learning krav maga, field days, pie-making days, and many others. We also use some programming days to fundraise for different trips which the kids would like to organize. We try to do at least one big weekend-long trip a year, and maybe one or two day trips. Examples of bigger trips were going to Maine and staying in a firehouse for the weekend, and going to Camp DREAM in Vermont. Some shorter day trips we have done in the past are Six Flags and the beach. We are always looking for new ways to program! Where do the kiddos live? Our mentees live within a mile or two of each other in an affordable housing community called Orchard Gardens, which is located about 25 minutes away from BU’s campus by MBTA bus. What is the demographic of your mentees? The children we work with are 100% African American or Latino. As a mentor do I have to pay for anything for my mentee? Nope! As a group we fundraise and have a budget for all of our expenses. We also receive donations for some of our programming options. How long will it take for me to get matched with a kid? Generally, the recruitment process and clearance to work with the mentees through the DREAM program takes around 1 semester. We try to take in consideration both mentors and mentees preferences when making matches.