Mission

To partner with youth and their families as they successfully navigate school, college, and career by providing a holistic academic, social, and emotional program from elementary school through college, along with postsecondary scholarship assistance.

Vision

Our dream is a world where every child has equal access to educational and career opportunities that will ignite their innate potential.

Anchor Links Will Go Here

Our Work

We work to ensure that all children have the opportunity to pursue higher education, fulfill their potential, and achieve their dreams. We support youth in their journey to graduate from college by equipping them with the skills and knowledge to succeed in post-secondary opportunities and provide scholarship support to remove financial barriers. By helping our youth gain access to college, we are putting them on a different academic and life trajectory, while having a broader impact on their families and the generations that follow.

  • Dreamers have the academic supports needed to excel from kindergarten through college.

  • Dreamers have consistent and long-term relationships that support their college and career aspirations and have access to social capital resources such as mentors and potential employers.

  • Dreamers build self-awareness, develop agency, cultivate a growth mindset, develop resilience or grit and raise expectations for themselves.

  • Dreamers receive financial literacy education and college tuition support to ensure that their financial circumstances are not barriers to entering college and obtaining a college degree.

  • Dreamers graduate from their post secondary programs with the skills necessary to successfully transition into the workforce and make meaningful professional contributions to society.

  • Dreamers learn to advocate for and to be active participants in their health care and have access to critical supports needed to manage trauma and/or personal circumstances that could affect their ability to pursue college dreams.

  • The CIHAD Family Academy is designed to support Dreamers and their families by providing year-round supports that address our families' well-being.

  • Dreamers understand the importance of community engagement and have opportunities for service learning.

Our Impact

Since 1988, Colorado “I Have A Dream” Foundation has provided academic, social, and emotional supports to nearly 1,000 youth and their families in the Denver Metro area.

“Through my involvement in Colorado “I Have A Dream,” I am finding myself. I am learning what it means to be mature, what it means to set an example in your household and in your community.” Advice to other students – “Stay involved and do something today that your future self would thank you for.
”
—
ABDUL, WEILL CLASS OF 2018

The Need

  • 51% of students in U.S. public schools—that’s 25 million—come from under-resourced communities.

  • Only 9% of students from 
under-resourced communities 
earn a Bachelor’s degree—compared to 77% of their peers from high-income communities.

  • While the college graduation rate for students from high-income communities has nearly doubled in the past 40 years, the graduation rate for students from under-resourced communities has stagnated.

  • 90% of youth complete high school, compared to 74% of youth from low-income communities nationally.

  • Our youth are 3x more likely to earn a bachelor’s 
degree than their peers living in low-income communities.

  • College graduates earn, on average, an additional $1 million 
in lifetime earnings.

The Impact

Program Sites

Since 1988, Colorado “I Have A Dream” Foundation has provided academic, social, and emotional support to youth and their families in Denver Metro Area. To date, Colorado “I Have A Dream” Foundation has provided supports to over 1,000 youth and their families.

Therapeutic Services

Our Behavioral Health Team is here to meet the needs of youth, families, and community organizations! In our therapeutic services program, we use a variety of evidence-based and holistic methods to meet our clients where they are and help them with anything that life throws their way, giving them the tools to ensure they can be successful now and well into their future! Our clinical interns are supervised by licensed mental health professionals and will meet clients on a weekly or bi-weekly basis!

Our clinically licensed team members are also available to support community organizations in their quest to support the mental health and well-being of their community!

Therapy appointments available
Monday-Friday from 9:00-4:00 pm at:

Z Place Opportunity Center 4800 Telluride Street – Building 5 Denver, Colorado 80249

Westwood Opportunity Center 855 South Irving Street Denver, Colorado 80219

Therapeutic Support Session Fees:

Colorado “I Have A Dream” Foundation has a sliding scale based on annual household income. Medicaid can be billed.