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From Specific Cuts to No-Care Looks: High School Boys Today are Coloring Both Inside and Outside the Lines

From Specific Cuts to No-Care Looks: High School Boys Today are Coloring Both Inside and Outside the Lines

Walk through a high school today and you’ll notice a shift: boys spritzing cologne in the locker room, styling their hair before first period, and paying more attention to grooming than previous generations may have at the same age. At first glance, it might look like vanity, but beneath the surface are two powerful developmental …

Phone Free at iCan Dream Center

Phone Free at iCan Dream Center

Why iCan Dream Center Is Going Phone-Free At iCan Dream Center, we are always asking ourselves: How can we create the best possible environment for our students to grow, learn, and thrive? One powerful step we have taken is becoming a phone-free school. Why Phone-Free? Research and lived experience tell us that smartphones, while useful tools, can also …

Reimagining Discipline: Why Restorative Justice Matters in Alternative Settings

Reimagining Discipline: Why Restorative Justice Matters in Alternative Settings

1. What Are Restorative Justice Practices? Restorative justice (RJ) shifts the focus from punitive measures to healing—bringing together those harmed and those responsible to foster dialogue, accountability, and community repair. In schools, these techniques—like circles, mediation, and community conferencing—allow students to address wrongdoing, understand its effects, and actively participate in making things right. In the …

Back to School, Back to Belonging at iCan Dream Center

Back to School, Back to Belonging at iCan Dream Center

The smell of freshly sharpened pencils. The magic of a blank notebook waiting to be filled. It’s that time again—back to school at iCan Dream Center! And around here, we don’t just go back to school—we leap into a new year of dreaming big, belonging fully, and growing together. At iCan Dream Center, the first day of …

Supporting Our Interns Means Building a Stronger Community

Supporting Our Interns Means Building a Stronger Community

You may see iCan Dream Center interns working at local businesses—greeting you, stocking shelves, clearing tables, washing hair, washing cars, or helping behind the scenes. These young people are learning, growing, and contributing every day. All ourstudents have Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), and many have experienced trauma or systemic barriers that make this kind of …

10 Connection-Focused, Cost-Free Summer Activities for Your Autistic Child

10 Connection-Focused, Cost-Free Summer Activities for Your Autistic Child

Summer can feel overwhelming with pressure to plan elaborate activities—but for autistic children, it’s the simple, consistent moments of connection that matter most. Shared experiences like building a fort or watching the stars help strengthen trust, communication, and emotional security. These everyday interactions support sensory regulation and social-emotional growth, all while creating joyful memories together. When we …