What happens when the student yelling “I give up” is really asking, “Will you give up on me, too?” Last week, if you were at iCan Dream Center during dismissal, you may have heard a student yelling loudly in the front corridor: “I give up. …
More Than Fishing: Filling Gaps, Building Belonging
Once upon a time, there was a young man who longed for one thing: to go fishing with his father. He talked about it often. He imagined the early mornings, the quiet conversations, the pride of reeling in his first catch. But the invitations never …
Help Students Find Their Voice
What are the things that you care about that you want to change? It’s a simple question. Yet it reveals something profound about how young people see the world. At iCan Dream Center, we believe that students grow when they are seen, heard, and invited …
Not Your Typical Workforce Initiative
When most people hear the words “workforce development,” they picture resumes, interviews, job coaching, and employment skills. And yes, we do all of those things. But sometimes the most important work we do has nothing to do with a resume at all. One of our …
Who Is Behind the Camera?
At first glance, this is a story about a student who picked up a camera. But it is really a story about belonging. The young man behind the lens is one of our favorites. Not because he is extraordinary in a way that sets him …