DREAM Charter School views collaboration with other educational organizations as an opportunity to connect its participants to the best possible services and build a community among agencies working within East Harlem and New York City. To achieve these goals, DREAM has formal partnerships with:

Harlem RBI
Adelphi University
Center for Education Innovation- Public Education Association
FreeArts NYC
Goldmansour and Rutherford
The Inner Resilience Program
LitLife
National Dance Institute
New York City Charter Center

Harlem RBI

Harlem RBI (www.harlemrbi.org) serves as fiscal sponsor to DREAM Charter School and brings the expertise of its Board, Fund Development, Finance and Operations team to bear on the school’s needs. The Director of Operations works closely with Harlem RBI and provides information about Harlem RBI’s performance to the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees.

Harlem RBI plays a central role in building DREAM's fund development capacity. Harlem RBI has an extensive fund development infrastructure with staff dedicated to fundraising from public and private sources for both programmatic and capital projects. Evidence of Harlem RBI’s capacity and expertise in this area is supported by a long track record of success, as the organization has increased fundraising revenues for 11 consecutive years.

The partnership between DREAM Charter School and Harlem RBI is a powerful one for the East Harlem community. The shared belief in a comprehensive approach to youth development will help youth build the skills and confidence needed to break the cycle of poverty. Once a child enrolls at DREAM, they will be a part of a safe, supportive and engaging environment until they graduate from high school and matriculate to college.

Adelphi University Department of Health Studies, Physical Education & Human Performance Science

Adelphi University's Department of Health Studies, Physical Education and Human Performance Sciences (http://education.adelphi.edu/hpe/index.php) prepares professionals to be pro-active in improving the quality of life for individuals across the age spectrum. The partnership with DREAM is focused on implementing an effective Health and Wellness curriculum relating to wellness, physical activity, nutrition, stress reduction, and personal living skills. Specifically, Adelphi and DREAM will share expertise through the services of Dr. Jean Harris who will continue to serve as an Assistant Professor at the University while simultaneously serving as the founding Director of Health and Wellness for DREAM.

Center for Educational Innovation-Public Education Association

The Center for Educational Innovation – Public Education Association (CEI-PEA www.cei-pea.org) is a New York City-based nonprofit organization that creates successful public schools and educational programs. CEI-PEA’s staff of experienced leaders in public education will provide DREAM continued hands-on support to improve the skills of our teachers and school leaders, increase parent involvement, and channel cultural and academic intervention programs into the school. The benefits of this hands-on support are multiplied as DREAM gains access to a network of more than 220 public schools in New York and other major urban school systems across the country and around the world supported by CEI-PEA.

FreeArts NYC

FreeArts NYC provides a weekly arts educational program for DREAM’s first graders as well as art mentors to our students as they work in small groups throughout the school year. FreeArts NYC also provides a “FreeArts Day” to all DREAM families. FreeArts NYC has a unique combination of educational arts and mentoring programs that help children to foster the self-confidence and resiliency needed to realize their fullest potential.

Goldmansour and Rutherford

The team of Goldmansour & Rutherford specializes in working with elementary, middle schools and high schools that are developing inclusive programs for today’s balanced literacy classrooms. Together with DREAM we will help identify, plan and provide professional development opportunities that help build classrooms where students of all abilities are functioning to their highest potential. Contact goldmansour@earthlink.net for more information.

The Inner Resilience Program

The Inner Resilience Program (formerly Project Renewal, www.innerresilience-tidescenter.org) was established in February 2002 in response to the effects that the events of September 11, 2001 had on New York City school staff and parents. Over the past six years, under the leadership of Linda Lantieri, we have discovered that ongoing restorative work is essential to a thriving school community. The Inner Resilience Program and DREAM partnership will work to create a comprehensive school-wide approach that includes: professional development and wellness activities for educators; psycho-educational workshops for parents; and a resilience-building curriculum for students.

LitLife

LitLife (www.litlifeinfo.com)and DREAM Charter School are working together to pioneer new ideas in the teaching of reading and writing. LitLife embraces DREAM's belief that integrating the teaching of reading and writing through joyous, thoughtful teaching will create future generations of avid and curious learners. Working collaboratively, we are looking at ways to create powerful structures and motivations for the healthy growth and success of both organizations.

National Dance Institute

National Dance Institute (NDI) is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1976 by New York City Ballet principal dancer Jacques d'Amboise in the belief that the arts have a unique power to engage children and motivate them toward excellence. NDI brings an inclusive, full-year program of dance integrated with music and the visual arts to all DREAM students. Each week, NDI¹s professional teaching artists lead our students in developing and demonstrating excellence as both individual performers and members of an ensemble inspiring in all children a love of the arts, a pride of achievement and a curiosity about the world. Our partnership with NDI is vital to DREAM¹s goal to prioritize the health and wellness of our students.

New York City Charter Center

The New York City Charter Center (www.nycchartercenter.org) has provided invaluable support to DREAM’s leadership and planning team as we endeavored through the development and approval process of our school. We are thankful for startup, technical assistance, information sharing and fundraising grants provided by the NYCCC. We look forward to our continued work together as new hurdles of school management and quality educational programming are encountered.