Iowa City-based Dream City uplifts fathers, students

The extent to which nonprofit Dream City impacts families in Iowa City may be difficult to wholly grasp right away, as the group serves many functions such as being a youth leadership academy, performing arts academy, an outlet for health and fitness, a place for academic tutoring and much more for the local community. For […]

The extent to which nonprofit Dream City impacts families in Iowa City may be difficult to wholly grasp right away, as the group serves many functions such as being a youth leadership academy, performing arts academy, an outlet for health and fitness, a place for academic tutoring and much more for the local community. For Fred Newell, Dream City’s founder and executive director since 2012, these programs tie back to the organization’s mission of seeing people take opportunities and find happiness in their lives. “When families come back and talk about the impact some of our services have had for them, that’s my favorite part of the work we do,” he said. At 611 Southgate Ave., Dream City has grown in size and influence compared to its beginnings, helping accommodate more than 85 kids. Since July alone, the nonprofit has served 32 fathers.

Building leaders and coaching dads

Dream City, formerly known as the Dream Center, began out of the response to a group of seven young Black men who were suspended from a neighborhood center in 2012. “I was doing some contract work for the Department of Human Services and my office was at this particular community center,” Mr. Newell explained. “I didn’t understand how a four-foot-four fifth-grader could be banned from that space, and what that type of message we were sending to young boys.” His work as community liaison for the Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County allowed him to interact more with community members and youth in the area, as well as notice more ways in which fathers could be supported. While there were programs already focused on mothers, he sought to pilot a program exclusively for fathers. “You hear about weekend dads, every-other-week dads, absentee dads, but through our program we teach you that no matter what, every decision you make impacts you and your children,” he said. “We offer mentorship and evidence-based curriculums in large and small groups and one-on-one meetings. During the pandemic, we launched a podcast to continue connecting [with fathers].” The curriculum is backed by the National Fatherhood Institute, a nonprofit organization promoting responsible fatherhood. Seeing these issues in his community, Mr. Newell felt he could provide a valuable service — guided programming and direction — to a group of people seeking just that. Both ideas, helping fathers and students, converged by 2013, when the organization received an influx of fundraising donations and community support. Dream City started a leadership academy and continued its fatherhood work. Dream City now consists of boys, girls and fathers – 95% of whom are people of color. “The No. 1  goal of our leadership academy is to have a space where young people can be themselves as well as push them to greatness,” he said, noting that leadership applies to life skills as well as academic accountability.

Performers welcome

From 2014-19, Dream City added a performing arts academy into the mix, which gives students an avenue to dance and perform spoken word. The performing arts academy, in addition to health and fitness components previously offered, was temporarily paused due to COVID-19, but the performing arts academy returned this year. Health and fitness programming is set to return in 2023. Students have performed in parades in Iowa and throughout the Midwest, and joined a drumline prior to the pandemic. All programming is free. The Dream City staff, consisting of Mr. Newell, a program coordinator and five part-time staff members, provides students with academic mentoring, college readiness and four-day summer programs. Students have also been exposed to intro to theater, improv and creative writing workshops. During the pandemic, Dream City created a lawn care business for high school students to make extra money while also fundraising for the nonprofit. Students mow and offer leaf and snow removal.

Mentors matter

Shevonna Norris is a youth program coordinator for Dream City, helping provide activities to students in fifth through 11th grade. 

A long-time Dream City advocate, having participated herself in dance through the nonprofit as a student, she joined the staff as a volunteer in 2016 and soon became a Junior Life Coach before heading off to college. Now, she is back in Iowa City, programming events for Dream City and hoping to make a difference once again. “Most youth desire a dependable person who shows consistency and has the ability to be transparent,” she said. “If it wasn’t for someone like Fred, who took the time to not only be a mentor but make a commitment to ensure my success, I don’t know where I’d be.” “Right now we are serving more high school students than middle school or elementary,” Mr. Newell said. “It’s a shift within our programming and it’s pretty cool to see that a lot of our older kids are willing to receive the type of services we offer.” He credits Ms. Norris’ ability to connect with students as a main factor in this shift. “She’s amazing when it comes to working with young people,” he said. “Her personality has brought a new wave of kids in, so high school students are becoming really connected to our programming.” Dream City students have a 97% graduation rate from high school, with many going off to college or entering the workforce as entrepreneurs. “In our first three years alone, we helped reconnect fathers with their children, and we helped fathers to work to get them out of the foster care system to where now they have custody of their children,” Mr. Newell said.