"Growing up as part of the 'I Have A Dream' Foundation allowed me to better understand what the world is, and imagine what the world could be."
—Saúl Tapia Vega
Great communities cultivate their leaders. And at "I Have A Dream" Foundation of Boulder County, we get to do that work—every day, for every Dreamer Scholar, from first grade to first job.
On October 1, a ballroom full of people at the Omni Interlocken celebrated Dreamers. Scholars. Leaders. IHDF Executive Director and CEO Dr. Perla Delgado said it best:
"For 36 years, we have had the privilege of walking alongside Dreamer Scholars as they discover their strengths, pursue their dreams, and build pathways to their futures."
Dreamers.
It begins with a second grader and a big idea. Ask our Altitude Class at Escuela Bilingüe Pioneer Elementary what they will be, and they'll tell you: teachers, nurses, doctors, lawyers—and quite a few professional soccer stars! When Mayor Saúl Tapia Vega visited the class, he saw something familiar. "A lot of little Sauls," he told the room. "A lot of shy, curious students that have so much potential."
Scholars.
Dreamer Scholars do the hard work of becoming scholars. Saúl described the power of that, saying that students are given "the confidence to pursue a postsecondary education" and "to believe that our ideas are truly worth sharing." The Class of 2026 graduated at a rate of 98%. Last year, 265 scholarships sent students to 25 institutions across the country, on four-year, two-year, trade, and certificate pathways.
Leaders.
They come full circle. Ana Robles, a Dreamer Scholar alumna, now teaches Dreamer Scholars in her own classroom. Carlos Lerma, another alumnus, introduces young people to the outdoors and teaches leadership skills.
And Saúl—the first in his family to graduate from college—now serves as Mayor of Lafayette. From elementary school to City Hall, this is what it looks like when a community believes in young people for the long term. Saúl is already looking ahead.
"I can't be mayor forever," he said with a smile. "My hope is that great leaders emerge and come after me." Those future leaders, he told the crowd, are "the Dreamers of today."
Hear Ana, Carlos, and Saúl share their stories, alongside current Dreamer Scholars, in the Luncheon video, Dreamers. Scholars. Leaders.
"Look around the room," Perla said. "These are the people who are making it happen." Volunteers who gave more than 5,000 hours. Families who helped our Advancing Families Program grow by more than 300% in a single year. Sponsors, partners, and donors who said “yes.”
And Saúl named a crucial factor in all of it:
"The ongoing commitment from supporters like you is what will allow the next generation of leaders to grow."
—Saúl Tapia Vega, Mayor of Lafayette and Dreamer Scholar alumnus
That is you.
The Altitude Class in Lafayette is already dreaming, and your gift helps build the leaders they are becoming. Gifts of $250 or more to "I Have A Dream" Foundation qualify for the Colorado Child Care Contribution Credit.
