In July, our Dreamers joined fellow "I Have A Dream" participants from across the nation at the 7th Annual National Dreamer Conference at the University of Georgia.

Nearly 100 middle- and high-school Dreamers participated in the four-day conference. Program staff facilitated age-specific workshops for the participants; older Dreamers discussed college admissions and leadership, and younger Dreamers learned about peer pressure and the transition to high school. Before returning home, the group had the opportunity to visit the King Center, a living memorial dedicated to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Eugene Lang, who launched the first "I Have A Dream" program nearly 30 years ago, addressed the Dreamers to inspire yet another generation of students to pursue a college education.

For some Dreamers, this trip was their first overnight stay away from home, and for others, it was their first opportunity to meet students from other "I Have A Dream" sites. But for all of the Dreamers, this experience was a significant steppingstone on their pathway to college success.