Conclusion to the September Series.

WE DID IT! We have made it through the first series of Dream Outside the Box! The September series, The Language of Learning, allowed the children at the Boys and Girls Club of Columbia to learn new activities and broaden their vernacular by learning new languages. To end the series, the children learned all about the competitive sport of fencing, while incorporating the Spanish language into the skill. They were visited by Center Stage, a dance group from the University of Missouri, to learn new dance moves. They were even visited by Mizzou Forte, a co-ed a cappella singing group from MU. The children also got to meet the men of the Columbia College Cougars basketball team to discuss their dreams and goals. It was so successful, and we would like to thank all of the organizations and volunteers that made this possible. Special thanks to the Boys and Girls Club of Columbia for allowing us to show these children what else is possible. Until the next series....

"The dream was always running ahead of me. To catch up, to live for a moment in unison with it, that was the miracle." --Anais Nin.

DOTB Press: The Maneater

Dream Outside the Box is featured in the Friday, September 25th issue of MOVE. This is the 13th page of the Maneater and we couldn't be more thrilled. It can also be viewed online.

CALENDAR UPDATE

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Day 4: Karate

Iti! Ni! San!!! To wrap up week two, the children were taught karate and how to incorporate the sport with Japanese. The Sho-Rei-Shobu-Kan Karate Club taught the students Okinawan Goju Karate. The sport of karate is all about defending oneself. The children learned basic karate moves and learned what to do in dangerous situations from bullying on the playground to encounters with strangers. The week was fun and physically educational. In week three, the children will learn Italian and have special presentations by the Swing Society.

Day Four: Karate

Iti! Ni! San!!! To wrap up week two, the children were taught karate and how to incorporate the sport with Japanese. The Sho-Rei-Shobu-Kan Karate Club taught the students Okinawan Goju Karate. The sport of karate is all about defending oneself. The children learned basic karate moves and learned what to do in dangerous situations from bullying on the playground to encounters with strangers. The week was fun and physically educational. In week three, the children will learn Italian and have special presentations by the Swing Society.

Day 3: Lacrosse

The series continued in week two with the Mizzou Lacrosse Team. The MU Lax team (brought to us by captain Zach Graves) graciously arrived straight from a hard practice to the Boys and Girls Club where they brought approximately twenty-five members, their coach and even, practice pinnies, water bottles and lanyards with the Mizzou Lacrosse logo for the children.  The children learned about the history and rules of lacrosse, how to play and were then able to cheer on the MU team as they passed and then take a turn at it themselves. The children who were the best behaved and remembered the most Spanish (the language of the week) were then able to participate in a short contest- of which, the winners received the aforementioned pinnies (reversible practice jerseys). One thing of note, was the location in which we held this presentation. The kids, the DOTB volunteers and the Lacrosse team all walked to the nearby elementary school's field. The kids were excited to be there as they are used to playing football here regularly. One child even asked, "Can we play football when we're done with this?" But as the time went on and the kids blocked, shot, and passed like true lax ladies and gentlemen, no word of "foot" or "ball" was uttered. Only "gracias" to our phenomenal presenters. Job well done. 

Latest Calendar Update

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Day Two: Le Cheval and Chevre

Our first week was a complete success!!!  To wrap it up was a fun day full of horse wrangling, goat petting, and goat milk!  The children learned about different agricultural careers and activities.  They were taught about farm animals and even had the chance to pet goats and a horse.  More French words were incorporated into these lessons to further broaden their multilingual vocabulary.  Next week will include athletics and the Chinese language.

DOTB Day 1: French and La Glace (Ice Cream)

Below are a few pictures from the first ever day of presentations for Dream Outside the Box. The children were introduced to the french language and were required to turn in a worksheet regarding what they want to be when they grow up in order to participate in making homemade ice cream. Little did they know, this fun activity was a segway into Thursday's presentations on agriculture and agriculture related careers. Don't you see a future food scientist below?

Click to Enlarge Our Tentative Schedule

First Meeting of the Semester

The first meeting of the semester is here!!!!! 

It will be held Thursday, August 27, 2009 in Memorial Union South Room 304 from 5:30 to 6: 30 p.m.  We will be discussing the September series and how each committee can help!  Attendance is very important because we have so much to share with all of you. 

If there are any questions, contact Kam Phillips at kamphillips@dreamoutsidethebox.org or at (817)-726-0535.

Isn't she something?

President Obama Urges Children to [essentially] "Dream Outside the Box"

The Language of Learning Beginning September 1st.

Fall is almost here!!! As the new school year approaches, we must gather our plans for September and November. Each month will have its own special series and its own special overarching theme. The September series will focus on languages. This will consist of presenting the children with a broad spectrum of languages, displaying diversity from throughout the world and accomodating them into different activities. The weekly activities also have specific themes, for example, animals (horses, cows, etc.), alternative athletics (lacrosse, cycling, etc.), and the arts (photography, dance, etc.). Any questions regarding the September series, contact Kam Phillips at 817-726-0535.

DOTB proudly welcomes...

Nzingha Prescod
Nzingha is a fencing phenom, whom DOTB is delighted to announce as the premier icon for the breaking of boudaries and shaking of stigmas. According to the Stuyvesant Spectator, Nzingha is currently ranked first in the national women’s cadet group (for fencers 17 years or younger), the junior category (20 years or younger) and the senior group (all ages). Last year she narrowly missed qualifying for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, partly, she said, because some key competitions interfered with school. Nzingha is on the track to competing in the 2012 Olympics.

Nzingha will serve for DOTB as an ambassador for change. DOTB intends to utilize the phenomenal achievements that Prescod has accomplished as a "eye-opener" to children of color that they too can do what their hearts desire. Most importantly, that fencing is something that they too can participate in.

Dream Outside the Box is proud to welcome Nzingha Prescod.

Monday Meeting Minutes

The Arts Committee met on Monday, May 11 to discuss the September series and the art incorporation that will take place. The series will consist of the exposure to endeavors in conjunction art lesson, activities and interaction each week. The children will develop an art portfolio and pieces from their respective portfolios will be chosen to be auctioned off at Dream Outside the Box's first fundraiser (the location and date is to be determined).

The purpose of the art auction is to raise awareness and funding for Dream Outside the Box's mentorship programs. Equally important is the opportunity to allow the children to have the experience of presenting a piece with pride and grace and articulate to potential philanthropist their feelings about their piece and experiences with Dream Outside the Box.

Meeting on Monday

The expanded arts committee will be meeting on Monday the 11th at 3 p.m at the Starbucks on Ninth Street. The meeting will discuss the upcoming series and it's tie-in to the first Dream Outside the Box fundraiser; what is projected to be an art auction at Pickard Hall. Any questions regarding the meeting on Monday can be directed to Kam Phillips at 817-726-0535.

Overview

Dream Outside the Box is an organization that would bring fairs and programs to schools and after-school programs in order to expose minority children to new and exciting endeavors such as fencing, sailing and rodeo and after a series of presentations give children to option to be paired with a mentor in one of the introduced fields in order to foster a lasting relationship and individual development in that area. Dream Outside the Box hopes to actively work to challenge the stigma among minorities and underprivileged children that they must go the stereotypical path like rapping or playing a “minority approved” sport such as football to break out of their situation. More so, that the typical activities are the only ones deemed acceptable in this community. Dream Outside the Box is meant to serve as a program to break stereotypes, broaden horizons, and instill in young people of color a self-image of themselves that will strengthen their resolve to realize their dreams.