Longmont will be partnering with a longtime foundation to help provide equitable access to education and success for children in the community.
On Tuesday, representatives from the I Have A Dream Foundation of Boulder County presented to Longmont City Council. This year, the Longmont Children, Youth and Families division will become a cohort partner with the foundation.
Perla Delgado, CEO and executive director of the nonprofit, explained the group’s vision to provide children with equitable access to the educational and career opportunities by providing free guidance to cohorts typically from first grade through high school graduation or even their first job.
There are currently more than 440 students and their families currently enrolled with the I Have A Dream Foundation across the Boulder, Lafayette, Longmont and Frederick areas. The foundation has 11 active Dreamer Scholar Classes in the Boulder Valley and St. Vrain Valley school districts.
In 2022, 95% of their Dreamer Scholars graduated in 2022 and 62% were enrolled in a post secondary program this school year. A quarter of scholars worked throughout this school year and 83% are first generation students.
The foundation will launch the next class of 45 first graders through the partnership with Longmont Youth Services. The only qualifier for students to opt into the program is that they are eligible for free or reduced lunch.
With over 14,600 children in Boulder County qualifying for those programs, Delgado said there was plenty of more work to do to help more students succeed.
