Center for Community Engagement
A643 Arkansas Union
Fayetteville, AR 72701-1201
479.575.4365
Dream B.I.G.
Dream B.I.G. (Believing in Girls) is a student-led girl empowerment mentoring initiative that serves 6th-grade to 12th-grade girls from the Marvell-Elaine School District of Phillips County in the Arkansas Delta. U of A students serve as mentors to engage with the high population of teenage girls living in conditions of poverty, abuse, neglect, high teenage pregnancy rates, high drop-out rates, and lack of motivation to pursue higher education.
Questions about Dream B.I.G. program can be sent to Amanda Finch, Program Coordinator, at acfinch@uark.edu.
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2013-2014 Calendar of Events
Assistant Coordinator Applications available online! Tuesday, September 3 due by Friday, September 20 at 4pm. Assistant Coordinators work with Student Coordinators in the fall in one of three areas: curriculum development, mentor training, and public relations/social media. In the spring, Assistant Coordinators serve as Dream B.I.G. Mentors at the spring break camp. The Assistant Coordinators are volunteer student leadership positions and require about an average of 4 office hours a week throughout the fall and spring semesters, excluding mentor training sessions and trips.
Dream B.I.G. Fall Break 2013 Reunion and Day of Service at MEHS: Saturday, October 19– Tuesday, October 22. Past Mentors and new Student Coordinators will travel to the Delta for a weekend of service and an opportunity to reconnect with last year’s Dream BIG mentees and engage in service in the Delta. Thanks to a grant from the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame Foundation, U of A and MEHS students will engage in the first ever Dream B.I.G. Day of Service to build an outdoor classroom on the MEHS campus.
Mentor Applications available online! Wednesday, October 30 due by Friday, November 15 at 4pm. Mentors are responsible for guiding small groups of mentees through the Dream B.I.G. spring break overnight camp and maintaining a mentoring relationship with their mentees for the following year. Camp programming addresses self-esteem, goal-setting, teamwork, pursuit of higher education, and motivation to succeed and overcome challenges. Mentors are volunteer student leadership positions that require a commitment of 1 office hour and a 3 hour training session once a week in the spring.
Dream B.I.G. Winter Break 2014: Thursday, January 9 – Friday, January 10: Student Coordinators and Mentors will travel to Marvel-Elaine High School in the Arkansas Delta to recruit camp participants and learn about specific issues facing the girls in school and in their community.
Dream B.I.G. Spring Break 2014: Saturday, March 22- Wednesday, March 26:
Student Coordinators and Mentors will conduct the spring break overnight camp for 45 6th-12th grade girls from the Marvell-Elaine School District at Mount Sequoyah in Fayetteville. Camp programming addresses self-esteem, goal-setting, team work, pursuit of higher education, and motivation to succeed and overcome challenges.
2014-2015 Student Coordinator Applications available online! Tuesday, April 1 due by Friday, April 11 at 4pm. Student Coordinators are responsible for creating and implementing the Dream B.I.G. spring break overnight camp. Camp programming addresses self-esteem, goal-setting, team work, pursuit of higher education, and motivation to succeed and overcome challenges. Dream B.I.G. Student Coordinators are paid positions with the Volunteer Action Center that require a commitment of 8 office weekly office hours in the fall and spring, and participation in all break trips and training sessions.
Dream B.I.G. Videos
2013 Project Dream B.I.G. Fashion Show
2011 Dream B.I.G. Documentary Part 1
2011 Dream B.I.G. Documentary Part 2
Press
Dream B.I.G 2013 Makes a Big Impact
Camping with Teen Girls: Dreams and Nightmares
Huff Post Article by Zondra Hughes, Six Brown Chicks CEO
Spotlight Series: Arkansas students teach girls to ‘Dream B.I.G.’
USA TODAY College
Six Brown Chicks Blogs
Outcomes of road trip to Dream B.I.G