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StoryCelebrate 10 Years of Identify Your Dream!
For a decade, Identify Your Dream (IDYD) has stood in the gap for children, youth, and families in Pontiac impacted by violence, grief, and trauma. What started in 2015 as one sister’s response to unimaginable loss has grown into a movement of healing, empowerment, and transformation.
Our Mission
IDYD exists to raise consciousness of the effects of trauma on our community—particularly children and youth—while providing pathways of healing, resilience, and hope. We support survivors of violence, equip young leaders with tools to dream beyond their pain, and create safe spaces where grief is transformed into growth.
Our Vision
We envision a world where no child feels alone in their grief, where youth know their voices matter, and where families impacted by violence are surrounded by love, resources, and community.
What We’ve Accomplished in 10 Years
Over the past decade, your support has allowed us to:
Support hundreds of children and youth through our Dreamers Mentoring Program, guiding ages 4–18 (and now young adults through Dreamers Beyond) in healing, leadership, and personal growth.
Host signature community events like the Annual Stomp Out Violence March & Rally and the Sweet Dreams Toy Giveaway, uniting thousands of residents in hope and solidarity.
Bring trauma awareness to schools and systems, including our “Trauma in the Classroom” conference at Oakland University, equipping educators to recognize and respond to grief in students.
Launch grief and healing initiatives such as the iSurvived Series, Conversations with Survivors, and Rise Aboveprograms, helping survivors process pain in safe, supportive environments.
Build partnerships with schools, churches, grassroots leaders, and organizations across Pontiac and Michigan, ensuring sustainable impact and stronger networks of care.
Expand programming in 2024 and beyond to include trauma recovery, health equity, restorative justice, and mentoring programs in Pontiac schools.
Each of these accomplishments reflects the same heartbeat: turning pain into purpose, and loss into leadership.
Why We Need You Now
As we celebrate 10 years of healing and hope, we’re looking to the future. With your gift, IDYD will:
Expand trauma-informed mentoring into all Pontiac schools.
Provide grief relief kits, safe spaces, and healing circles for children experiencing loss.
Train the next generation of community leaders to advocate for change.
Sustain our outreach events that remind families they are never alone.
Your donation doesn’t just support a program—it changes the trajectory of a child’s life.
Join Us in the Next Chapter
This milestone Gala isn’t just about looking back—it’s about building the next decade of impact. With your generosity, we can ensure that every child in Pontiac touched by violence or trauma has a safe place to heal, dream, and thrive.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Pontiac Transportation Museum, 250 W. Pike St.,Pontiac, Michigan, United States
