Opening Ceremony with Berkeley Model United Nations

About six months ago, City of Dreams was selected out of a pool of Bay Area nonprofits to be spotlighted at the 美国加州大学伯克利分校 Model United Nations Conferences.? Two weeks ago, we attended BMUN’s opening ceremony where more than 2,000 high school students from across the nation attended workshops discussing international issues through UN simulations.? They chose City of Dreams to honor this year’s conference theme: “The importance of education in marginalized communities.”? The Nonprofit Spotlight serves to amplify the work of the selected organization and expose these students to the change-makers in their communities.

Our partnership allowed us to showcase our work in front of BMUN’s international attendees.? Out of the 3 conferences, Jaraé, our Executive Director, told our story at the opening and closing ceremonies.??

Here is a snippet of her speech:?

“The City of Dreams center is one of the few safe places for all of the kids in the community. It is one of the only places where no matter where your parents are, what your family circumstances are, or what is happening outside in the world, you are safe with a team of staff and volunteers who are resources for emotional and educational wellness. A classroom with chairs and desks is the lowest standard of education. Education occurs when students feel safe, it happens when they feel seen.”

Representatives from BMUN visited our two sites earlier this year and had the opportunity to see the safe community we built within its unsafe surroundings.? Through this partnership, we hope to assist in the comprehension of realities like ours.? We are categorized as a marginalized community because of intense, unjust obstacles boxing us in.? To an intellectual group of advocate students like BMUN, we hope to have inserted our struggle into their field of focus.??

With their generous efforts, partnership tote bags sold at the conference along with their fundraising efforts raising over $3,000, all proceeds going to City of Dreams! Tote bags can be bought here.

We are so grateful to have been chosen for this special opportunity with this organization of scholars in pursuit of a better world.? Thank you to the young professionals that gave us a voice in a critical space.??

"Although there are many aspects of a community that can propel its members, it's education that remains a foundational element.”?

Jaraé Clark, BMUN Conference 2022