Wall of dreams

Dream Big Speak Out has launched and is ready for the New Year! For the second installment of the program, the Garden of Dreams Foundation and the New York Knicks look to impact the lives of younger generations. Dream Big Speak Out is a program created by the New York Knicks, Garden of Dreams and Urban Word NYC, designed to inspire students to engage and reflect on the African American experience as well as how Black History inspires our everyday lives. Over the course of eight weeks, 16 teens from Garden of Dreams partner organization SCO Family of Services will meet weekly at the Urban Word offices. They will explore history, poetry, music and popular culture to cultivate their powerful youth voices which will culminate in live performances at The Dream Big Speak Out Open Mic Event at the end of February.

 On January 14, teens from SCO Family of Services  met for their first session of this year’s program and were ready to begin to turn their dreams into a reality. Joined by New York Knicks player Lance Thomas, the teens were introduced to the program and openly analyzed the meaning and craft of poetry. Thomas shared with the teens how he expresses himself- through drawing- and challenged them to find their own method of expression. Quickly into the session, it was clear that the teens were ecstatic and happy to be part of the program and to start something new.

The teens learned that they will have the opportunity to create a script, song/poetry and performance piece that expresses something that they would like to overcome. It will also provide a learning experience where the teens will discuss and identify several literary terms, including rhyme, rhythm, alliteration, form, free verse, stream of consciousness, lyricism, and imagery.

Garden of Dreams, the New York Knicks, Urban Word NYC, and SCO Family of Service all look forward to a wonderful semester with the teens!