Dreams were amplified in Orlando, FL at the 2022 Disney Dreamers Academy at the Walt Disney World Resort.
The academy, created in 2008 and hosted by Disney, is a once-in-a-lifetime mentorship and career development program that hosts 100 Black high school students and teens each year that inspires them to think big and pursue their dreams.
The four-day event began on March 3 with a parade down Main Street at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. Grammy-award-winning artist, Kelly Rowland, was the program’s celebrity ambassador.
The students were split up into five inspirational groups for the weekend; Team Truth, Team Soul, Team Purpose, Team Heart, and Team Pride. Each group enabled a bonding experience and was led by a Dreamers alumni.
“There’s a change engine inside you, but most of all there is a dreamer inside you,” Dreamers class of 2014 alum, Princeton Parker, told the kids during their Welcome Rally on Thursday night. “And you will learn how to take the power within and use it to change the world on the outside of you and that my friends is what we call around here being 100.”
Also that night, gospel artist Kierra Sheard blessed the crowd with an uplifting, spiritual performance of her song, “It Keeps Happening.”
Mickey also did an HBCU-drumline inspired performance, officially kicking off the event with confetti.
There’s a change engine inside you, but most of all there is a dreamer inside you.
The following day, the teens participated in hands-on, interactive workshops, known as Deep Dives. The workshops explored a variety of career paths that aligned with the students’ interests such as journalism, law, graphic design, entrepreneurship, filmmaking, animation, and music, as well as career opportunities in the company.
Many of the workshop teachers were Dreamers alum and current Disney employees, who are called cast members.
“I’m a Disney dreamer, turned Disney cast member,” Dreamers alum April Breedlove shared with the media during a press conference. Breedlove is a junior at Kennesaw State University pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science. She attended the Dreamers academy in 2019 and will intern with the company as a Software Engineer this summer.
“Seeing the people in charge and seeing that ‘wow they’re combining their passions for technology, their passions for coding and their passions for Disney into one thing, I did not know that was possible,” Breedlove said.
The KSU honors student also talked about the diversity and the impact of seeing so many Black executives and leaders working within the company.
“Seeing also a Black woman in charge of that team, who was leading everyone. I was like ‘wow I could see myself in that position, I could see myself doing that one day,” she said.
The ultimate highlights
The four-day event ended with a breakfast and commencement ceremony that included an inspiring performance by Mali Music and step and dance performances by Disney cast members.
During her commencement speech, Rowland shared her personal growth experiences as a teenage performer in Destiny’s Child and encouraged kids the sky is the limit. And despite the troubling worldview, there is no perfect time than now than to dream and that current events do not dictate your purpose.
“Right now, there is no more important time to be a dreamer, more specifically a Disney dreamer,” the R&B superstar said. “You might hear about the state of the world from your parents, TV screens, online, friends and I’m sorry.” She continued, “But I know whatever you’re hearing is not too motivating. It doesn’t inspire you. It might make you feel a sense of hopelessness, helplessness, especially when you see scenes of war on your scenes,” referring to the current crisis between Ukraine and Russia. “But you’re not either of those things.”
Rowland added, “If you are being honest with yourself about who you are and living unapologetically, authentically as the best version of yourself, you can discover all of the possibilities that lie ahead. Dreams without goals are just dreams.”
Dreams without goals are just dreams.
Other celebrity guests included fashion designer Kerby Jean-Raymond, King Richard actress, Demi Singleton, and This Is Us actress, Faithe Herman.
Also announced during the ceremony was Disney’s newest initiative with historically Black colleges and universities. This year Disney partnered with ESPN’s The Undefeated and GRAMMY-nominated rap artist Cordae. Through the partnership, they awarded college scholarships to 11 students who are attending HBCUs.
But the ultimate highlight was the powerful, emotional moment when the Dreamers became alumni. Parents gifted their kids with their Dreamers rings. They were encouraged to express words of love and support to their dreamers, which was accepted in tears and long hugs.
“A ring symbolizes relationship,” said Tracey D. Powell, the executive champion of the Dreamers event, as the rings were presented, “and that’s why it’s unbroken. So, dreamers, in your own way, thank you, parents.”
The Disney Dreamers Academy is an annual event at Walt Disney World. Each parent/guardian and teen received an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney World Resort, plus year-around mentorship.
