Evolving learning alongside community and culture.

DREAMS+DUCATS is an education nonprofit that empowers youth, educators, and creative entrepreneurs to think different, inspire change, and achieve more.

We exist to expand human potential by creating spaces and experiences where learning is synonymous with community, culture, and purpose-driven action.

Four women walking arm-in-arm outdoors, smiling, in a park-like setting with trees and plants.

Our Focus


Expanding Youth Opportunity

We’re focused on shaping a future where every young person has access to education, learning, and growth opportunities - no matter where they’re at or where they come from.

Three young men standing close together, with arms around each other, inside a modern space with plants and furniture in the background.

Advancing Career Education

We’re committed to accelerating Career and Technical Education (CTE) so that youth and educators are equipped with the skills they need to live well and be great.

Four young women and one young man standing behind a table displaying tote bags with colorful designs, in front of a large mural of a tiger's face and tropical leaves.

Strengthening Creative Communities

We’re dedicated to empowering artists and strengthening creative communities by cultivating ecosystems of learning and support where innovation and entrepreneurship flourish.

A young man wearing a white bandana, black t-shirt, and blue jeans posing outdoors with a peace sign next to a clothing rack with green polo shirts.

Our work is designed at the intersection of K-12 education and creative economic development where cutting edge programs and solutions boost community health and prepare young people for life and success beyond academics.

Programs


Alt-Futures

Our creative workforce development program that equips young people ages 16-24 with industry training and technical education related to careers and entrepreneurship in branding and design.

A woman with curly hair, orange sunglasses, purple headwrap, gold jewelry, and colorful clothing sitting on stairs in a casual, vibrant setting.

GATHER+GROW

Our professional learning program designed to strengthen creative communities by helping artists and creators grow their mission to innovate, enrich, and inspire through special trainings and events.

Two women are talking inside a bookstore or cafe. One has long wavy hair, wears a black leather jacket and gold jewelry, and is holding a phone. The other has short curly hair with blue and green colors.

Journey To Impact

Our social justice and civic education program that amplifies the voices of young people ages 16-24 to share solutions, spread ideas, and advocate for the issues that matter most to them today.

Young man with glasses and short dark hair speaking into a microphone, wearing a cream-colored sweatshirt and gold necklaces, with green plants and colorful abstract background behind him.

Solutions


Educational Consulting

We partner with schools and educators to provide expert advice and strategic insights that help them enhance their CTE programs and reimagine the way young people learn.

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Professional Development

We work with organizational leaders to deliver learning and enrichment experiences that help them build capacity to lead deeper, more meaningful impact on youth and communities.

A diverse group of people attending a presentation in a conference room, with a woman speaking to a man in front of a large screen displaying the text 'Leading From WITH'.

What We Offer

Content and Curriculum

From financial literacy to civic education and creative entrepreneurship, we offer integrated content that’s most relevant to youth today.

A wooden table with colorful round tokens with numbers, a stack of blue sticky notes, a stack of papers titled 'DREAM,' a small container with stickers, a potted plant, and some scattered papers and objects.

Digital Resources and Tools

We curate tools and resources that support flexible, on-demand learning experiences for youth, educators, and entrepreneurs.

Clear table with yellow booklets titled 'Community' on top, positioned on a patterned rug in a room with wooden furniture.

Models and Frameworks

Our innovative program models and frameworks provide a fresh approach for driving deeper impact and youth success.

Three people sitting at a table discussing documents, with notes and pens, in a room decorated with colorful flowers.
Empty stage with a large yellow screen displaying 'DREAMS+DUCATS' logo, surrounded by chairs, plants, and stage equipment in a theater or auditorium.

Events and Experiences

We produce immersive events and experiences that bring learning to life and inspire new ideas for change and purpose.

Our Impact

2017

Year Founded

10K

Community Members Served ITD

22

Community Partners

1K

Program Hours Delivered ITD

“DREAMS+DUCATS has transformed the way we approach career education".”

- Paula Ann Trevino, Principal, Helix Charter High School

Featured Partners

Prebys Foundation logo with stylized green leaves and a swirling blue water design.

FUTURE IS COLOR®

Illustration of the County of San Diego logo with a coastal scene, a seagull, and a building.
SD logo with overlapping blue, yellow, and teal leaves
Helix logo in stylized green script with a curved underline.

Let’s start dreaming.

Latest

DREAMS+DUCATS awarded Equity Impact Grant by Office of Equity and Racial Justice. Read more >

DREAMS+DUCATS awarded Healing Through The Arts grant by The Conrad Prebys Foundation. Read more >

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