February 27, 2008 - Boulder, Colorado - Board members and employees of the "I Have a Dream" Foundation of Boulder County and Boulder Housing Partners, held a Ground-Breaking Ceremony on Thursday, February 21st in Boulder for a new community center which will house after-school programming for children in the "I Have a Dream" program. Several "I Have a Dream" students also attended the ceremony. The new community center is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2008, and will allow "I Have a Dream" to expand its programming to low-income children living at the housing site.

"I Have a Dream" is a school drop-out prevention program for disadvantaged youth, and uses academic support programs, long-term mentoring relationships and the guarantee of a tuition-assistance scholarship to help children achieve their college and career dreams.

"This new community center is very important for the Dreamers' academic success,"” said Lori Canova, "I Have a Dream" Foundation of Boulder County CEO. "Along with the 15 new computers, which will be donated by IBM’s Teaming for Technology Program for a new computer lab, the center will ensure our program will continue to have an impact on low-income children in Boulder County both now and in the future."

The new community center is located at Broadway East apartments, a newly redeveloped affordable housing neighborhood managed by Boulder Housing Partners. Boulder Housing Partners is the housing authority serving the city of Boulder whose mission is to provide quality, affordable housing that incorporates a strong sense of community strength and spirit that supports resident efforts to realize success in their lives.

More than 50 people attended the Ground-Breaking Event, including sponsors of the new "I Have a Dream" class which will be launched this spring. The new class will be made up of 50 third through fifth graders living at the Broadway housing site.

"Boulder Housing Partners and its funding partners are pleased to invest in this comprehensive partnership with "I Have a Dream" by providing the community center needed to offer mentoring and educational support to the families living at the new Broadway site" said Betsey Martens. "It is truly a remarkable opportunity for our families to have supportive and academics services right in their backyard. We thank the local "I Have a Dream" sponsors for their ongoing support of "I Have a Dream" and for funding the future scholarships earned by the children in this community."