One of the Harlan teachers assigned that his students write how the Dreams for Kids workshops were affecting them. I�ve received a lot of positive feedback from them, but I was excited that through these papers, I could briefly get inside their heads. All the papers had a lot of moving comments about how the Dream Leaders program was affecting them, but the one that most stuck with me came from Ayla, an incredibly bright and thoughtful sophomore. With her permission, I invite you to read her words:

�Through Dreams for Kids, Abby is helping AVID students at Harlan act with courage, dignity, and gratitude, [and] empowering us to make immediate differences and serve as a resource for families, schools, and even the world community�I am very blessed to be healthy, and I know there are people who are less fortunate than me. With that being said, I have a passion for helping people and I know with the help of Dreams for Kids, I will become a better leader, public speaker, and helpful. To conclude, I am grateful for Abby. She came in to my fifth period class and just embraced us with open arms.�

What impacted me the most about her words was that out of all our interactions what was most significant to her was that I �embraced� them �with open arms.� Throughout my experiences working with different students, especially those from inner-cities, they have continually told me how much it hurts them that society looks at them so negatively. They are not na�ve to the fact that many people immediately label them as delinquent. It is always the pain buried deeply in their eyes as they recount suspicious and sometimes even fearful looks they receive from adults, particularly white ones, that is the hardest for me to witness.

When I was in Boston, people would often ask me what my �secret� was for connecting so easily with inner-city teenagers, as though it was some impossible divide that I discovered the magical vessel needed to cross. Well, I guess it�s time I uncover my mysterious secret. Ready? Come in closer.

It�s that I love those kids. I respect that their wisdom often surpasses my own. And most of all, I believe in them. I believe in them so strongly that I won�t stop until they believe in themselves. So, in the spirit, of Dream Leaders, I challenge all of us to open our arms.