Saturday, November 17, 2012

"I Have A Dream" Oregon - Connect The Dots



Learn more at www.ihaveadreamoregon.org and stay up-to-date at www.facebook.com/ihaveadreamoregon. "I Have a Dream" Oregon is connecting the dots and creating real change for low-income Dreamers... you can, too.

Connect The Dots Script:

Last year, in Oregon alone,
More than 10,000 children were BORN POOR.
That number grows EVERY year.

By Kindergarten, a child born into poverty will be
a full YEAR AND A HALF behind her HIGHER INCOME friends.

He will be 4 times LESS likely to graduate from high school than they will be.
If he DOES graduate from high school, he probably won't head straight to college.
Less than 20 percent of low income students do.

There is only a 50/50 chance she will enroll in college. EVER.
And if she DOES get to college,
She is 10 times LESS likely to graduate.

And if he DOESN'T graduate,
he is THREE times more likely
to LIVE IN POVERTY
and EIGHT times more likely
to use PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.

For every high-school graduate who completes college, society saves between $32,600
and $108,700 over their lifetime.
For every person who goes to jail, society pays $34,000 a YEAR.

KNOW THIS:
The low income population is growing
TEN TIMES FASTER
than the high income population.

WITHOUT RESOURCES, these kids
DO NOT ACHIEVE what they could.
WILL NOT CONTRIBUTE what they want to.
CANNOT COMPETE with their privileged peers.

And they are LEGION.

WHAT IF?
What if we gave low income kids A HIGH INCOME SHOT?
What if we reached thousands of them EVERY YEAR?
What if it only cost $2,000 per year per kid?
What if every dollar MOVED THE NEEDLE?
What if we make that happen TODAY?

I have a dream.
A hope for the future.
A plan for today.

LISTEN:
It is possible
to make a profound difference
in every life we touch.

More than possible.
Proven.

We KNOW
we can raise the graduation rate
of an entire class
of our least privileged children
from 40 percent
to 90 percent.

That is what we are known for.

But our vision is bigger than that.
Stronger than that.

We can raise the graduation rates
of entire schools,
raise the quality of life
for whole communities,
enroll kids in college that
HAVE NEVER EVEN CROSSED A BRIDGE.

How?

By leveraging existing resources.

By adding minimum dollars
To achieve maximum results.

Our role is this:
Give kids the tools to achieve
by mobilizing PARTNERS at every level.

Mentors, Tutors, Inspirers
Art, Math, Language, Music
and sometimes, even FOOD and shelter.
If the kids need it,
WE BRING IT.

Our model is this:
Strategic.
Replicable.
Sustainable.

We mean it when we tell the kids:
"High Expectations.
No Excuses."

We expect nothing less
of ourselves.
And they expect the world of us.
It's their dream.

WAKE UP ... It's time to connect the dots.

If we don't make it happen, WHO WILL?


CREDITS

Creative Agency: 
Zoom Creates

Additional Contributors: 
Scott Taylor
Jessica Swanson
Daniel Koss