Operation DREAM is a youth mentoring program designed for young males, ages 4 - 19 located in the city of Milwaukee.
OPERATION DREAM is a mentoring program designed to give young males, ages 4-18, the support and guidance they need to become responsible individuals.
Founded in 2006, Operation Dream builds leadership, academic, and social skills among at-risk youth through an innovative peer-mentoring program that fosters growth and development. We serve primarily boys whose environment puts them at particular risk and for whom existing organizations are out of reach. Our staff instills discipline, promotes education, and engages children in the possibilities of the future.
Operating as usual
A belated Happy Thanksgiving to all our friends, family and supporters. We hope all were able to enjoy a safe and fun holiday with all of their loved ones. From all of our staff, we are thankful for the opportunity to serve the young men in our communities. Without your support, our work could not be possible.
Just a friendly reminder to make sure you vote today! Your vote matters. Your voice matters!
Operation DREAM is excited to present you the newest member of our staff, Vincent Wallace! Vincent will be a part of Operation Work as a Member Support Coach or simply put, a mentor. Vincent has an education oriented background, with 8 years of experience under his belt. Fun fact: Vincent is also a VERY talented and successful musician with some of his recent appearances being at Brady Street Festival, Chill on the Hill and Summerfest! We are excited to be able to have such an amazing and positive mentor join our staff.
THANK YOU to David Gruber & for hosting Operation DREAM at the Gruber Tailgate this year, and supporting our members to the fullest! We appreciate you more than we can say!
Our Operation WORK members had a blast at Summerfest this past weekend with our board member, David Gruber! Thank you to David Gruber for including us in such a fun day!
DREAM Family Picnic was a success! We had a blast at Kern Park yesterday with 95 of our members and families. Our 3 VS 3 basketball tournament was the heart of the event, but we loved the face painting, golf, and all of the other games that were played. Thank you to Palermo’s and Fatty Patty’s food trucks for feeding everyone!
Come see us at JUNETEENTH Festival! Support DREAM Screen and pick up your Juneteenth T-shirts! We are located on MLK and Chambers.
Our Operation WORK Members had a blast playing 9 holes of golf with We Black We Golf at Lincoln Park! It was a beautiful way to spend a beautiful day!
Messiah Chambers graduated 8th grade! 🎉 It brings everyone at Operation DREAM so much joy to witness this accomplishment. We look forward to being there for many more! Congratulations Messiah!
Eric Hannah Jr. graduated from Milwaukee School of Languages! He plans to study Electrical Engineering and German at Milwaukee Area Technical College this fall. Eric has been a member of Operation DREAM since he was 12 years old and we couldn’t be happier! Congrats Eric!
Congratulations Rafiq! 🎉
Rafiq Jihad (pictured with his PROUD mentor, Larry) graduated from Rufus King International High School and is moving on to the United States Air Force. Rafiq continues to inspire us at Operation DREAM. We can’t wait to watch as more of his DREAMs become reality!
It’s graduation season! We are proud to highlight our Operation DREAM member, Darius Hannah. Darius graduated from the Milwaukee Middle School of Excellence! Moving forward, he will attend the Milwaukee School of Excellence High School. Congratulations Darius! We can’t wait to see what’s next 🥳
Our Operation WORK members tuned into the Community Conversation on Anti-Racism where Rev. Marilyn Miller lead a conversation about recognizing racism in various situations and how to actively work to stop it. Being a part of this discussion was a great learning experience!
Our Operation Independence members had the incredible opportunity to tour Lucas Milhaupt with our board member, Richaad Reed! We are so grateful our members were able to learn and grow through this avenue. Experiences such as this show that anything is possible for these young men. Thank you Richaad!
Thank you to Keller Williams for collecting so many donations for Operation DREAM! We are extremely grateful to your wonderful staff and company for including us in Red Day! Our staff was blown away receiving this multitude of clothing and essentials for our young men. We can confidently say our members are prepared for future interviews as well as any other opportunities that lie ahead. THANK YOU from Operation DREAM! 💚
A huge THANK YOU to the NBA Foundation! We are extremely appreciative for the funding that provides Operation DREAM the ability to greatly impact more young men in our city. We are so excited to expand our mission and amplify the DREAM within our community. Thank you for believing in Operation DREAM!
Operation Dream, Inc. updated their website address.
Check out this article featuring our Operation DREAM Screen business manager, Luis Vasquez! “Milwaukee Young Black Males Can Learn Fundamentals of Starting Apparel Line through DREAM Screen” written by Nyesha Stone - Highlights some incredible work our members have accomplished. We are so proud of this DREAM team! 💚
https://www.carvdnstone.com/cns-news/positive-news-milwaukee-young-black-males-can-learn-fundamentals-of-starting-apparel-line-through-dream-screen?format=amp
This past weekend some of our members started their two week training at Dream Screen! The two week training will include training on graphic design, printing shirts, general labor and more! Our members were even able to walk away with t-shirts they helped create and print. Teaching our members life skills.
Smiles included 😁
At we serve all students! Mr. H and some of his cohort sporting their custom cohort hoodies. Thank you for providing our members with a chance to see their VERY FIRST Bucks game and what a game to be at last night! We also ran into a local barbershop owner and friend who invited our members to get a Fresh Fade in the upcoming days👀💪🏽❤️
My name is Rafiq. I am a proud member of Operation Dream/ Work, for the following reasons: In 2015 at the age of 11, I joined the Operation Dream Annual Year Program. There I learned to be more outgoing and developed a basic understanding of teamwork and responsibility.
In 2017 I was selected to enroll/tryout for the Operation Work Program. The tryout portion consisted of several weeks of Life Skills, Job Readiness, Punctuality, Accountability/Responsibility and much more. I was officially enrolled in the program after the tryouts.
Once in the program, we went with a group of other members and our Member Support Coach to go work at different places around Milwaukee. We also did additional training once a month to strengthen our previously taught skills. We also were able to get summer jobs. My first job was at a restaurant called BP Fresh. I used the skills I learned in Operation Work to be able to handle the tasks I was given. I really appreciated the opportunities given to me and they played a big role in how I have grown up over the years.
With my experience in the Operation Dream/Work programs, I am currently achieving my goal of maintaining a 3.0 GPA, and I plan on graduating High School in May of 2022 from Rufus King High School and preparing for the next steps in life; going to college, finding a career, and being successful. With the program supporting me, I am fully assured that I’m going to be able to handle the challenges that life will throw at me and become a better person as a result.
Our members are masked up and ready to play some pool after a full day of classes.
Join me in showing love to our member James who graduated Operation Work and is moving onto the next chapter of his life but will always have the support of his MSC and Operation Dream Family!!
James first started Operation Dream 10 years ago. He was enrolled in the annual year program up until age 14. At that time, he applied and was accepted into the Operation Work program. There he showed exemplary work ethics and leadership skills. As a result, he was hired as a teachers assistant as well as bus monitor. James graduated from the Operation Work program in May of last year. He also graduated from high school the same year with a GPA of 3.7. He applied to several colleges and was accepted into the University of Wisconsin, Madison with a major in Journalism and a minor in African American Studies. James is very passionate about writing, helping others, and fashion design. James attributes his success in high school to the assistance/support he received from his member support coach as well as the Operation Dream staff. He stressed that if not for the persistence and presence in School of his Member Support Coach; it would have been difficult to stay focused.
James expressed the difference that the support from Operation Dream, to assist in stabilizing his home and family life made it possible for James to fully concentrate on his schoolwork.
Thank you to for allowing us to be part of this year’s resource fair. We are looking forward to serving your students staff and families this school year.
Thank you to Messmer High school staff, students, families and Principle Mrs. Jordan for allowing us to come in and help kick off the school year for your Messmer Bishops! We are looking forward to serving as many members as we can.
Thanks to all the Bishops who were very welcoming and engaged during our panel discussions.
Shoutout to our member Deontae for putting in extra work this past week to help with remodeling. The calm before the storm😎
Operation Dream Prides itself on building authentic relationships with every single school we partner with. Our partnership with Messmer will ensure we set up our members for success while supporting them inside and outside the classrooms in anyway our members and schools need us!
Operation Dream is working on a complete make over of our members home base! Today a few members took the initiative and helped build some ikea furniture. Shoutout to our MSC Freddie for always willing to pick up our members and teach them life skills while having some fun!
Today’s small group discussion was surrounding holistic health and we are yet again blown away by the Leadership and Love our members displayed. When asking members what are ways we can share words of encouragement, hold each other accountable or simply check in with each other they immediately took out their phones to make sure every member has each others number. This speaks to the brotherhood our members build inside the walls of Operation Dream and outside.
Our members worked on building Trust with one another through today’s team builder. We had two teams and each member had to direct a team mate through our office style obstacle course while one member kept their eyes closed until they made it to the finish line. It was so cool to see members cheering each other on, using communication to make sure no one bumped into any of the obstacles or each other. Today was filled with smiles, laughter and some yelling out of excitement 🤣🤣
P.S. No office furniture was hurt during this exercise 😂
Quick photo-dump of our members enjoying time out in the community.
Feel Good Friday Post= Operation Dream Operation Work in full effect! Earlier today Operation Work was able to bring members interested in summer employment to The Bavarian Bierhaus to 1. fill out applications 2. Take a tour of the restaurant 3. ask questions about the job openings 4. Fellowship & enjoy some amazing food
We are proud of these young men for showing leadership by having questions ready! Along with holding our members to high standards The Joy factor is very important to all of us and by the looks of these smiling members we can say it was a success!
As you all know Mr. A is our Director of Member Support but also is going to have his very own cohort of young men. We want to welcome Rony from Carmen HighSchool SouthEast Campus and Justin who will be attending Bayview HighSchool. Mr. A’s cohort will be known as the “ WOLFPACK” and we are excited to announce Rony will be the WOLFPACK Member Leader. Lets Welcome Rony and Justin to the Operation Dream Family. ❤️🥳🎉
Join us in congratulating our very own James in graduating from Milwaukee High School Of The Arts this afternoon! Mr. Willis and all of us here at Operation Dream are Proud of you.
🚨🚨It’s time to start flooding your timeline with our Operation Work members who are accomplishing great things! Here is our very own Nasir Little with his 8th grade completion certificate. We are so Proud of you ❤️
🚨Our member Eric has his game face on and ready to get the Win with his team! Eric attends Milwaukee School of Languages and is a great example of a Student Athlete. Shout out to our MSC Mr. Willis for always showing up and supporting his members in all areas of life.
Join me in wishing our member Tafari a very happy 16th Birthday! Tafari is a leader inside and outside the classroom and we could not be more Proud of all you have accomplished. Tafari loves chipotle, hot fries and getting a Fresh haircut! So we surprised the birthday boy with his favorite food snacks and got him a Fresh haircut! Feel good Friday accomplished.
We are hiring for our MSC Positions to help mentor young men ages 12-19 in the Operation Work program by providing knowledge, advice and resources that will allow them to overcome obstacles to achieve their highest potential.
https://www.operation-dream.org/jobs
We caught our Director of Member Support Mr. A adding more smiles to his door this evening!
our Member DJ- “ Hey Mr. A, I wana be door famous “
Mr. A- “ Say Less “ ✅✅
This is so true! From our Operation Dream family we want to wish all moms a Happy Mother’s day❤️❤️❤️ Feliz Dia de las MADRES ❤️❤️❤️
1555 N Rivercenter Drive
Milwaukee, WI
53212
Operation DREAM is a boys mentoring program that includes various programs for young men in the city of Milwaukee at the Holton Youth and Family Center (510 E Burleigh Street).
| Monday | 9am - 4pm |
| Tuesday | 9am - 4pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 4pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 4pm |
| Friday | 9am - 4pm |
Academic Year Program
Operation Work Program
Athletics Program
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We’re having a flippin good time today! #OperationDreamSaturdayProgram
Take a quick tour of our Saturday Program at Operation DREAM!
Thank you to all of those who helped to make our annual retreat a success! You helped us to learn so much and have fun while doing it! @andrepirtle
Operation Work Retreat 2018 is complete! 40 OW Members were present. We spent 2 nights and 3 days up north in what our young men would call “the middle of nowhere”. #OWRetreat2018
Carnival games at @operationdream #everysinglesaturday
Draft Day! The job-ready members of Operation Work were amazed at the employment opportunities that are available to them this summer. It shows that hard work and preparation pays off. T'Andre describes his opportunities for this summer. Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center
Draft Day! Thank you to the employers who made this private job fair possible on Wednesday night for the members of Operation Work! Anthony is excited about his prospects this summer. @buckscommunity @operationdream @footlocker @discoveryworldmke @waterstreetbrew @jccmilwaukee @first.stage @mymetromarket David J. Frank Landscape Contracting, Inc.
Draft Day! Eleven employers met at Schlitz Park last night to host a private interviewing event for the young men of Operation Work. The young men gained valuable interviewing skills and received many offers for summer employment. James describes his experience. First Stage Groundwork Milwaukee Summerfest Foot Locker Roundy's Discovery World Northcott Neighborhood House Water Street Brewery
Thanks @Deanna Singh for coming to our Saturday Program to meet our youngest mentors. Your message on #positiveselftalk was awesome.
David Muhammad teaching our future kings today about the Formula for Discovering Your Purpose in Life. #mentoring #everysinglesaturday #findyourpurpose
Listen:: 👂 Advice from one of our members on saving money.
#lifeskills session with Mr Brandon #everysinglesaturday
Lunch time! #everysinglesaturday #operationdream #harambee #riverwest #mentoring
Morning #marching session at the Saturday Program. #discipline
#tbt - looking back to the #WHEDA /#transformmilwaukee event where we ran into one of our #operationwork boys playing with his band. He has so much talent and has been able to promote himself throughout the city and land numerous gigs. #drumsplease #entrepreneurship
#tbt - looking back to the #WHEDA /#transformmilwaukee event where we ran into one of our #operationwork boys playing with his band. He has so much talent and has been able to promote himself throughout the city and land numerous gigs. #drumsplease #entrepreneurship
Mr EJ leading the boys in chants at the #campfire at Camp Hometown Heroes #owretreat2017 #operationdream #operationwork #MSCteamEJ
Eddie made it to the top of the alpine tower! This is his celebration dance! 🎉 #owretreat2017 #MSCteamWillT #alpinetower #climbing #playoutside
Every year this basketball game is serious! DREAM Mary Ryan vs DREAM Lavarnway. Was a really close game. Saturday was our last day of the AYP program for this school year. ☹️ The kids had a blast at our last day - (Way more pictures to come on #operationdream 's page once photos are processed) #basketballislife #operationdream #everysinglesaturday
Break room cabinets done! ✅
More work being done in the office - drywall in a corner over this hideous old Schlitz park pipe. #newoffice #operationdream #newconstruction #drywall and #paint
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