On April 12, DreamWakers teamed up with Our Sisters’ School (OSS) in New Bedford, Massachusetts, to bring together a panel of inspirational Black DreamSpeakers, highlighting the stories of powerful women leaders and showcasing diverse paths young leaders can explore for their futures.

For this special evening flashchat, current OSS students and alumnae submitted questions for three DreamSpeaker panelists: Arianna Long, Observational Astronomer & Ph.D. Student; Lauren Alexander, Senior Communications Manager & Health Lead at Twitter; and Precious Williams, Entrepreneur and Founder & CEO at Perfect Pitches by Precious.

Our Educator Spotlight provides DreamWakers the opportunity to highlight dedicated DreamEducators across the U.S. This month we are excited to feature Mr. Forrest Givens, a Mass Media Instructor at Calvin Coolidge Senior High School in Washington, DC.

Q: Why did you choose to be an educator?
Education has always been a passion of mine. I actually became an educator by accident. While doing some freelance videography work at my soon-to-be school, the Director of Coolidge's Mass Media Academy, Ms. Zakiya Edens, explained that the department was looking for a Mass Media instructor. At that moment, I knew that teaching was my calling. 

Q: If you could have a flashchat with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
Barack Obama. He has broken countless barriers and unlocked possibilities that have never been possible for people of color around the world. 

Q: What is your dream for the future?
I hope that my future students will go on to surpass me in technical ability and that one day they'll end up teaching me something new. 

Q: What has been the most rewarding experience in your career thus far?

Educators, DreamWakers is here for you all year round! This Spring and Summer, opportunities abound to introduce inspirational career role models — and some extra fun! — into your learning environment, bringing curriculum to life. 

>> Dash into flashchats with professional athletes or DreamSpeakers involved in diverse facets of the sports and entertainment industries.

>> Give your students a behind-the-scenes look at the world of mass media with DreamSpeakers from outlets they recognize like Google, YouTube, The New York Times, Twitter, NBC News, and more! 

>> Make finance fun with a DreamSpeaker sharing tips with students about how to make the most of the money they earn from their summer job — or learn practical money management tips for the future.

>> Don’t forget we also have incredible DreamSpeakers accessible through our #AmplifyAsianVoices series, our Autodesk partnership that continues to inspire students on the wonders of STEM, and our Show & Share flashchats that promise to bring compelling visual elements into the virtual classroom. 

Request your next flashchat by signing up here!

Flashchats Tailored to Your Classroom
In addition to the exciting offerings above, DreamWakers is always available to provide career connections that match your current curriculum. Simply fill out our Flashchat Request Form with details about what type of speaker would suit your classroom best. 

Believing kids can't be what they can't see, DreamWakers works to close the opportunity gap for students in under-resourced schools by providing them with the unique opportunity to meet professionals from diverse backgrounds, identities, and perspectives beyond their city limits. Through interactive virtual sessions via video chat, DreamWakers connects classrooms across the U.S. with dynamic role models in a wide array of professional sectors, shedding light on the real-world applicability of course lessons, while inspiring the next generation of leaders to envision and prepare for their own future.