I come to you with an exciting update about our beloved organization.
First, and most importantly, I want to let you know that the Dream Queen Foundation has changed my life. The community we have is amazing and different from any other organization I’ve ever experienced. The standards I learned to live by as an example in my community and my club at Leonardtown High School were all gained through experiencing the facilitator training and completing the Gals Lead curriculum. Additionally, Dream Queen has been a pivotal force in my career. The heart-centered leadership Erin Lewis and Fontella Moody birthed is truly breathtaking.
Now here we are, 10+ years since the first Dream Queen Association meeting and I am in awe of our progress. We are supported by amazing women who volunteer regularly, our board has nine talented women, we have eight(!) clubs, an inspiring facilitator coaching program, and more.
In 2020, however, the world shifted for many of us as we collectively faced one the biggest challenges of our lifetime as a community: a global pandemic. During this time the communities around us changed, and we need to change with them.
Now more than ever, our youth are in a crisis due brought on by isolation, bullying, 24-hour social media – the list goes on and on. Parents are trying to make ends meet and our entrepreneurs are doing their best to beat inflation, interest rates, you name it. We are all out there fighting to survive.
You may ask, what on Earth does this have to do with a rebrand? With all of this going on, the one thing we have all found is our voice and our identity. Our youth have stepped out of their comfort zone to claim themselves, and we want to give them all a safe space to not be judged and to collaborate and learn together. That is what we do best.
We are a heart-centered community of leaders. Our leadership style is one that bestows kindness, inclusion and diversity. I, along with our Board of Directors, feel at this point in our growth, these values need to fully extend into our branding.
I have received many silly comments over the years about the name, but I loved it – I am a Dream Queen, you are a Dream Queen, we are all Dream Queens. But not all women want to be queens and not all girls like pink. Not all transgender or nonbinary kids want to be a part of a gender-specific organization. And so, the question became, how can we best support those individuals moving forward?
Our answer:
Lead with a name that invites more hearts and minds on a journey of leadership and growth
Choose our words more carefully
Align our programming to support all women and teens (she/her they/them)
We give women and teens the tools they need to be successful. We embrace the uniqueness of each human’s path and help them plot their journey in an authentic way. We help them find their voice and uncover resources. We offer community and our undivided attention to help them find the strength to navigate their path.
It’s time to roll out our atlas and venture out of known territory. A life atlas – a universal guide that let’s us navigate around or through the obstacles along our charted journey.
As the Life Atlas Foundation, we are inclusive and equitable. We are sisters and strategists. We lift each other up, cheer each other on, and hold space for purpose-filled authenticity. We are leaders.
Without the Dream Queen Foundation, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I can’t wait to see the legacy the Life Atlas Foundation creates.
In the coming months, you will see our rebrand come to life. I ask for your grace and support as we transition to the next best version of us.
As always, thank you for being a member of this wonderful organization and I hope you get as much out of it as I do.
The future is bright!
Best,
