The spring of 2023 is not only welcoming flowers and drunk, partying, college students looking to get away before finals. At Mark Keppel High School, the spring of 2023 launches the Dream Center, a safe space for students in the school who feel unseen. The Dream Center is located in A Building, on the second floor, in room A243. While the Dream Center isn’t open yet, when it is, students will be able to visit the space in the morning before school starts, after school, and during lunch. Students that choose to visit the space can request workshops, and other activities that they believe would be beneficial to the Dream Center. Defined by Ms. Parker, who is in charge of the program, the Dream center is, “A student led space for visibility for black and brown students through political, social, and cultural avenues.” It was built out of a need for visibility for the vast identities whose voices have not been heard. The Dream Center has been a success in other schools, and Ms.Parker hopes it will be the same success here. Students have done their part in speaking up about their needs, and Keppel, as well as all those involved, do not wish to let them down.

 In order for The Dream Center to be operational, it required funding. The funding for Keppel’s Dream Center came from a grant. This grant is called the LCOE grant. The LCOE grant is awarded to educational establishments in order to assist their institution in functioning better. Parker, an English and Poder teacher, wrote the application for the grant and Keppel was awarded ten thousand dollars, and through this money as well as community partnerships with Dream Allies Network and MKHS Alliance, the Dream Center isn’t a dream anymore, but a future for Keppel students and staff alike.

 While the Dream Center was created for marginalized students, specifically brown and black people who have not had their voices heard, it is open to anyone who wants to come. Parker said, “The Dream Center isn’t supposed to exclude others, but uplift students who have not had access to a safe space before.” So, if you feel the need, the Dream Center will be open to you. It will be a place for safety, collaboration, inspiration, harmony, justice, adventure, growth, and compassion. 

 The Dream Center could not be possible without those who have chosen to take part in making it successful. Other than Parker, those involved in the Dream Center include volunteers, adult allies, staff members, student clubs that align with the cause, and teachers that students may recognize, such as Ms. Araceli Arzate, Mr. Daniel Mattey, Mr. William Martinez, and Ms. Dorothy Burkhart. Mattey teaches History, Martinez teaches Web Design, and Arzate and Burkhart teach English. 

 According to Parker, Keppel’s goals for the Dream Center are “to allow students to use art activism to make change on campus, to provide student leadership within the system of schooling and for kids to have fun with their different identities, specifically racial.” The students can benefit from this new space because it teaches leadership, embraces fun activities, and is a space for mental health access. It’s a safe space, a place where students can come together to use their voices and finally be heard.

 Safe space is a term widely associated with the Dream Center. It has been presented as a safe space for students. This term is not a new one in today’s society, especially in the education system, but it’s a term worth identifying, because it can mean something different to everyone. To Parker, a safe space is a place where no matter what identity you have, from the color of your skin to your gender or religious beliefs, you can be yourself unapologetically. It’s a place where no one will make you feel like you can’t be yourself, like you have to hide who you are. It’s a safety net, a break from whatever pressure you might feel in your everyday life, correlating to the identities that make you who you are. So, if you ever feel like you need a safety net, starting in the spring of 2023, room A243 will be open to you, with students just like you and staff who want to help you.