Here’s What Happened At The 2024 Disney Dreamers Academy
Here’s What Happened At The 2024 Disney Dreamers Academy: Every year, Florida
welcomes 100 remarkable teenagers to the Disney Dreamers Academy, a mentorship
program hosted by Walt Disney World Resort. Since its inception in 2008, the academy
has impacted over 1,600 students nationwide, igniting their aspirations and exposing them
to a realm of possibilities as they chart their paths for the future. Many graduates have gone
on to pursue careers in various fields, including storytelling, art, engineering, innovation,
and journalism, while also serving as mentors to incoming Disney Dreamers.
Applicants for the Disney Dreamers Academy are selected annually from a pool of thousands,
based on their responses to essay questions about their personal narratives and dreams.
Chosen students, along with a parent or guardian, are treated to an all-expenses-paid trip to Walt Disney World,
courtesy of the program. Disney’s commitment to fostering diversity and empowering the next generation is exemplified through initiatives like the Disney Dreamers Academy.
Here’s What Happened At The 2024 Disney Dreamers Academy: the vice president
Tracey Powell, Senior Vice President of Consumer Insight, Measurement, and Analytics,
and Executive Champion of Disney Dreamers Academy, expressed excitement about the
transformative journey awaiting the selected students. The program aims to equip them with
invaluable skills such as effective communication, leadership, and networking, while also providing immersive experiences at Walt Disney World.
The event kicked off on Friday, April 5th, with a lively Welcome Celebration featuring musical performances, interactive Career Academies, and a vibrant Magical Kingdom Parade led by DREAMbassador Dara Renee, Tracey Powell, and beloved Disney characters. Notable personalities like Rickey Smiley, Sanya Richards-Ross, Lance Gross, and Fubu founder Daymond John made special appearances, adding to the excitement.
Here’s What Happened At The 2024 Disney Dreamers Academy: the interviews
Saturday was marked by inspiring interviews with six exceptional Black teenage girls, each making strides in their respective fields, from filmmaking to architecture and STEM. Anah Simwenyi, a passionate filmmaker, shared her enthusiasm for networking and connecting with industry professionals through the program, emphasizing her commitment to amplifying marginalized voices through film.
Renowned anthropologist and educator Dr. Johnnetta Cole, Spelman College’s 7th president, also shared her hopes for the Dreamers, emphasizing the importance of their genuine dedication to effecting positive change in the world. She encouraged them to embrace their responsibility and seize every opportunity to make a difference.
DREAM ambassador Dara Renee happily welcomed the 2024 Disney Dreamers class and opened up about her self-care and self-love journey.
Here’s What Happened At The 2024 Disney Dreamers Academy: the journey
DISNEY DREAMERS ACADEMY “DREAMBASSADOR,” DARA RENEÉ, BEST KNOWN FOR HER ROLE IN ‘HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: THE MUSICAL: THE SERIES,’ WAS THE HEADLINER AT WELCOME CELEBRATION AT DISNEY DREAMERS ACADEMY AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT IN LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA., ON APRIL 4, 2024. RENEE ALSO TOOK PART IN FESTIVE PARADE WITH THE STUDENTS AT MAGIC KINGDOM PARK TO KICK OFF THE FIVE-DAY EVENT. (MARK ASHMAN, PHOTOGRAPHER)
Day 1: A Colorful Magical Kingdom Parade
Princess Tiana, Tracey Powell, Dara Renee, and a Disney Dreamer were featured in the annual parade.
the performance
ACTRESS AND PERFORMER DARA RENEÉ, DISNEY EXECUTIVE TRACY POWELL AND DISNEY’S PRINCESS TIANA RIDE IN THE GRAND MARSHAL VEHICLE ALONGSIDE ASPIRING ENGINEERING STUDENT SOPHIA HALM, ONE OF THE 100 TEENS PARTICIPATING IN DISNEY DREAMERS ACADEMY 2024 AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT ON APRIL 4, 2024, IN LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA. (MARK ASHMAN, PHOTOGRAPHER)
WHERE BLACK CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS MEET
Day 1: A Colorful Magical Kingdom Parade With Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse leading a HBCU marching band!
the mickey
DRUM MAJOR MICKEY MOUSE LEADS A JUBILANT PARADE AT MAGIC KINGDOM PARK, ACCOMPANIED BY 100 STUDENTS WHO ARE PART OF THE DISNEY DREAMERS ACADEMY AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT IN LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. THE DISNEY DREAMERS ACADEMY IS A MENTORSHIP EVENT HOSTED ANNUALLY BY WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT TO FOSTER THE DREAMS OF 100 BLACK STUDENTS AND TEENS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY. (MARK ASHMAN, PHOTOGRAPHER)
Day 2: Disney Dreamers Career Sessions
The students broke out in career sessions as known as “Living Laboratories,” that explore each of their interests from film, journalism, stem, and more.
DISNEY DREAMERS GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH DISNEY CAST MEMBERS, CELEBRITIES, INDUSTRY EXPERTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, DURING DISNEY DREAMERS ACADEMY AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT IN LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. ON APRIL 5, 2024. (MARK ASHMAN, PHOTOGRAPHER).
Day 3: Empowerment Session
On Saturday, DDA held impactful empowerment sessions for the Dreamers, with Sanya Richard-Ross, Dr. Johnnetta Cole, and more.
ANTHROPOLOGIST AND EDUCATOR DR. JOHNNETTA COLE SITS WITH SEVERAL STUDENTS AND TEACHES THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-WORTH AND PERSEVERANCE DURING AN EMPOWERMENT SESSION AT DISNEY DREAMERS ACADEMY AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT IN LAKE BUENA VISTA FLA. ON APRIL 6, 2024. (MARK ASHMAN, PHOTOGRAPHER)
Day 4: Commencement
Disney provided each Disney Dreamer with special graduation rings.
DISNEY DREAMERS ACADEMY STUDENTS RECEIVE COMMENCEMENT RINGS CELEBRATING THEIR EXPERIENCE DURING THE FIVE-DAY EVENT AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT IN LAKE BUENA VISTA FLA. ON APRIL 7, 2024. (MARK ASHMAN, PHOTOGRAPHER)
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