Dream Cities | East Orange, NJ
120 Central Avenue
East Orange, NJ 07018
Phone 973-677-1119
Fax 973-677-1133
Learning Center DirectorGisele Gauldenggaulden  usdreamacademy [dot] org | Mentor CoordinatorTosya Lewistlewis usdreamacademy [dot] org |
Feature Story
Shawn, 11, says he used to keep his negative feelings bottled up, especially when someone called him an insulting name.
“It felt disrespectful, like they didn’t care about my own name,” he says.
A recent lesson unit titled No Name-Calling Week helped Shawn and other Dream Academy students more effectively deal with name-calling and other types of bullying. He says he now feels more empowered. “It feels great … like I don’t always need someone to handle my battles,” he says.
Now, when someone calls him a disrespectful name, he can go into a corner and count for 10 seconds, come back to the person and respond: “‘Can you please stop that because it’s hurting my feelings.’ If they don’t, I can go talk to a teacher I trust.”
When someone calls him by his own name, Shawn says he feels respected. “That’s my correct name, the one my mother gave me, and not another name that insults people.”
Character is learned over time. With lessons such as No Name-Calling Week, Dream Academy leaders hope students will better understand their own power and vulnerability when communicating with others.
Our History in East Orange
Located in an area considered to be disadvantaged, The East Orange Learning Center opened in 2007 in partnership with the East Orange School District Educational Support Services liaison. This partnership has allowed the center to collaborate with teachers, administrators, community organizations and churches serving 50 children from 5 different schools in the district during the 2008-2009 school year. The East Orange Learning Center regularly relies on the support of its Parent Advisory Board, comprised of 13 parents. These parents are actively involved with planning and assisting with special events at the Center.
About Our Staff
Learning Center DirectorMs. Gisele Gaulden is the Center Director of the U.S. Dream Academy Learning Center at the Dionne Warwick Institute in East Orange, NJ. She has earned a BA in Liberal Arts from the University of Pennsylvania and an MA in Educational Leadership from New York University. Ms. Gaulden is a devoted educator, administrator, and child advocate with many years experience working with children in urban communities. Gisele is enthusiastic about working with children and families in a way that is meaningful and caring. | Mentor CoordinatorTosya Lewis is happy to serve the US Dream Academy East Orange Learning Center as Mentor Coordinator. Ms. Lewis is a certified New Jersey social worker, with a BSW degree, from Rhode Island College. Her past experience includes investigating child abuse and neglect, as well as assisting adolescent youth aging out of foster care. Ms. Lewis has also served as an Americorps Vista, coordinating a mentoring program for children of incarcerated parents. Ms. Lewis is devoted to breaking the cycle of generational incarceration. |
Our East Orange Partners in the Dream
D.O.V.E- Division of Volunteer Efforts at Seton Hall University
Little Misses Forum: Girls in Action
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association at Seton Hall University
Newark Emergency Services: RSVP (Retired Seniors Volunteer Program of Hudson and Essex Counties)
JerseyCares
Kula for Karma
Upcoming Events
There are no upcoming events scheduled for this learning center at this time. Please check back later.
