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Creative, Talented and Inspiring High School Students Chosen for This Year’s Disney Dreamers Academy at Walt Disney World Resort

NNPA NEWSWIRE — The 100 students from across the country will descend on Walt Disney World Resort March 23-26 for the 16th annual event, aimed at broadening career awareness and creating exclusive opportunities for Black students and teens from underrepresented communities across America. The full list of students is available at www.DisneyDreamersAcademy.com.
The post Creative, Talented and Inspiring High School Students Chosen for This Year’s Disney Dreamers Academy at Walt Disney World Resort first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 years ago

January 16, 2023

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Exclusive Walt Disney World Resort mentoring event fosters dreams of Black students and teens from underrepresented communities; 100 outstanding students from New York to California to be part of the multi-day event in March

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – A budding artist, an aspiring neurosurgeon and a creative storyteller are among the 100 talented high school students selected for this year’s Disney Dreamers Academy, an educational mentoring program hosted at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

The 100 students from across the country will descend on Walt Disney World Resort March 23-26 for the 16^th annual event, aimed at broadening career awareness and creating exclusive opportunities for Black students and teens from underrepresented communities across America.

The full list of students is available at http://www.DisneyDreamersAcademy.com.

To kick off the announcement of the 2023 class, Mickey Mouse, Disney executives, and international recording star Kelly Rowland surprised one of the students with the news of her selection live on national TV from her school in Newark, N. J. Afterwards, the names of the entire Class of 2023 were displayed on a Times Square billboard.

Flanked by her mother amid a sea of confetti, Mosope Aina, an aspiring neurosurgeon, was surprised by Mickey Mouse and Disney Dreamers Academy executive champion Tracey Powell on national TV on January 13, 2023 at her school in Newark, N.J. with the news of her selection to Disney Dreamers Academy at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Disney Dreamers Academy in late March is a mentoring program hosted annually by Walt Disney World Resort that fosters the dreams of Black students and teens from underrepresented communities. (ABC/Michael Le Brecht II)

Rowland, the four-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, actress and television executive producer, served last year as the program’s ambassador and as an advocate for the students. She shared personal insights, drawing from her own unique experience as a pre-teen performer, then as a teenager in one of the best-selling female groups of all time, Destiny’s Child.

The Disney Dreamers program is an important part of Disney’s commitment to support diverse communities. By encouraging the next generation to think big, Disney hopes the students will carry what they learn back home and continue pursuing their dreams.

Mickey Mouse and Disney Dreamers Academy executive champion Tracey Powell pose with Newark Tech (N.J.) high school student Mosope Aina moments after she was surprised on national TV on January 13, 2023 with the news that she is one of 100 students selected for this year’s Disney Dreamers Academy at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida in March. Also, the names of all 100 Dreamers were displayed on a Times Square billboard. Disney Dreamers Academy is a mentoring program hosted annually at Walt Disney World Resort to foster the dreams of Black students and teens from underrepresented communities. (ABC/Michael Le Brecht II)

“We’re ready to welcome another outstanding group of teens from across the country for our 16^th year!” said Tracey Powell, Disney Signature Experiences vice president and Disney Dreamers Academy executive champion. “They are going to have the experience of a lifetime, setting them on a journey to go out and achieve their dreams, just like the classes who came before them.”

Since 2008, Disney Dreamers Academy has inspired more than 1,500 students from across the country by fueling their dreams and showing them a world of possibilities as they prepare for their futures. In the years following, graduates have become storytellers, artists, engineers, innovators, journalists and more, and have transitioned into mentors to the Disney Dreamers who follow them.

High school student Mosope Aina, an aspiring neurosurgeon, was surprised on national TV on January 13, 2023 at her school in Newark, N.J. with the news that she is one of 100 students selected for this year’s Disney Dreamers Academy at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida in March. Disney Dreamers Academy, taking place March 23-26, 2023 is a mentoring program hosted annually by Walt Disney World Resort that fosters the dreams of Black students and teens from underrepresented communities. (ABC/Michael Le Brecht II)

Each year, the Disney Dreamers are selected from thousands of applicants who answer essay questions about their personal stories and dreams for the future. The students and a parent or guardian enjoy an all-expenses paid trip to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida for the four-day event.

The Disney Dreamers embark on a journey throughout the Walt Disney World theme parks and behind the scenes of the 40-square-mile vacation destination. It is a vibrant classroom where students discover new career opportunities, pursue their dreams and interact with Disney executives, educators, business leaders, celebrities and motivational speakers.

Students participate in immersive, career-oriented workshops that explore a wide range of career disciplines while also learning essential skills, such as effective communication techniques, leadership and networking strategies.

Past celebrity participants have included stars from the big screen and television, noted sports figures and popular musicians, as well as personalities and cast members from across the Disney family, including “Good Morning America,’’ ESPN, Disney Channel and the ABC TV series “Black-ish” and “Grown-ish.”

For more information, visit DisneyDreamersAcademy.com. Regular updates about Disney Dreamers Academy are also available on social media at Facebook.com/DisneyDreamersAcademy, Twitter.com/DreamersAcademy and Instagram.com/disneydreamersacademy.

The 100 students selected for the 2023 Disney Dreamers Academy are (listed by state):

Chelsea Williams, Hoover, AL
Radhika Pant, Hoover, AL
Tyler Chiu, Northridge, CA
Ella Milstein, La Jolla, CA
Rashad Tyler, Highland, CA
Ryan Nelson, Concord, CA
Tina Mai, Newport Coast, CA
Octavia Carey, Inglewood, CA
Isabella Cabello, Tulare, CA
Madison Henderson, Los Angeles, CA
Brooke Sibala, Chula Vista, CA
Sanvi Prakash, San Ramon, CA
Cisco Hernandez, National City, CA
Melanie Cho, Alhambra, CA
April Ortiz, Anaheim, CA
Casey Folau, Maywood, CA
Xavier Forbes, San Diego, CA
Allison Jensen, Thornton, CO
Jonathan De Caro, Moodus, CT
Yasmeen Galal, Prospect, CT
Mary Amma Blankson, Madison, CT
Miguel Coppedge, Washington, DC
Sophia Juroviesky, Boca Raton, FL
Dorsey Miller, Parkland, FL
Zara Lwin, Orlando, FL
Sophia Dupeyron, Cape Coral, FL
Kaitlyn Jadevaia, Sarasota, FL
Megan Fajardo, Destin, FL
Kimora Reed, Saint Petersburg, FL
Cynthia Medina, Bradenton, FL
Cameron West, Jacksonville, FL
Sara Kaufman, Hollywood, FL
Noah Spinelli, Orlando, FL
Pamela Musungu, Acworth, GA
Zachariah Hickey, Bonaire, GA
Ava Flanigan, Morrow, GA
Ava Adams, Atlanta, GA
Jordan Adeyemi, Duluth, GA
Pippa Key, Summerville, GA
Jaden Jenkins, Augusta, GA
Kirasten Perkins, Savannah, GA
Erin Shen, Statesboro, GA
Dylan Jones, Smyrna, GA
Bradley Ross Jackson, Normal, IL
Tamaya Mcneal, Joliet, IL
Nora Sun, Chicago, IL
Nyla Bishop, Flossmoor, IL
Aramia Gutierrez, Whiting, IN
Jaylynn Powe, Baton Rouge, LA
Charles Steele, Slidell, LA
Audrey Brust, Zachary, LA
Tasneem Ghadiali, Lexington, MA
Xin Yue Lu, Lutherville Timonium, MD
Aria Smith, Upper Marlboro, MD
Lindsey Sands, Columbia, MD
Makayla Joaquin, Fort Washington, MD
Saniyah Ikard, Bowie, MD
Natalyn Taylor, Ellicott City, MD
Julian Morris, Saginaw, MI
Keenan Burns, Redford, MI
Preston Zabinko, Ann Arbor, MI
Addison Richmond, Jackson, MI
Kennedy Jones, Berkeley, MO
Zania Stinson, Charlotte, NC
Jada Stewart, Wilson, NC
Ryan Razon, Morrisville, NC
Mosope Aina, Newark, NJ
Elise Tao, Upper Saddle River, NJ
Maria Maione, Egg Harbor City, NJ
Claudia Merchan, Hackensack, NJ
Amechi Chukwujiorah-Strange, Flushing, NY
Autumn Tyler, Chester, NY
Morgan Lin, Brooklyn, NY
Emily Melendez, Rego Park, NY
Logan Williams, Cleveland, OH
Sophia Barbee, Maineville, OH
Mckinley Meeker, Hudson, OH
Kyle Zhou, Solon, OH
Aziza Mccarter, Jenks, OK
Neighujah Harmon, Oklahoma City, OK
Amelia Godard, Sherwood, OR
Eliza Watkins, Portland, OR
Anjana Pramod, West Chester, PA
Prerna Chakkingal, Mc Donald, PA
Joslyn Diffenbaugh Kutztown, PA
Tavis Sanders, Philadelphia, PA
Sydney Simmons, Tiverton, RI
Benjamin Brown, Columbia, SC
Hannah Hollings, Brentwood, TN
Toluwakitan Akinsola, Antioch, TN
Sydney Roberts, Plano, TX
Yaddeni Hailu, Lewisville, TX
Shane Mushambi, Missouri City, TX
Medha Pulluru, Cedar Park, TX
Alvaro Alvarez, Elgin, TX
Elle Chavis, Dallas, TX
Nia Curry, Trophy Club, TX
Tierra Brown, Pearland, TX
Eliora Margaret Kwakye, Olympia, WA
Julius Zakaria, Oak Creek, WI

About Disney Dreamers Academy:

Established by Walt Disney World in 2008, Disney Dreamers Academy’s mission is to inspire young leaders to dream beyond imagination by providing life-long access to personalized support for the Disney Dreamer, their caregivers and community through insightful content and uplifting experts, mentors, and sponsors. Each year, 100 high school students are awarded a trip to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida to experience the immersive and transformational program.

The post Creative, Talented and Inspiring High School Students Chosen for This Year’s Disney Dreamers Academy at Walt Disney World Resort first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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Black Feminist Movement Mobilizes in Response to National Threats

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States.

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By Stacy M. Brown
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More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States. The event, led by the organization Black Feminist Future, is headlined by activist and scholar Angela Y. Davis. Paris Hatcher, executive director of Black Feminist Future, joined Black Press USA’s Let It Be Known to outline the mission and urgency behind the gathering, titled “Get Free.” “This is not just a conference to dress up and have a good time,” Hatcher said. “We’re building power to address the conditions that are putting our lives at risk—whether that’s policing, reproductive injustice, or economic inequality.” Hatcher pointed to issues such as rising evictions among Black families, the rollback of bodily autonomy laws, and the high cost of living as key drivers of the event’s agenda. “Our communities are facing premature death,” she said.

Workshops and plenaries will focus on direct action, policy advocacy, and practical organizing skills. Attendees will participate in training sessions that include how to resist evictions, organize around immigration enforcement, and disrupt systemic policies contributing to poverty and incarceration. “This is about fighting back,” Hatcher said. “We’re not conceding anything.” Hatcher addressed the persistent misconceptions about Black feminism, including the idea that it is a movement against men or families. “Black feminism is not a rejection of men,” she said. “It’s a rejection of patriarchy. Black men must be part of this struggle because patriarchy harms them too.” She also responded to claims that organizing around Black women’s issues weakens broader coalitions. “We don’t live single-issue lives,” Hatcher said. “Our blueprint is one that lifts all Black people.”

The conference will not be streamed virtually, but recaps and updates will be posted daily on Black Feminist Future’s YouTube channel and Instagram account. The event includes performances by Tank and the Bangas and honors longtime activists including Billy Avery, Erica Huggins, and Alexis Pauline Gumbs. When asked how Black feminism helps families, Hatcher said the real threat to family stability is systemic oppression. “If we want to talk about strong Black families, we have to talk about mass incarceration, the income gap, and the systems that tear our families apart,” Hatcher said. “Black feminism gives us the tools to build and sustain healthy families—not just survive but thrive.”

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Hoover’s Commutation Divides Chicago as State Sentence Remains

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial.

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By Stacy M. Brown
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The federal sentence for Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover has been commuted, but he remains incarcerated under a 200-year state sentence in Illinois. The decision by Donald Trump to reduce Hoover’s federal time has reignited longstanding debates over his legacy and whether rehabilitation or continued punishment is warranted. The commutation drew immediate public attention after music executive Jay Prince and artist Chance the Rapper publicly praised Trump’s decision. “I’m glad that Larry Hoover is home,” said Chance the Rapper. “He was a political prisoner set up by the federal government. He created Chicago Votes, mobilized our people, and was targeted for that.”

But Hoover, the founder of the Gangster Disciples, is not home—not yet. Now in federal custody at the Florence Supermax in Colorado, Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial. “There is a divide in the Black community here,” said Chicago journalist Jason Palmer during an appearance on the Let It Be Known morning program. “Some view Hoover as someone who brought structure and leadership. Others remember the violence that came with his organization.” Palmer explained that while Hoover’s gang originally formed for protection, it grew into a criminal network responsible for extensive harm in Chicago. He also noted that Hoover continued to run his organization from state prison using coded messages passed through visitors, prompting his transfer to federal custody.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is widely considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, has not issued a statement. Palmer suggested that silence is strategic. “Releasing Hoover would create enormous political consequences,” Palmer said. “The governor’s in a difficult spot—he either resists pressure from supporters or risks national backlash if he acts.” According to Palmer, Hoover’s federal commutation does not make him a free man. “The federal sentence may be commuted, but he still has a 200-year state sentence,” he said. “And Illinois officials have already made it clear they don’t want to house him in state facilities again. They prefer he remains in federal custody, just somewhere outside of Colorado.”

Palmer also raised concerns about what Hoover’s case could signal for others. “When R. Kelly was convicted federally, state prosecutors in Illinois and Minnesota dropped their charges. If a president can commute federal sentences based on public pressure or celebrity support, others like R. Kelly or Sean Combs could be next,” Palmer said. “Meanwhile, there are thousands of incarcerated people without fame or access to public platforms who will never get that consideration.” “There are people who are not here today because of the violence connected to these organizations,” Palmer said. “That has to be part of this conversation.”

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WATCH: Five Years After George Floyd: Full Panel Discussion | Tracey’s Keepin’ It Real | Live Podcast Event

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May 28, 2025

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https://youtube.com/watch?v=OsNLWTz6jU0&feature=oembed

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