Supporting children's social and emotional well-being.
Dream A World Education provides social-emotional learning and
an understanding of cultural diversity through an early childhood, arts-based education.
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We envision a world where every child discovers the power of their own creativity, and understands how we are connected as a human family.
Founded in 2008 by Grammy® Award-winning songwriter Bunny Hull
The organization was founded in 2008 by Grammy® Award-winning songwriter Bunny Hull.
Dream A World Education (DAWE) has grown from serving 120 students in 2008 to reaching 50,000 children and families by 2022. DAWE currently provides web-based and on-campus programs in multi-grade levels in 47 schools, in five school Districts: Los Angeles Unified, Hawthorne School District, Torrance School District, Inglewood School District and Ventura School District.
With the development of web-based programs created to support children’s mental and emotional well-being during the COVID shut down, Dream A World grew 300% from 2020-2022. Expansion is continuing into public schools, libraries and children’s museum programs around the world.
Founder, Grammy® Award-winner Bunny Hull began her work with children after a long career in the music industry. Her educational work began in 1994 with the creation of award-winning music and books for children followed by outreach programs and performances at Corrine Seeds UCLA, LAUSD and Clark County, Nevada school districts and student performances at UCLA’s Royce Hall, Cerritos Center for the Arts, The Alex Theatre, L.A. Times Festival of Books and Kid City in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Hull’s award-winning Young Masters Little Wisdom music and book series, paved the way for development of Secrets of the Heart® curriculum through The Actor’s Fund (now called Entertainment Community Fund) Teaching Artist program in association with the Los Angeles Music Center. It was through this work that Dream A World Education was born.
Secrets of the Heart® programs address the whole child
Early lessons have a lasting impact on a child. It is said that all the milestones relating to a child’s development happen before a child turns six.
A child’s brain is like a sponge and a memory bank for all that enters their senses. Along with coordination, poise and stamina, patterns are formed, social and emotional skills are developed and the understanding of concepts and vocabulary are learned. This is the age when children learn the difference between right and wrong. It’s a time when social relationships are developed and racial and gender bias can be formed as they interact with each other and new adults as they are introduced into a school setting.
It is our aim to reach children in these most formative years. It’s true that the healthy evolution of a child depends on more than just their school experiences. They need a solid support system at home. Some children may or may not have that support. Secrets of the Heart® programs create opportunities for deeper connection and communication between children, parents and caregivers. We believe one unforgettable exchange or experience can change a life. It is our intention to provide that experience for every child and parent we meet.
Dr. Susan Savage, who has analyzed the effectiveness of our work through data provided over a three-year period, tells us:
Social-emotional development is key for later academic performance, mental health, and social relationships. Programs that support this development set the stage for successful students and community. Results from parents and student evaluations from Dream A World Education’s programs clearly show that this arts-based education increases student’ social-emotional development and as a result creates a firm foundation for later academic achievement and development of community citizenship. These skills are more important now than ever before.
As our world becomes more complex, diverse, interconnected, and interdependent educational systems have realized the need to change. Lasting change cannot occur if only one part of a system within which a child develops changes.
It is critical to engage children in learning during their early years. According to the US Department of Education: "Children who are chronically absent in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the third grade. Students who cannot read at grade level by the end of third grade are four times more likely than proficient readers to drop out of high school.
Our partner school demographics show:
These children require instructional adaptation and accommodation to meet their needs. Each year, we reach into our ever-expanding teaching toolbox to ensure that each child receives the best possible opportunity to learn and succeed through our programs.
Statistics and data are available upon request by contacting info@dreamaworldedu.org
For a program price sheet or additional information, please contact us.
Dream A World Education’s programs change
the way children feel about themselves.
Dream A World Education makes a meaningful difference in early childhood development through Secrets of the Heart® enrichment and web-based programs designed to teach children self-acceptance and that they are “enough,” just the way they are. Through arts experiences, programs promote emotional intelligence and wellness by encouraging creativity and exposing children to diverse world cultures. The goal of Secrets of the Heart® programming is to reach primary school children everywhere, especially those in underserved schools and in low-income communities.
Programs promote and celebrate the connections between creative and cognitive thinking and between art and humanity. Workshops link the arts experience to academic learning- Language Arts, Listening/Speaking, History and Social Studies-and introduce interpersonal skills and universal values like kindness, courage and compassion.
Introducing conversations about racial bias that explore identity, diversity and justice acknowledge what children already know: people are different, and the world is not colorblind. We believe early childhood anti-bias training that includes kindness, empathy and compassion helps children reject the influences that promote systemic racism.
Delivered by a diverse team of highly skilled professional artists, programs positively impact school climate and culture and create a continuum of learning for students, parents and teachers.
In addition, programs reach out to include family members’ participation in art projects and volunteerism, provide professional development to encourage teachers to more readily embrace the arts, and promote intergenerational activities for the retired teachers and others who volunteer to support arts workshops.
Secrets of the Heart® develops positive life skills and fosters greater self-awareness by creating a clear link between self-expression through creativity and the choices a child makes in everyday life.
Schools Served 2008-2023 LAUSD, Wiseburn, Torrance, Inglewood, Ventura and Hawthorne School Districts
Inspire • Explore • Create • Discover • Share
Curriculum is aligned with the VAPA/California Arts Standards, National Core Arts Standards, Common Core Standards for language and CASEL Core Competencies. Classroom-based Secrets of the Heart® programs are delivered during school hours for grade levels TK–3rd grade. Secrets of the Heart® TV programs are available on demand for UTK, TK, Kindergarten and 1st – 2nd.
Through exemplary arts learning, we inspire children to discover who they are, explore their imagination, create art, identify and express their wishes and dreams, and demonstrate their learning by practicing their newly acquired skills with their peers, families and community.
Our program uses the universal languages of visual arts, music, dance, theater, language arts, American Sign Language and multi-sensory learning aids to engage all learners in understanding the core values of being human and developing positive social and emotional skills.
Our culturally diverse Teaching Artists are a highly qualified team of dedicated professionals with an extensive list of performing achievements, awards, and leadership experiences in the United States, Europe and Africa. Their language fluency includes Spanish, Portuguese, Swahili, German, French, Thai and Italian. They are skilled in working with children in early elementary grade levels. We use the power of interactive performance to capture children’s attention, so they can feel what it’s like to be inspired. We then work with them in classrooms or in combination with a digital online curriculum to explore one or more art forms. As they experience the joy of creating something, they discover who they are, the power of their own creativity, and the unlimited ways they can use their imagination. The experience culminates when they share what they have created with others.
During the workshops we reinforce:
Teaching children around the world
Secrets of the Heart® web-based programming has provided an opportunity to reach children wherever they are learning. As we expand into schools, homes and community organizations around the globe, we are teaching children that they are part of the human family. It is our children who will heal divisions and make the world better.
Online curriculum for classrooms and homeshools!
Inspiring creativity, building character, growing community and teaching children wherever they are learning.
© 2008-2020 Dream A World Education, Inc. – a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation in good standing with the IRS and the California Franchise Tax Board.
All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Federal Tax ID #27-0686657.
