DreamWeek 2020 is Here
By JASMINA WELLINGHOFF, Editor –
Several years ago, Shokare Nakpodia and his Mighty Group marketing agency, were contracted to “beautify” the route taken by marchers participating in the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. March. To his astonishment, Nakpodia learned that San Antonio had one of the largest, best attended MLK marches in the country, and that got him thinking: How come a city with one of the smallest African-American populations, ends up having one of the biggest MLK events in the U.S., with all races participating?
“I asked people that question and a number of them said that here in San Antonio conflicts and differences are resolved better and easier than in larger urban areas,” said the Nigerian-born Nakpodia, who moved to the Alamo City 24 years ago.
Inspired by what he saw and heard, he had the idea of harnessing that communal goodwill to further MLK’s dream of inclusivity, equity and tolerance among his fellow citizens.
So, I thought that if we could create an environment that encourages people to express themselves, to exchange ideas on a lot of issues and listen to each other, San Antonians would be receptive to that.”
He was proven right. After networking across the city with people he knew, Nakpodia became instrumental in founding DreamWeek San Antonio, conceived as a week-long January series of events to “advance the voice of tolerance, equality and diversity” through “civil and civic engagement.” That first year – 2013- there were 35 events. This year, DreamWeek is actually taking place over two weeks, featuring 225 events sponsored by a wide range of community groups, nonprofits, businesses and churches. Symposiums, panel discussion, art exhibits and performances, health-centered gatherings, kids’ conferences, visits to cemeteries, screenings and educational events, are all part of the engagement process. Altogether, 175 “community partners” are involved in organizing/hosting most happenings.
Nakpodia is open to all possibilities “where people can speak their minds without hate and without excluding anyone.” The 2020 overarching theme is “A Collective Vision.”
The opening breakfast ceremony, scheduled for Friday, Jan. 10 at 7:30 a.m. at the Briscoe Western Art Museum, will feature remarks by Mayor Ron Nirenberg and a presentation by special guest, Paul Rusesabagina, from Rwanda who now lives in our city. Back during the bloody civil war in his country, he saved more than a thousand people, both Hutus and Tootsies, by giving them refuge in his hotel, a story you may remember from the movie Hotel Rwanda. Nakpodia and the current city poet laureate, Octavio Quintanilla, will also address the attendees. (Tickets: $65 -$1,000; 210-444-2315 or dreamweek.org)
In addition to the opening breakfast, DreamVoice, LLC, the agency behind DreamWeek, organized just a few other events, most notably The DreamHour Migrant Series 2020, consisting of 21 presentations by folks who came to America from all over the world and became valued citizens and contributors to their community. Spread over seven evenings at the Alvarez Studio Theater at the Tobin Center, this promises to be one of the most diverse and interactive programs on the schedule. Each person will have 30 minutes to tell his/her story, followed by a Q&A from the audience. (Full disclosure, this writer will serve as emcee on Jan. 22 &23) It’s free but tickets are required and will be available at the theater’s box office or online.
DreamVoice is also the sponsor of the Jan. 17 DreamWeek 2020 Awards Luncheon at the Spire at St. Paul Square (11:30 to 1 p.m.), and the closing DreamWeek 2020 Mayor’s Ball at the Institute of Texan Cultures. (tickets DWSA.LINK/MAYORS BALL)
Sponsoring individuals and organizations submit their proposals in advance to be approved by the DreamVoice team for the following year. So, if you are interested, go on dreamweek.org to see the necessary forms and requiremnets.
“The beauty of this (organizational) model is that each partner organization is responsible for its own event; they are producing and hosting it,” noted Nakpodia who hopes DreamWeek will attract out-of-towners to the city just like SXSW brings crowds to Austin. “This is a better model. It’s extraordinary to have 175 partner organizations!”
For event listings go to www.dreamweek.org