In 2019, President & CEO Lauryn Keahey lost her dad, mom, and two sisters in a tragic event. This experience, along with others from my adolescence, opened my eyes to the importance of community, communication, and service. Her parents' lives were the epitome of servanthood; they always emphasized the importance of using every opportunity to learn and teach others what you’ve discovered. Because of their vision, we are here today.

DHP GOALS & OBJECTIVES

Advocate: DHP advocates for survivors of mental, emotional and physical abuse. It is our goal to emphasize the impact of abuse, while acknowledging the multifaceted nature of familial abuse. We aim to amplify the voices of survivors through our service.

Challenge: Using a socio-historical perspective, DHP aims to challenge limited perceptions of familial dynamics, while creating a safe space that validates trauma. We aim to promote healthy healing through community engagement and active listening.

Educate: DHP strongly believes in the power of education and releasing one’s self from an oppressive pedagogy. It is our mission to educate on the significant role of social identities in our Western society, as well as challenge the norms and stereotypes associated with them.

A DEEPER LOOK INTO OUR CAUSE

We equip families with the resources and skills they need to navigate life after overcoming traumatic experiences. The Dreamhaus Project’s ultimate goal is to acknowledge and empower survivors of family violence. While society acknowledges the detrimental effects of physical violence, DHP aims to highlight the profound impact of emotional, financial, and mental abuse. Our culture must reimagine family structures and norms. The Dreamhaus Project caters to families of all types, with a special focus on amplifying the voices of minority families and fostering bridges between existing communities. As the world evolves, so must our understanding and application of family.

The Department of Justice defines family violence as emotional, financial, physical, and sexual abuse within the immediate family. However, broad terms can lead to misunderstandings and misrepresentations. Our mission delves into how immediate family is perceived in different cultures, exploring the roles of race and gender in shaping family structures and the agents of socialization at play. An intersectional lens, which considers multiple identities socially, is essential in answering these questions, and we aim to demonstrate the advantages of such a perspective.

We provide college readiness assistance, specializing in application support and scholarship research. Additionally, we operate a closet that offers clothing and hygiene items. In the future, we plan to launch a critical podcast that analyzes the social representation of families by class, race, and sexuality in various media and films.

The Dreamhaus Project seeks to lead communities in discussions that promote tolerance for familial differences. If our perspectives remain unchallenged, the next generation may adopt toxic and stifled ideologies. Our pursuit explores how families can thrive, and we also aim to run transitional housing that provides families with access to financial literacy programs, job readiness courses, GED preparation, and counseling services. Furthermore, we plan to house closets in local schools to ensure students and families have the support they need throughout the year.