About Us
MISSION, VALUES & APPROACH
DreamOut People's Project is a for-purpose small business based in Southern California.
Our vision is to promote a stronger and healthier world by being a trusted resource for education, training and wellness modalities.
DreamOut People's Project bridges support for nonprofit organizations, schools, government agencies and local businesses in order to inspire, educate and empower. By harnessing the power of connection and inquiry, our organization sparks a culture shift toward a more resilient and equitable world.
We believe in the transformative impact--no matter how big or small--individuals have on society. Our generative learning environments nurture authentic exploration...one person at a time.
DreamOut People's Project has been shared with the following communities:
The Department of Migrant Education in San Diego & Orange Counties
MADE/Elinor
Chapman University
826LA
Creative Rites
Healing Motion
The Armand Hammer Museum
Pure Love Healing
Eayikes
Little Rock, Arkansas Air Force Base
HappyHer House
The Los Angeles Deparment of Parks & Recreation
What We Have Accomplished Our First Year:
Implemented and facilitated 9 workshops & 34 classes
Created and distributed community resource guides on social justice, mental health and community-building
Partnered and collaborated with over 10 different organizations including governmental, healing arts practitioners, independent retailers & nonprofits
Created and facilitated a social justice based curriculum for migrant students in elementary, middle and high school
Provided meals to frontline healthcare workers during COVID-19 by fundraising for local restaurants
DreamOut People’s Project Origin Story
It all began with a box and a dream...
In 2010, I led a Mother's Day writing workshop. The participants were asked to bring a family memento to the workshop. The children learned how to interview their mothers about their objects and turn what they learned into original poems, essays or short stories. This helped them connect their family history to their own core values and dreams. In turn, the workshop helped the children explore their identities and bonded them with their mothers in this special way. Both child and parent made a “dreambox” and placed the finished writing inside their box to revisit.
First DreamBox Workshop, Los Angeles CA 2010
A decade earlier, as a young news reporter, I attended a press conference inside of a Southern California detention center. There was a guest speaker named Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. Carter spent nearly 20 years in prison for a triple homicide that he did not commit. He was there to speak as part of a state-wide prison rehabilitation campaign aimed at restorative justice. Until then, I knew him as one of the symbols of the prison reform movement. I watched Carter speak to 120 inmates and encourage those men to face their fears and think about the possibility of change—to have hope—to dream…
That moment inspired me to pursue work in dismantling systemic inequity and work toward building an equitable society. A couple months later, I resigned from my newspaper position and over the next several years, started working for the greater good at places ranging from nonprofits, to political organizations to public schools.
Some of my proudest moments have been ones where I could stand back and witness the community’s greatness.
Can’t wait to DreamOut with you!
—Michelle Suzanne Snyder, Founder of DreamOut People’s Project
About DreamOut People’s Project Founder:
Michelle Suzanne Snyder is a native Angeleno who uses art and writing to remain committed to community healing and social change. She is the recipient of both the Western California Journalism Society and Norm Strung Outdoor Writers Association excellence in journalism awards, and for the past seven years taught English language arts with an emphasis in literacy and creative writing. Michelle received her MA in Nonprofit Program Management from Antioch University Los Angeles. In addition, she also holds the Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) credential, a national nonprofit credential from the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance.