Dreams to Action Breakfast: Celebrating 30+ Years
This April, nearly 400 alumni, partners, supporters, and new friends gathered for our 11th annual Dreams to Action Breakfast, to hear the stories and inspiration of three alumni who are part of the more than 225,000 students and their families impacted by Project Success over the past three decades.
Shana Moses, Project Success Board Chair, opened the morning with heartfelt remarks, expressing gratitude for the community’s ongoing support and reaffirming our mission to help young people discover and pursue their dreams. After her message, the breakfast featured an uplifting musical performance by middle school students from Andersen, Northeast, and Sanford—each of whom participated in their schools’ Project Success musicals this year—alongside Project Success alum and local artist John Jamison II. Together, they performed “My Days” from The Notebook The Musical, highlighting the talent and confidence fostered in part by Project Success’s arts programming.
Following the performance, Project Success Founder and Executive Director, Adrienne Diercks, took the stage to share a message on the organization’s journey, emphasizing the importance of community, collaboration, and innovation. She shared an exciting vision for the future, including deeper investments in Minneapolis, ongoing expansion in Mankato, and new career pathways and venture programs to serve more students in more ways.
“We will be sustaining this work and listening to our students to see what they need in this moment, and we will be there for them together.”
— Adrienne Diercks, Founder and Executive Director
After Adrienne’s message, Project Success Alum and current Institute Bike Tech Instructor, Darrow Jones delivered a powerful keynote. He recounted his own challenging high school experience and the lasting influence of his facilitator, Laura Garcia. Their reconnection years later led to the creation of the Bike Tech Certificate at the Project Success Institute. To date, over 107 students have participated in this program, learning how to repair and maintain bikes and explore careers in this growing field at the Project Success campus.
“I now get to be that impactful person in the lives of these students, just like Laura had been for me.”
— Darrow Jones
Marc Bromaghim-Oropeza, Senior Program Manager and a Project Success alum, spoke about the ongoing expansion and achievements of Project Success in Mankato, underscoring the lasting impact the organization has on young people and communities.
None of this would be possible without the unwavering support of our partners, sponsors, educators, and volunteers. Together, we are building stronger schools and communities, and helping every student connect to their purpose and realize their dreams. As we look ahead, Project Success remains committed to saying “yes” to new opportunities, deepening our impact, and empowering the next generation of dreamers and leaders.
If you’d like to get involved, share your story, or support our mission, or reach out and join us as we embark on the next chapter of Project Success.
A special thank you to our sponsors who made this Dreams to Action event possible:
