Dreams to Action 2026: Expanding Possibilities for Students
“If my life were a tapestry, Project Success would be the foundational fabric that all of the threads that make up my interests, passions, hobbies, and goals are woven into.”
— Tanavia Harrington
On April 23rd, a tapestry of more than 400 community members gathered to celebrate and support the mission and programs that Project Success has woven into our community for more than 32 years. This marked the 12th annual Dreams to Action Breakfast, where love was a central theme, along with an urgency to continue creating opportunities and spaces for students in Minneapolis and Mankato to dream about their futures and take steps to get there.
As the student chorus — made up of students from Sanford, Northeast, and Anwatin middle schools and led by the powerful vocals of Project Success alum and current staff member Taliah Howze El — took the stage, they set the tone for the morning by declaring:
Look out ’cause here I come
And I’m marching on to the beat I drum
I’m not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me
— “This Is Me” from The Greatest Showman
Threading that same message of Project Success’s commitment to serving every student, Laura Garcia, Senior Director of Minneapolis Programs, welcomed the crowd and grounded the room by acknowledging the Dakota land we are privileged to stand on. She also spoke to PS’s ongoing partnerships with All Nations students and arts partner, Native Pride Productions.
“As Project Success, we work with every single student in Minneapolis, grades 6–12. And the way that we do that is by making sure we look at every program and how it relates to every student — because they are all different… and it takes a lot of people to come together to give a student a chance to see their people recognized on stage.”
Project Success Founder and Executive Director Adrienne Diercks followed by weaving together PS’s core mission, vision, and foundation of love.
“The love in this room, the power in this room because of that love… it’s indescribable and there’s nothing like it. PS was built on this foundation of love. It had to be matched with values: the value of Kids First, the value that every single person deserves a future and an opportunity, and the value of excellence — students deserve excellence.”
That love and commitment to excellence was reflected in the testimonial from PS alum Tanavia Harrington, who spoke about her journey through Project Success and the lasting impact it has had on her life. She shared stories from workshops, coding and cooking certificate classes, theater experiences, the Washington, D.C. trip, and the PS Institute — each experience giving her opportunities to explore and cultivate her passions for writing, storytelling, and computer science.
Tanavia spoke about studying computer science at the University of Minnesota and how her Project Success experiences continue to shape her future and how she still carries those threads with her as she continues building a life rooted in purpose, curiosity, and community. It was an honor to have Tanavia share her accomplishments with us!
“If my life were a tapestry, Project Success would be the foundational fabric that all of the threads that make up my interests, passions, hobbies, and goals are woven into.”
As Adrienne would say, there’s nothing better than that.
The morning carried the momentum of the speakers and video into a final call to action from Senior Program Manager and PS alum Marc Bromaghim-Oropeza. Marc spoke about his own journey through Project Success — from participating in programs and trips as a student to eventually helping lead and create programs himself. His story reflected the importance of providing students with meaningful depth and consistency in programming and support.
“I’m standing here in front of you because when you truly believe in something, when you’ve seen it in action, and experienced the change yourself, you do something about it… And our programming is constantly evolving to align with and meet the ever-changing needs of all of our students. That’s going to mean a lot of work and a lot of resources, but… we’re ready if you are.”
As the breakfast came to a close, palpable energy buzzed throughout the room. Students, staff, alumni, supporters, and community members left carrying stories of purpose, belonging, and possibility with them — reminders of what can happen when young people are given the space, support, and opportunity to dream about who they are becoming.
A huge thanks to our Dreams to Action sponsors, Bridgewater Bank and Knock, and a big thanks to everyone who joined us and donated to support our work! (If you haven’t had a chance to donate yet, you can make a tax-deductible gift right now. Thanks!)
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