From Our Executive Director
Adrian Major
Executive Director & Founder
"Hope is something we practice every day through relationships, opportunity, and unwavering commitment."
From Our Executive Director
For nearly 30 years, Dreamcatcher Initiative has believed that lasting change begins by showing up—for young people, families, and our community. As we reflect on the first half of 2026, we're celebrating the youth, partners, and supporters who continue to make this work possible. Thank you for believing in our mission and helping us create spaces where young people can discover purpose, build confidence, and dream bigger every day.
Celebrating 10 years
From our founding in 2016 to today, Dreamcatcher Initiative has remained rooted in one belief: every young person deserves to be seen, supported, and given opportunities to thrive. What began as a vision has grown into a community where relationships become the foundation for leadership, creativity, entrepreneurship, workforce development, healing, and lasting opportunity.
"Ten years later, our mission remains the same: we create spaces where hope becomes action."
A Decade of Hope
2016 • Founded → 2018 • DreamCutz → 2020 • POWER, Men’s Group & E-Dreamers → 2022 • DreamCutz 2.0 → 2024 • Guided Dreams & Dream Studio → 2026 • Cummings + NBC + The Boston Globe + 10 Years
six months of impact
"Hope grows when people continue showing up."
Building Skills. Strengthening Relationships. Creating Opportunity.
Over the past six months, Dreamcatcher Initiative has continued creating spaces where young people-built confidence, explored careers, strengthened relationships, and discovered purpose through barbering, music production, cosmetology, mentoring, and leadership development. Every program looked different, but each reflected the same belief: relationships create lasting change.
🧠 Wellness & Belonging
🌱 Leadership Development
❤️ Community Connection
🛠 Hands-on Skill Building
🎙 Creative Expression
🫱🏾🫲🏿 Trusted Mentorship
Inside Our Programs
Skills. Confidence. Community. Opportunity.
DREAMCUTZ + MEN'S GROUP
Building Skills & Brotherhood
DreamCutz uses barbering as a gateway to confidence, responsibility, and career exploration. Through hands-on learning, young men build technical skills while strengthening communication, professionalism, and perseverance.
Those lessons continue in Men's Group, where participants explore identity, mental wellness, leadership, and healthy relationships. Together, these programs create spaces where young people are encouraged to grow—not only in skill, but in character and community.
🪶 Stories of Growth
During one DreamCutz session, Cody picked up the clippers for the first time while practicing hair parting on a mannequin. As other participants watched him work, several asked whether he had cut hair before. Smiling, Cody simply replied, "No," before getting right back to learning and asking questions. By the end of the session, his curiosity had grown into confidence, a reminder that every new skill begins with the willingness to try.
DreamCutz 2.0
Cosmetology, confidence & career exploration
Dream Studio, POWER, and DreamCutz 2.0 help young people discover who they are and who they can become. Through music production, podcasting, vision boards, affirmations, wellness activities, cosmetology, and hands-on beauty instruction, participants build confidence, strengthen their voices, and develop practical skills that extend far beyond the classroom. Across these programs, youth strengthened their voices, supported one another, and discovered new ways to imagine their futures.
🪶 Stories of Growth
One Dream Studio participant entered the studio unsure if he could express himself without profanity or street lyrics. Through support from staff and peers, he began writing music rooted in his real experiences, including grief, struggle, and hope—showing that creative expression can become a pathway to growth
Dream Studio
Music production, podcasting & storytelling
POWER
Vision boards, wellness & leadership
Honoring LaCarl Russell
Mentor • Teacher • Friend • Legacy
In Loving Memory
This spring, our Dreamcatcher family experienced the heartbreaking loss of our beloved DreamCutz Lead Instructor, LaCarl Russell. LaCarl was far more than an instructor. He was a mentor, role model, and trusted presence whose quiet encouragement and unwavering belief in young people left a lasting mark on everyone who knew him. Whether he was teaching barbering, offering guidance, or simply listening, LaCarl helped young people recognize their potential and believe in themselves. In the days following his passing, participants gathered to reflect, write messages, share memories, and release balloons in his honor. Together, we celebrated a life dedicated to service, mentorship, and love. His legacy continues every time a young person picks up a pair of clippers, encourages a peer, or discovers confidence because someone believed in them first. Thank you, LaCarl. Your impact will never be forgotten.
A Year of Growth
Milestones. Partnerships. Recognition.
We were selected as one of 150 nonprofits to receive multi-year funding through the Cummings Foundation, an investment that will help expand our impact for years to come.
Dreamcatcher Initiative was honored to receive an NBCUniversal Local Impact Grant, which will strengthen our ability to expand workforce development, mentorship, and creative programming for young people across Greater Boston.
Dreamcatcher Initiative's work was featured in The Boston Globe, highlighting our relationship-centered approach to youth leadership and workforce development.
Looking Ahead
Building the Next Decade—Together.
As we celebrate our first ten years, we're equally excited about what's ahead. From expanding programs and partnerships to creating a permanent home for our community, we're committed to ensuring even more young people have opportunities to dream bigger, lead boldly, and thrive.
Thank You To Our Funders & Partners
For ten years, Dreamcatcher Initiative has been powered by community. Every milestone we've reached has been made possible by the young people who trust us, the families who walk alongside them, the schools and community organizations that partner with us, the volunteers who generously give their time, and the funders, individual donors, and supporters who believe in our mission. Together, you have helped us create spaces where hope becomes action, leadership takes root, and opportunity transforms lives. Thank you for believing in this work and in the next generation.
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
Robert & Toni Bader Charitable Foundation
Second Chance Mini Grant for Returning Citizens Support
Suffolk County Community Empowerment and Reinvestment Grant Program
Tyler Family Foundation
Uncommon Schools
Boston Afterschool & Beyond
Black Male Advancement
City of Boston Small Community Grants
Community Reinvestment Grant Program
Commonwealth Corporation Foundation
Cummings Foundation
MassHousing
NBCUniversal Foundation
Ways To Get Involved
Partner with Dreamcatcher Initiative to expand opportunities for young people and strengthen communities.
Volunteer with Dreamcatcher Initiative as we create opportunities for the next generation.
Support Dreamcatcher Initiative to help create pathways to leadership, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and hope.
W: www.dreamcatcherinitiative.org