Rêve Academy was founded in 2010 in North Minneapolis, one of the most economically distressed areas in Minnesota. It’s here that the state’s academic achievement gap is on full display: compared to their white counterparts, students of color are less likely to graduate from high school or become proficient in reading and math. Our young people of color are leaving school and entering a job market where their unemployment rate is more than 100% higher than that of their white counterparts. In fact, Minnesota’s achievement gap and employment gap are among the worst in the country. And yet, the fastest-growing segment of Minnesota’s future workforce is students of color.
At Rêve Academy, we hope to create a place where those young people are the source of innovation, where they inspire the community and incubate new ideas and where they become digital leaders. Our goal is to equip students with the skills to succeed in high-demand, high-wage careers. We engage students in classrooms with our coursework and innovative methodology, and then on-site with real-world paid internships. Over time, students become proficient in business, technology, and design skills as well as develop highly valued professional skills like achievement, agility, authenticity, collaboration, empathy, and ingenuity.
Today our program serves middle and high school students from all over the Twin Cities Metro area – of which on average 80% come from low-income homes and 90% are racially/ethnically diverse. Our goal is to empower these students with the skills to succeed in the modern workplace, the knowledge to make informed life decisions and the belief in their ability to reach their full potential. Everyone wins: companies, communities, and the next generation of digital talent.
Rêve Academy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It meets standards of the Charities Review Council and is accredited by AdvancED as an education service provider.