News Release: Inaugural D.R.E.A.M. Week Kick-Off

[CPRT Committee HAC-DST]

News Release - January 13, 2026

Inaugural D.R.E.A.M. Week Kick-Off Elevates Dr. King’s Vision Through Education, Partnership, and Community

Simsbury, CT — The Hartford Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. launched D.R.E.A.M. Week 2026 with a powerful articulation of what leadership, learning, and service mean in one community. Spearheaded by Dr. Zillah Fluker, the MLK Breakfast chair and the visionary behind D.R.E.A.M. Week, the event emphasized that D.R.E.A.M. is more than a week—it is a movement rooted in education, collaboration, and sustained action.

The day’s proceedings were anchored by BSL Education Foundation, the title sponsor for this segment, underscoring a shared commitment to community investment and educational equity. Attendees heard from a roster of leaders who connected their work to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s enduring legacy.

Connecticut State Treasurer Erick Russell framed the gathering around alignment with King’s vision, breaking down the D.R.E.A.M. framework to show how Dedication, Responsibility, Empowerment, Achievement, and Mentorship translate into tangible community impact. “When we align youth opportunity with King’s vision, every student’s dream becomes a shared blueprint for our Beloved Community,” Russell declared.

State Comptroller Sean Scanlon echoed the sentiment, stressing that the celebration extends beyond a single week into sustained partnership and purpose. “This is not a sprint; it’s a sustained march toward equity in opportunity for every family,” he noted.

Joelle A. Murchison, President of the Hartford Alumnae Chapter, presented a poignant art piece depicting the Edmund Pettus Bridge—the symbol of Dr. King’s leadership during the Selma to Montgomery marches to Tara Willerup. The artwork linked a national civil rights narrative to a local moment of reflection and action, with Murchison remarking, “The bridge is not just stone; it’s a pathway from courage to collective action.”

Aisha Petteway, Executive Director of the Hartford Yard Goats Foundation, joined Brandon McGee, President of the BSL Education Foundation, to highlight the power of partnerships and family as the engine driving forward-looking educational initiatives. Petteway stated, “Strong partnerships are the heartbeat of every child’s opportunity; family is the first classroom,” while McGee added, “Together we build a family of learners, mentors, and champions for tomorrow.”

The program also featured a reflection from Tara Willerup, Vice Chair, The Simsbury Free Library Board of Trustees who reminded attendees that Simsbury students walk the same hallowed grounds where King began shaping his dream as a young student, underscoring the local thread of national history.

The ceremony closed with a forward-looking vision for D.R.E.A.M. Week: an ongoing, community-led pursuit of education, equity, and empowerment. The event marked  the inaugural articulation of D.R.E.A.M.—Dedication, Responsibility, Empowerment, Achievement, and Mentorship—and signaled a bold commitment to carrying Dr. King’s Beloved Community into every local classroom and family.

For more information, contact the Hartford Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Amber Jones

Communications, Public Relations, & Technology Committee

p...@dsthartford.com

Hartford Alumnae Chapter

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

P.O. Box 2163, Hartford, CT 06145

Learn more about our chapter at: www.dsthartford.com