DreamFest Inspires More Than 200

It was a day to dream big as more than 200 community members attended DreamFest 2017 on Saturday, with a free screening of the award-winning film ‘Hidden Figures’ at The State Theatre and pre-event activities that included completing “missions” and meeting influential women in Centre County.

“It’s important to keep dreaming, but to also meet people around you who are living their dreams. It makes the idea of a role model and dream job that much more tangible,” said Irene Miller, the organizer behind DreamFest 2017.

Attendees met a county judge, computer programmer, graphic designer, township manager, school board chair, police officer, business leader and real estate developer – all women living and working in Centre County.

“I spent my Saturday afternoon participating in this great event,” said Amy Farkas, Harris Township manager. “I loved talking to all of the kids about their dreams and sharing my story with them. I left the event uplifted and moved at what great young people we have in this community.”

The Girls Scouts were on hand to guide attendees through STEM-related activities. The Jana Marie Foundation also had a table, providing mindful coloring activities that can help give anyone a mental break. 

Attendees were given missions to find someone who could teach them a new word, who was born outside of Pennsylvania, who had travelled overseas, who was in charge of a team, who had started a company, who had negotiated their salary or a raise, and other real-world scenarios that help grow individuals in their personal and professional pursuits.

They also took time to reflect on what their dream jobs are, who their role models are, and what motivational quotes keep them moving forward.

After completing a mission, attendees could choose a prize: inspirational wristbands, bookmarks, and books. The book selection was varied to accommodate all ages, with acclaimed young adult titles such as ‘Matilda,’ ‘Island of the Blue Dolphins,’ and ‘Hidden Figures.’ There were also many biographies and autobiographies of women who have made their mark in history and culture.

Although the idea was originally conceived to inspire young girls, it had broad appeal and attracted a wide audience. The audience members consisted of about 25 percent men and about 50 percent adults.  Students – from pre-school through college – were in attendance and came from areas including State College Area, Bald Eagle Area, Bellefonte Area and Tyrone Area school districts. The Penn State Millennium Scholars were also in attendance, and the event attracted visitors from Harrisburg, Erie, Exeter, Montgomery County, and Philadelphia, as well as Middleburg, Va. and Rochester, N.Y.

The first, free screening of ‘Hidden Figures’ was held in January at The College 9 in an 82-seat venue. Afterwards, the idea for a second, bigger screening and event combination took hold and resulted in Saturday’s DreamFest 2017 event.

“Both of these events were completely funded through a GoFundMe page, which was supported by about 35 generous donors who raised $1,700 together,”  Miller said. “There were also several community volunteers who helped execute each of the events – decorating, greeting, facilitating, and being an absolute critical part of the success of these events.”

The initial idea for these free and inspirational events was borrowed from Taylor Richardson, also known as “Astronaut Starbright,” a 13-year old from Jacksonville, Fla. Richardson, an aspiring astronaut, began a crowd-funding campaign to show ‘Hidden Figures’ to other girls in her community. The idea caught on, spawning dozens of similar fundraisers and events across the country. 

“Taylor and her mom have been wonderful supporters of the State College events,” added Miller. “Taylor and Zena Cardman [a Penn State graduate student recently selected for NASA’s astronaut program] are wonderful examples of real-life women working towards their dreams.”

Miller hopes to hold a second DreamFest in 2018.