Dreama with long blonde hair wearing glasses and a red blazer speaking confidently on stage and gesturing during a presentation.

From rural place to national impact

Grounding national conversations in lived experience
and data-informed outcomes

Dreama, speaker, author, and thought leader, smiling outdoors with rolling hills in the background.

HI, I’M

The word 'dreama' written in black cursive with a metallic silver burst design near the end.

I lead Partners for Rural Impact, a national nonprofit working across multiple states to ensure rural children enjoy lives of opportunity and choice.

Because what I want for my children is what I want for all children.

FOUNDER & CEO, PARTNERS FOR RURAL IMPACT

ARCHITECT OF THE NATION’S FIRST RURAL PROMISE NEIGHBORHOOD

ADVISOR TO PHILANTHROPIC AND CORPORATE LEADERS INVESTING IN RURAL COMMUNITIES

NATIONAL SPEAKER ON RURAL EDUCATION, PLACE-BASED SYSTEMS AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY

Speaking Engagements
Speaking Engagements

WHAT I DO HAS ALWAYS BEEN INFORMED BY WHO I AM.

An older woman smiling with a group of young girls during a community gathering, reflecting her commitment to connection, mentorship, and personal growth.
A woman with blonde curly hair in a burgundy suit standing at a podium with a microphone, smiling, with a man in a black suit and tie standing behind her, in a room with cream-colored walls, a window, and some plants.
Four women standing outdoors with mountains in the background, wearing 1980s casual clothing and smiling.
A woman and a teenage girl with curly hair smiling, sitting together in a cozy room. The woman is wearing an orange outfit with buttons, and the girl is wearing a black top with a small white collar.
A woman with short, curly red hair sitting at a table in a dark room, wearing a white blouse. Another woman with black hair is sitting behind her, smiling, and holding her head with both hands.
Dreama posing together indoors in front of a wooden wall, showcasing the people behind the organization and its mission.

I GREW UP IN CENTRAL APPALACHIA, A PLACE RICH IN LOVE AND COMMUNITY, but ONE OF THE HARDEST PLACES IN THE COUNTRY TO BUILD OPPORTUNITY.

I was one of the lucky ones.

I had a family that supported me every step of the way. I had people who took the time to open doors — Pat Hurt, a guidance counselor who encouraged me to attend a five-week summer program on a college campus. Virgil Burnside, an admissions counselor who walked my mom through the college application process. And then Berea College, which made it possible for me to graduate debt-free. Later, a scholarship that allowed me to attend law school at the University of Kentucky.

Those opportunities changed the trajectory of my life. They also shaped how I see the world.

What made the difference for me and put me on a path toward success wasn’t talent or determination alone — it was the many people and opportunities that showed up at the right time.

Dreama and two people standing together indoors, smiling in front of a wooden wall and representing the collaborative spirit of the organization.

My work today is about making sure the futures of rural young people aren’t left to chance.

As Founder and CEO of Partners for Rural Impact, I work alongside communities, funders and policymakers to design and scale systems that support rural young people.

At the end of the day, this work is personal. I want to ensure that all rural kids have access to the same kinds of opportunities my own children have and that where you grow up doesn’t determine what’s possible.

I still live in rural Appalachia with my husband, Hasan, and our sons, Malcom and Christopher. I’m deeply proud of my place, and I believe every community — rural or urban — holds brilliance and opportunity.

Leadership and Advisory

As my work in rural communities has grown, I’ve been invited into national conversations shaping economic mobility, education and community development. These roles allow me to bring what I’m learning on the ground into broader spaces and stay connected to others working toward similar goals across the country.

Harvard Graduate School of Education
Senior Fellow, By All Means Initiative

Urban Institute
Mobility Alliance Steering Committee

1050 Forward
Advisory Group

Aspen Institute
Rising Generations Strategy Group

The Annie E. Casey Foundation
Children and Family Fellowship

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