DREAM Mobile brings STEAM and recreational opportunities to Detroit students amid federal funding cuts
Michigan stands to lose more than $81M in educational resources amid funding cuts
Detroit students are entering a school year marked by uncertainty. Across the country, $6.2 billion in federal education funding has been withheld, creating one of the most significant shortfalls public schools have faced in years.
Michigan alone stands to lose $81.6 million across four critical programs -- more than $65 per student -- which will impact after-school enrichment, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, educator development and English learner support.
For Detroit schools already navigating limited resources, these cuts land where they hurt most: in the out-of-school hours that keep students engaged, safe and inspired. After-school programs that provide academic support, creative outlets and physical activity are often the first to be scaled back, even as families rely on them more than ever.
As federal support disappears, the question becomes urgent: How do we ensure Detroit youth still have access to meaningful learning and enrichment beyond the classroom?
DREAM Mobile: A solution on wheels
One answer is arriving curbside.
The DREAM Mobile -- short for Detroit Recreation Education Arts & Culture Math & Science -- is a mobile enrichment program designed to bring high-quality recreational, arts and STEAM experiences directly to Detroit schools and neighborhoods. The initiative is a partnership between the Gilbert Family Foundation and Come Play Detroit’s nonprofit arm, Play for a Cause, which blends philanthropic investment with deep community expertise.
“Through our community outreach, we confirmed that there is a great need for programs that can expand on what the organizations are currently able to offer,” said Justin Jacobs, founder and executive director of Come Play Detroit and Play for a Cause. “Due to lack of funding or capacity, most organizations can’t provide all that they’d like. DREAM Mobile helps fill those gaps and provide Detroit’s youth with greater access to sports, arts and crafts and STEAM programs.”
