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.”
Rather than waiting for students to travel to centralized facilities, the DREAM Mobile flips the model -- delivering programming directly where students already are.
“The DREAM Mobile program will take the play -- and the art and science -- right to the kids,” said Justin Jacobs, founder and executive director of Come Play Detroit and Play for a Cause.
At a moment when federal funding for after-school learning is shrinking, the DREAM Mobile offers a flexible, immediate alternative that meets students on their own ground.
From fixed location to mobile impact
The idea grew out of proven success. Up until January 2024, Come Play Detroit operated the Rocket Mortgage Sports Zone at the Monroe Street Midway downtown, serving more than 10,000 children with free play, sports and creative programming. When the Sports Zone closed, it became a catalyst instead of a setback.
The answer was mobility. The DREAM Mobile launched as a custom-wrapped van -- featuring vibrant artwork by Detroit artist Freddy Diaz -- designed not just to transport equipment, but to signal joy, creativity and possibility wherever it parks.
Meeting real community needs
What makes DREAM Mobile effective is how intentionally it was designed. Before launching, the team conducted surveys and conversations with school administrators, camp directors and students themselves to understand where gaps existed and how mobile programming could help fill them.
The result is programming that complements -- rather than duplicates -- what schools already offer. When schools lack staffing, space or funding for enrichment, DREAM Mobile steps in with recreational activities, STEM exploration and arts-based learning during after-school hours.
DREAM Mobile has been visiting Detroit schools, summer camps and community sites consistently, becoming a familiar and welcome presence for students who may otherwise go without structured, enriching after-school opportunities.
A vision for equitable public spaces
At its core, the DREAM Mobile reflects a broader vision of equity and access.
JJ Velez, director of public spaces at Gilbert Family Foundation, said the program aligns closely with Gilbert Family Foundation’s commitment to equity, creativity and community connection -- ensuring all Detroit youth, regardless of the neighborhood, have access to enriching experiences that support their growth.
“It removes barriers to participation and reimagines how people connect with public space in meaningful and joyful ways,” he said.
Impact and future growth
In many ways, the DREAM Mobile represents a “3.0 version” of concepts that have already proven successful -- combining recreation, arts and STEM into a single, adaptable platform. Early results from the summer of 2025 have validated the approach, with 8,300 student engagements already recorded through summer camp, school and community visits.
Unlike previous models that were limited to summer or fixed locations, the DREAM Mobile operates year-round and can scale as resources allow.
“The goal is to show proof of concept of our impact on the community and then be able to raise more funds to expand our capacity,” Jacobs said. “Instead of one van, we would like to have three, four, even five or more vans to be able to be onsite at even more schools/camps.”
The program also creates economic opportunities by partnering with local educators, artists and programmers, keeping investment circulating within Detroit’s creative community.
Community resilience in action
As federal funding falls short, DREAM Mobile stands as a model for how innovation and partnership can help close the gap. It is more than a van or a program -- it’s a commitment to the idea that every Detroit neighborhood deserves access to play, creativity and learning.
By bringing enrichment directly to schools during after-school hours, DREAM Mobile ensures that students don’t lose opportunities simply because budgets have been cut.
When traditional systems struggle, Detroit’s strength has always been its ability to reimagine what’s possible. DREAM Mobile is proof that when funding disappears, community-driven solutions can still roll forward, bringing hope, learning and joy along with them.
Interested in having DREAM Mobile come to an area near you? Click or tap here to learn more.