Welcome to Dream City

Dream | Believe | Achieve

Empowering Communities. Transforming Lives.

Black modern two-story building with large glass windows, sign reading 'DREAM CITY,' two leafless trees in front, and a sidewalk and parking space.

Dream City's Mission is to inspire and empower youth, families, and entrepreneurs by building meaningful connections through advocacy, arts, community development, small business growth, and wellness.


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VALUE STATEMENT

A group of people, including a woman with glasses and a young girl, are inside a well-lit room with large windows and balloons in the background. The woman is smiling and sitting while talking to a man showing her something on a device, with a child holding a colorful sippy cup standing nearby. Other individuals are in the background, engaged in conversations.

Dream City is a community-powered nonprofit rooted in equity, collective care, and lived experience. We exist to ensure that people, especially those historically excluded, have access to the relationships, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive.

Too many people navigate systems that were never designed with their lived experiences in mind. Dream City exists to change that by building spaces rooted in care, dignity, and opportunity.

We believe transformation happens through trust, consistency, and compassion paired with excellence.

OUR PROGRAMS

Strengthening families and caregivers through connection, education, and community support.

Legacy Builders Network

Developing youth leaders through mentorship, leadership development, youth conferences, and real-world workforce opportunities.

NexGen Leadership Collective

Explore Our Programs

Empowering underrepresented entrepreneurs through education, mentorship, and community-drive economic development.

Impact Builders Hub

OUR COMMUNITY SPACES

  • A large indoor gathering with people seated at round tables covered with white tablecloths, some pumpkins on the tables, and a buffet line with food on the left side of the room. The room has high ceilings with exposed pipes and modern lighting, large windows along the back wall, and a crowd of diverse individuals including children.

    A. Jordan Event Space

    A flexible venue for community events, workshops, and performances, seating up to 150 guests.

    $100/hr weekdays (daily cap $675)

    $115/hr weekends (daily cap $800)

  • A large group of people gathered in a dark auditorium watching a stage performance. The stage has performers singing or speaking, with some gesturing. The audience appears engaged, some standing, others seated. The scene is illuminated by blue and white lights, with a large screen in the background displaying faint text.

    Dreamers Auditorium

    Our largest venue for conferences, keynote events, and performances, seating up to 235 guests with full A/V support.

    $150/hr weekdays (daily cap $950)

    $175/hr weekends (daily cap $1200)

  • Commercial stainless steel kitchen with three ovens and a large vent hood.

    Commercial Kitchen

    A certified commercial kitchen for licensed food entrepreneurs and caterers. This space is available 24/7.

    $20/hr (12+ hrs/week)

    $30/hr (under 12 hrs/week)

  • A classroom or conference room with about 14 people attending a presentation. Most are seated at tables with some using laptops. There is a large screen at the front displaying a presentation titled 'Setting the Foundation for Social Media Growth.' The room has a tiled ceiling with fluorescent lights and beige carpeting.

    Classrooms

    Three fully equipped classrooms ideal for workshops, trainings, and meetings, serving 15–35 participants.

    $35/hr weekdays (daily caps $225)

    $40/hr weekends (daily caps $275)

  • Empty office conference room with desks, chairs, and telephones, illuminated by ceiling lights and natural light from large windows.

    Coworking Space

    Shared workspace designed for entrepreneurs, creatives, and professionals seeking a collaborative environment.

    $225/month per desk

    • 3 desks available

  • Interior of a modern barbershop or salon with vintage-style chairs, a ring light, neon wall lights, and a glass door with an illuminated logo.

    Micro-Retail Space: The Fade Factory Barbershop

    Street-level retail space supporting small business growth. This space is currently leased to The Fade Factory Barbershop.

Request Space at Dream City

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • Understanding Your Numbers

    2.12 - 5:30-7:00 PM

    This workshop helps entrepreneurs understand their cash flow, expenses, and income so money feels less stressful and more manageable. You’ll leave with a simple financial snapshot of your business and tools you can use to make informed decisions.

    People attending a presentation in a bright, modern room with large windows, sitting at round tables covered with black tablecloths, listening to a speaker at the front.

  • Building Bridges Between US

    2/19 - 6:00-9:00pm

    Join us for an evening of dialogue, reflection, and connections as community leaders come together to explore unity and healing within Iowa City’s Black community. This is a space to listen, learn, and build bridges that move us forward.

    Two people are standing at a wooden table, writing on a large sheet of paper with sticky notes in a restaurant or cafe with large windows and outdoor seating visible through the windows.

  • Community Dinner & Free Concert

    2/27 - 5:30-7:00pm

    Come together for a night of culture, music, and shared joy as we celebrate Black History through food, live performance, and community fellowship. Musical performances from the University of Iowa Jazz Professors.

    Group of diverse people standing on stage in front of a large screen displaying 'Exchange Networking for Success' and event sponsorship logos.
Explore Our Events

Make An Impact.

Support Dream City’s Mission And Vision.

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Our Funding Partners

Silhouette of Iowa City skyline with buildings and trees, with the text 'City of Iowa City' below.
Johnson County logo with black skyline and green fields on orange and black background.