DreamWeek advances the voices of tolerance, equality, and diversity by remembering the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The 12-day summit occurs on every side of town for every budget. Of the 150 events launching, some are geared towards entertainment while others are educational and enriching.
DreamWeek's mission is to continue and modernize the teachings set forth by MLK by creating dialogue across the cultures and communities of San Antonio. It provides an environment for a global exchange of ideas through a series of speaking engagements, mixers, workshops, and celebrations that foster exploration of universal issues. Each event will motivate the community to take action in creating a more tolerant and enlightened society.
Find an event that inspires you with this helpful guide to the best DreamWeek happenings. The dream lives on.
Opening Ceremony for DreamWeek
The DreamWeek Opening Ceremony kicks off the summit celebration at the Jack Guenther Pavilion at the Briscoe. Attendees can enjoy breakfast with keynote speaker Martin Luther King III and a presentation by DreamVoice President Shokare Nakpodia. Tickets can be purchased online and by phone.
Friday, January 8 at 7:30 am
Dream Party at SAMA
Get ready to party and enjoy a combination of art, music, and cocktails on the River Landing at the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA). The party pairs an aspect of the museum's art with a complementary musical genre and specialty cocktails. The party is a collaboration between SAMA, DreamWeek, and KRTU 91.7. The party is free to museum members and costs $10 for nonmembers.
Friday, January 8 at 6 pm
Unity Wreath
The Unity Wreath is a cooperative art project to which guests of Forest Hills Library will be invited to contribute. The wreath will be designed with colorful construction paper, and the end result will be a Unity Wreath formed with the handprints of community members. The event is free and open to the public.
January 8 through 19
Vintella Dream Ride
This bicycle group ride aims to provide a blast from the past with cyclists filling downtown streets in vintage-inspired wear. Led by a procession of classic cars, riders will enjoy a casual 10-mile scenic tour through historic San Antonio. The ride begins and ends under the Tower of the Americas where there will be an open air old-time marketplace with live entertainment, a fashion show, contests, and more. There is a $20 pre-registration fee for the ride and tickets may be purchased online.
Saturday, January 9 at 9 am
The Olaju Art Group presents "Perspectives From Within"
"Perspectives From Within" is a group exhibit featuring three emerging Nigerian photographers at Southwest School of Arts. Each artist exposes a particular topic of his or her choice designed to engage an audience with culturally significant subject matter. The photographs give insight into the current state of Nigeria. The suggested donation to view the exhibit is $10, which will be on display through January 19.
Saturday, January 9 at 2 pm
Lone Star Art District presents Second Saturday Art Walk
This is a monthly gathering where the public can connect with local artists and experience the diversity of arts, music, and film from community members. One of the galleries is AP Art Lab, which uses a creative platform to focus on social and civic engagement issues. AP Art Lab will also feature work from Humans of San Antonio photographer, Michael Cirlos. Indep Arts and Film Festival, an advocate for art awareness, will also be in attendance and will screen animation and shorts from local filmmakers.
Saturday, January 9 at 7 pm
1005 Faces book launch
Sarah Brooke Lyons' 1005 Faces of San Antonio is a way to explore cultural diversity and recognize how individual identities create a collective consciousness in the Alamo City. The book re-imagines the face of San Antonio "as a cosmopolitan multicultural epicenter of interesting people looking to create an awesome place to live," Lyons explains in her artist statement. The book is $39 and is available by pickup at the event, held at Pearl Studio, by mail, or at the DreamVoice office.
Sunday, January 10 at 3 pm
Selma screening featuring Peggy Wallace Kennedy
The San Antonio Martin Luther King Jr. Commission will present a screening of the 2014 film Selma, directed by Ava DuVernay and starring Oprah Winfrey and David Oyelowo. The film documents MLK's campaign for equal voting rights, including the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965. Immediately following the film screening, Peggy Wallace Kennedy, the daughter of former Alabama governor George C. Wallace, will share her personal journey to redemption and her firsthand account of race and politics in the American South. The event at Carver Community Cultural Center is free but seating is limited. Tickets are required.
Monday, January 11 at 6 pm
Place Changing: Living Stories on the Eastside
Place Changing is an interactive storytelling initiative that uses public forums to chronicle the neighborhoods transforming San Antonio. The stories are told from the voices of east side residents and shed light on common challenges that can bring neighbors together in the face of development. This workshop turns the mic to longtime residents, public servants, community leaders, and business owners. Participants are invited to dine, listen, and create an immersive repository of cultural history that will live online for the public to access for generations to come. The event, held at the Spire at Sunset Station, is free but does require registration.
Monday, January 11 at 6:30 pm
The Epidemic of LGBTQ Youth Homelessness
The public is invited to join Thrive Youth Center for a documentary and discussion about the epidemic of LGBTQ youth homelessness in the United States. The event at Blue Star Brewing Company is free and open to the public.
Tuesday, January 12 at 5:30 pm
Good People Mixer
Good People spotlights businesses and business owners along with influential people and brands that support growing communities of professionals. The mixer is hosted by Christian and Uche Ogba of BethanyEast PR at Freetail Taproom. The evening will be an informative introduction to San Antonio's most extraordinary people. The event is free with an optional donation to benefit the Edwards Aquifer Conservancy.
Tuesday, January 12 at 6 pm
Overcoming Homelessness
This event offers a double film screening of Time Out of Mind and Inocente with a panel discussion from local experts on the topics of poverty, homelessness, and race. Inocente was a recent winner at the San Antonio Film Festival. This documentary is 40 minutes long and chronicles the life of a 15-year-old girl in San Diego who is homeless but also attends school and dazzles with her artistic skill. Time Out of Mind, from Academy Award-nominated writer and director Oren Moverman is a look at life on the streets that immerses viewers in one man's daily quest to survive. Richard Gere plays the role of George, a man whose daily struggle is to find food and a place to sleep in New York City. The event is sponsored in part by Texas Public Radio and SAMM Ministries. Screenings take place at Santikos Bijou Cinema.
Wednesday, January 13 at 7 pm
Taste the Dream Gala
San Antonio for Growth on the Eastside (SAGE) will host the Taste the Dream Gala at the Institute of Texan Cultures. This gala intends to celebrate diversity through food, and will be an exploration of culinary classics and cultures from around the world. Participants can expect to experience traditional cuisines from the Mediterranean, Asia, Latin America, Africa, Cuba, and Europe along with Cajun/Creole, barbecue, comfort food, and vegetarian. Tickets must be purchased online.
Saturday, January 16 at 6 pm
Dream Leaders of San Antonio
Local children will be recognized as Dream Leaders for their accomplishments in various DreamWeek themes. San Antonio children engaged in their community were nominated, and 12 were selected to represent the 12 days of the DreamWeek summit. The recognition ceremony at The DoSeum will be followed by activities in which children will be able to learn about historical and contemporary dream leaders, write about select DreamWeek themes in creative writing workshops, and make Native American dream catchers. This event is free and open to the public and will also feature poet laureate Carmen Tofolla.
Saturday, January 16 at 11 am
Martin Luther King Jr. March
Join in on one of the country's largest MLK marches. The 2.5-mile walk begins at 10 am at the MLK Jr. Academy and ends at Pittman-Sullivan Park. Individuals, as well as civic, social, and religious organizations are encouraged to bring banners and be involved in this unforgettable experience. For route information or VIA park and ride locations, visit sanantonio.gov/mlk. The event is free and open to the public.
Monday, January 18 at 10 am
DreamVoice Freedom Party
Join the 2016 DreamWeek team and partners in celebrating the success of the fourth annual summit with drinks, food, music, prizes, and more. The free party will close out DreamWeek at the Southwest School of Art.
Tuesday, January 19 at 6:30 pm
For the full DreamWeek calendar, visit the website.
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Martin Luther King III is the keynote speaker for DreamWeek 2016.
