Dream the Vision project helps local women manifest dreams through guided workshops, artwork

Team seeks artists to help lead workshops

— Are you living up to your dreams?  Traci Buckner and Dreama Whitfield are answering this question with the launch of Dream the Vision. The mission is to provide women with empowering experiences.

Starting in 2017, DTVision will begin the dreamUp project, which will comprise four workshops throughout the year and include guided imagery exercises followed by the creation of three-dimensional pieces of art. After 100 Visionaries have completed the experience, 100 art pieces will be showcased in an Akron art gallery.

The co-founders point out that only 10 percent of women set goals for themselves, while women who do set goals are healthier and happier.

Co-founder Traci Buckner explains, “The dreamUp project is an opportunity to bring diverse groups of women together from all walks of life to draw strength from each other. The women will go through visual imagery exercises and create a piece of art from beginning to end that is three-dimensional. The piece of art will be a representation for the vision that they have for their life or a goal they are setting at that moment in their life.”

While some women may be unsure of their goals or perhaps hesitant or uncomfortable expressing their goals, the guided imagery exercises will allow the women to realize and visualize their goals before creating the artistic representation with their own two hands.

Dreama, a licensed therapist, points out the value of this practice: “We want women to know it is OK to want something for yourself. Once you achieve a goal for yourself, you are a healthier, happier person and that impacts the world around you.”

She adds: “The women will realize what they want for themselves, and then make the three-dimensional piece of art, going from the cognitive to the physical. When achieving a goal, first you have to see it and then go out and do the physical work, so we are simulating that experience during the workshops.”

After being awarded $20,000 from The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the dreamUp project is still in the process of raising funds to match the grant, and about 70 percent of the goal has been reached. The co-founders are hosting a fundraising event Nov. 18 at Gavin Scott Salon, or you can go to www.ioby.org/project/dreamup-project to donate to the project.

In addition, Traci and Dreama are currently looking to hire four different artists to lead the art exercise. Online digital submissions are currently being accepted. You can find more information and submit an entry at www.judgify.me/dreamthevision.

For info about DTVision and the dreamUp project, visit the project’s website or find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Use the social media hashtag #dreamUP330.