Writing with Juliet Iwelunmor

I saw the most spell-binding collection that forced my mind to linger on what it means to dream. It led me to these words:

What future do you envision? For yourself, your community, your world? What forces your heart to linger on the possibilities? I am learning these days, the role of dreams. Learning how when we reveal our dreams, we catch a glimpse of our destiny especially in community. I am learning to dwell in the power of communities that dream together, frolick, laugh, but dream impossible dreams together. I am seeing that our dreams from our heart to the ears of those we form community with, can be our sanctuary, our space for safety, or place for joy. Not only do dreams with communities fuel our imagination, they shape our deepest desires, and maybe even hold the blueprint for our future.

For those who dwell between grey skies and coconut trees, those who endure overwhelming obstacles to begin out of nowhere but a firm desire to become, know the power of a lingering thought – an idea dreamed together can become like our North Star.

I had this dream once, had this idea of celebrating what we know to be Africa, my Africa, in a positive lens, be it art, fashion, evidence-based research or implementation science. It has taken years to dream a dream that seemed so out of reach. While the outcome remains unknown, I am basking in the joy and power of dreams that begin in communities, those that take their time to become sanctuaries…Keep this and thank you Ms. Cici and Ugo for letting me dream a little with you. It means a lot to be seen and reminded that our dreams matter. They do.