Salt Lake City, Utah

A Dream City

Learning Center Location and Contact Info:


Endeavor Hall

2614 Decker Lake Lane

Salt Lake City, UT 84119

Phone: (801) 972-1153

Salt Lake City Dream City History

Our History:


In 2004, Senator Orrin Hatch along with a host of community leaders helped us to inaugrate and open our first Learning Center in Salt Lake City.  At the time, the prison population in Utah was rising rapidly due to the opiod crisis and women were being incarcerated at high rates.  Senator Hatch sought our program as a support for the children who were being impacted by this crisis. 


We initially co-located with the local Boys & Girls Club and then eventually moved into the  Dual Immersion Academy, a new bi-lingual charter school, established in 2007 southwest of downtown.   After a successful partnership of serving many students and families, we moved to the Endeavor Charter School where are are located today.


Endeavor Charter School is a free public charter school serving a diverse population of young people who are exerpeincing poverty in West Valley City.  We are co-located inside the school and provide daily support to the young people and families of this school.


We are grateful for Senator Orrin Hatch's early support of our work in 2001 when he first made the commitmet to help us raise funds - which he did - he is responsible for our national expansion and our presence in Salt Lake City.


Senator Hatch was an ardent supporter and believed strongly in the dreams of our young people. 


Our People:

Amber Hesleph

Amber Hesleph

Learning Center Director

Email: ahesleph@usdreamacademy.org


Amber Hesleph is a Utah native who started with the U.S. Dream Academy as a University of Utah Intern, where she majored in sociology, psychology, and criminology. Amber has previously worked at a crisis nursery, a program for youth with autism, and in a girls’ residential facility. 


Amber prides herself on valuing every student, parent, and community member regardless of race, gender, or background. Her passion for human and civil rights, paired with her love for animals, people, food, and nature, is well represented in the Salt Lake City Center. Students often try new foods, work on service community projects, and practice mindfulness. 


Amber also loves watching football and basketball and enjoys playing dodgeball with students and challenging them to try new things. When asked what her favorite thing about being a U.S. Dream Academy staff member was, she responded, “I love the culture I get to create here. Getting to know the students on an individual level and really learn about them makes every day exciting. I have really enjoyed getting close to the parents and families and watching the kids grow from year to year.”

Jasmine McWilliams

Jasmine McWilliams

Mentor Coordinator

Email: jmcwilliams@usdreamacademy.org 


Jasmine joined the U.S. Dream Academy in 2021 as the mentor coordinator for the Salt Lake City site. Since then, she has played a vital role in advancing our mission to empower young minds. Jasmine holds a bachelor's degree in psychology specializing in childhood trauma, which gives her a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by the youth we serve. 


Jasmine's dedication to creating an environment that encourages resilience, curiosity, and self-expression is crucial in our efforts to nurture young individuals. She recognizes the importance of community support in promoting youth development and actively contributes to a nurturing network that helps our young learners achieve their full potential.

Our Partners:

Artes de Mexico

   Artist Carolyn Richardson

Best Buy

Bomba Marile

JustServe

Paint Mixer

Salt Lake Community College

SHARETIX

St. Matthews Episcopal 

St. Stevens Episcopal

Suncrest Hospice

Tooele Applied Technical College 

Unite Us 

University of Utah

Utah Food Bank

Utah Humane Society

Utah Museum of Contemporary Arts

Utah Prison Education Project

Visit.org

Washington Federal


Learn more about our other Learning Center locations across the country:

OUR LOCATIONS

Have questions? Interested in learning more?

CONTACT US
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