Lundstrum 'believes in my dreams'

When the sun peeped through the curtains of Lundstrum the morning of October 11th, it lit a bustling scene. We hosted our second annual Inspiring Dreams Breakfast, an opportunity to share our mission and impact with the community.

This year Ashley Brown, a former Lundstrum student and now one of our dance teachers, shared her story with our guests.

"Dance gave me peace of mind."

Ashley Brown grew up in North Minneapolis and came to Lundstrum when she was five years-old. As she stood at the podium in front of our 200+ guests, she recalled how she had been a shy and quiet child. Guests now familiar with Ashley gave a warm laugh at the idea of her as timid.

She related how Lundstrum had been a positive and stable place for her in high school when her mother grew seriously ill. Dance gave her peace of mind and “the strength to endure the hardship.”

At the 2017 Inspiring Dreams Breakfast, Ashley Brown shared how dance built her confidence and helped her pursue her dream of a career in criminal justice.

“The importance of Lundstrum in my life,” Ashley continued, "became even greater by increasing my self-confidence, spending my downtime in a place that has a positive influence on my future, and being around supportive people, who not only believe in me, but believe in my dreams for the future.”

At the 2013 Gala, Ashley Brown performs alongside a fellow Lundstrum student.

Today, Ashley is a fulltime student pursuing a career in criminal justice and interning for the state department, however she believes it doesn’t matter if a Lundstrum student plans to pursue a career in the arts. Musical theater classes nurture students to see their unique place in the world and realize their potential. She credits Lundstrum with helping her build the self-confidence and self-discipline to pursue her dream of working for global justice.

We’re proud of the part Lundstrum has played in students’ lives. Our donors responded to our mission and Ashley’s story with enthusiasm. We raised over $60,000 at the breakfast, surpassing our fundraising goal. We’re thankful for their generosity, and for Ashley who took the time to share her story. 

If you want to help encourage students like Ashley, please consider supporting our mission.

And if you have a child that needs encouragement and a place to creatively grow, we’d love to help them realize their potential.