For years, downtown Detroit’s Rocket Mortgage Sports Zone served as a vibrant hub where young Detroiters could access free sports and art activations in the summer. But when the Monroe Street Midway closed in January 2024 to make way for construction of The Development at Cadillac Square, it left a question: how could we continue reaching Detroit’s youth with the same spirit of accessible, joyful programming?

The answer came in the form of wheels—and a bold new vision.

 

From Fixed Location to Mobile Impact

Launched by Play for a Cause (the nonprofit side of Come Play Detroit), the DREAM Mobile – an acronym for Detroit Recreation Education Arts & Culture Math & Science – represents an evolution in community programming. Instead of waiting for kids to come to a central location, this retrofitted van brings sports, STEAM programs, and arts activities directly to schools, camps, and after-school programs across the city, with support from the Gilbert Family Foundation.

“The DREAM Mobile program will take the play – and the art and science- right to the kids!” explained Justin Jacobs, Founder and Executive Director of Come Play Detroit and Play for a Cause. And speaking of art, the DREAM Mobile is the embodiment of the program, featuring art from well-known Detroit artist Freddy Diaz and custom-wrapped by The Wrap House.

The initiative builds on years of learning from the organization’s downtown programming, which served over 10,000 children through free transportation and programming at the Monroe Street Midway.

 

 

Meeting Communities Where They Are

The DREAM Mobile wasn’t developed in isolation. Jacobs and his team surveyed school administrators, camp directors, and students themselves to understand exactly what gaps existed in current programming offerings.

“Through our community outreach, we confirmed that there is a great need for programs that can expand on what the organizations are currently able to offer,” Jacobs noted. “Due to lack of funding or capacity, most organizations can’t provide all that they’d like. DREAM Mobile helps fill those gaps and provide Detroit’s youth with greater access to sports, arts and crafts, and STEAM programs.”

This approach ensures the mobile programming complements rather than duplicates existing efforts, working directly with administrators to identify where the DREAM Mobile can have the greatest impact.

 

Aligning with Our Vision for Public Spaces

For the Gilbert Family Foundation, the DREAM Mobile represents a natural extension of our commitment to equitable, accessible public programming. As JJ Velez, Director of Public Spaces at the Gilbert Family Foundation, explains, “The DREAM Mobile aligns perfectly with our vision for public spaces as platforms for equity, creativity, and community connection… It removes barriers to participation and reimagines how people connect with public space in meaningful and joyful ways.”

The mobile platform embodies our belief that great programming shouldn’t be limited by geography or transportation barriers. By bringing activities directly to neighborhoods, the DREAM Mobile transforms any space—a school playground, a community center parking lot, a neighborhood park—into a hub for learning, creativity, and connection.

 

Building on Success, Looking Ahead

The DREAM Mobile builds on the proven success of the downtown Sports Zone programming, representing what Velez calls “a 3.0 version of that concept, taking what we learned from fixed-location programming and evolving it into a mobile platform that is responsive, flexible, and community-driven.”

But this is just the beginning. Jacobs envisions significant growth. “The goal is to show proof of concept of our impact on the community and then be able to raise more funds to expand our capacity,” he says. “Instead of one van, we would like to have three, four, even five or more vans to be able to be onsite at even more schools/camps.”

Best of all, due to its portability and the expanded programming which includes STEAM offerings,  the DREAM Mobile is available all year round.

 

Creating Opportunities Beyond Programming

The DREAM Mobile also creates economic opportunities within Detroit’s creative community. By hiring local programmers and small businesses to lead activities during non-peak hours, the initiative provides income opportunities while introducing young people to programs they might not otherwise encounter.

As Jacobs reflects, this approach creates “awareness of their programs to kids who may not normally have access to those programs,” building connections that extend far beyond a single programming session.

 

Getting Involved

Organizations interested in bringing the DREAM Mobile to their community can visit here to learn more and fill out an inquiry form to connect with the team.

The DREAM Mobile represents more than just mobile programming—it’s a testament to what’s possible when we reimagine how and where meaningful community engagement happens. By meeting young people where they are, we’re not just bringing activities to neighborhoods; we’re reinforcing the message that every corner of Detroit is a place where creativity, learning, and joy can flourish.

The Gilbert Family Foundation is proud to support innovative approaches to community programming that support access to thriving, vibrant public spaces and highlights the unique strengths of Detroit’s neighborhoods.