Close Menu
  • Home
  • News
    • Local
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Health
  • Education
  • Sports
  • Podcast

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

What's Hot

OP-ED: Thena Robinson Mock: My American History

OP-ED: Thena Robinson Mock: My American History

With 200 Supporters in Norfolk Outside, NY Attorney General Letitia James Pleads Not Guilty

Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
  • Lifestyle
  • Podcast
  • Contact Us
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest Vimeo
The Windy City Word
  • Home
  • News
    1. Local
    2. View All

    Youth curfew vote stalled in Chicago City Council’s public safety committee

    Organizers, CBA Coalition pushback on proposed luxury hotel near Obama Presidential Center

    New petition calls for state oversight and new leadership at Roseland Community Hospital

    UFC Gym to replace shuttered Esporta in Morgan Park

    The Four Minute Offense: Jalen Hurts Triumphantly Bounces Back

    HBCU Football Wrap-Up: Tenn. State, FAMU, and Morehouse win on Homecoming Weekend

    Titans and QB Cam Ward are dedicated to two ideals: Growth and Development

    THE HUTCHINSON REPORT: Hit-and-Run Epidemic Continues to Plague South L.A

  • Opinion

    Capitalize on Slower Car Dealership Sales in 2025

    The High Cost Of Wealth Worship

    What Every Black Child Needs in the World

    Changing the Game: Westside Mom Shares Bally’s Job Experience with Son

    The Subtle Signs of Emotional Abuse: 10 Common Patterns

  • Business

    Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology supplier diversity office to host procurement webinar for vendors

    Crusader Publisher host Ukrainian Tech Businessmen eyeing Gary investment

    Sims applauds $220,000 in local Back to Business grants

    New Hire360 partnership to support diversity in local trades

    Taking your small business to the next level

  • Health

    THE HUTCHINSON REPORT: Hit-and-Run Epidemic Continues to Plague South L.A

    Recognizing World Mental Health Day: How families play a crucial role in suicide prevention

    Denied Care, Divided Nation: How America Fails Its Sickest Patients—and the People Fighting Back

    Unbreakable: Black Women and Mental Health

    A Question of a Government Shutdown?

  • Education

    OP-ED: Thena Robinson Mock: My American History

    How Babies’ Brains Develop

    Head Start Gave the Author an Early Inspiration to Share Her Story

    Alabama’s CHOOSE Act: A Promise and a Responsibility

    After Plunge, Black Students Enroll in Harvard

  • Sports

    The Four Minute Offense: Jalen Hurts Triumphantly Bounces Back

    HBCU Football Wrap-Up: Tenn. State, FAMU, and Morehouse win on Homecoming Weekend

    Titans and QB Cam Ward are dedicated to two ideals: Growth and Development

    HBCU Football Week 5 Roundup: Jackson State keeps the Good Times Rolling

    Jackson State Dominates Southern on the Road, Wins Boombox Classic

  • Podcast
The Windy City Word
Education

PRESS ROOM: Disney Dreamers Academy Makes Dream Come True for Teen Entrepreneur with Visit to ‘Shark Tank’

staffBy staffUpdated:No Comments4 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Telegram LinkedIn Tumblr Email Reddit
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest WhatsApp Email

2024 Disney Dreamer Academy attendee Te’Lario Watkins II joined investor Daymond John as his personal guest at a taping of “Shark Tank’’; Two other academy students also have magical experiences; Applications and nominations are now open for the 2025 Walt Disney World mentoring event.

NEW ORLEANS, LA. – On the heels of applications launching for the 2025 Disney Dreamers Academy, one of the academy’s recent graduates – aspiring entrepreneur Te’Lario Watkins II of Ohio – experienced a dream come true moment as a result of his participation in the Walt Disney World Resort mentoring program. Watkins, 16, recently spent an afternoon on the set of ABC’s hit show ‘Shark Tank’ as the personal guest of investor Daymond John, who was inspired to supercharge Watkins’ entrepreneur dreams after interacting with him during the 2024 Disney Dreamers Academy at Walt Disney World Resort this spring.

John, who was one of several celebrity mentors at the Disney event this year, was impressed by Watkins’ story of running his own mushroom farm, Tiger Mushroom Farms since he was seven years old and starting his own non-profit, Garden Club Project, to address food insecurity in his community. Walt Disney World arranged to fly Watkins and his father from their home in Blacklick, Ohio to Los Angeles, California where John gave Watkins an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of the show’s set, connected him with other entrepreneurs and introduced him to the show’s other “Sharks.’’ The highlight for Watkins was having the opportunity to learn business strategies from John, gain entrepreneurial insights, and acquire general life lessons. These experiences helped John become one of his generation’s most well-known, self-made millionaires—and Disney Dreamers Academy gave him yet another opportunity to share them forward.

“Being able to meet Daymond John again was super exciting to me,” said Watkins. “I wouldn’t be here without going to DDA. To high school students: applying to DDA would be one of the greatest decisions you’ve ever made in your life.” Disney announced during the ESSENCE Festival of Culture in New Orleans, Louisiana, that applications are now open for the 2025 event at http://www.DisneyDreamersAcademy.com, where high school students looking to achieve their dreams can be nominated or apply themselves.

Disney Dreamers Academy is an annual four-day transformational program at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, designed to broaden career and personal development for a select group of 100 teens from Black and underrepresented communities across America. The 100 selected students will receive an all-expense-paid trip, along with one parent or guardian, to Walt Disney World Resort to experience a combination of inspiration, education, and fun at The Most Magical Place on Earth. Students attend in-depth workshops in a variety of disciplines aligned with their dreams. These workshops introduce the Disney Dreamers to diverse career paths within business, entertainment, and sciences, including career opportunities within The Walt Disney Company.

Watkins was just one of several teens from this year’s Disney mentoring program who had the experience of a lifetime following their involvement in the event. Elijah Moore of Norfolk, VA., an aspiring producer and musician, was flown to Los Angeles where he received a special tour of Dolby Studios and Walt Disney Studios to name a few. Orlando Ecung of Los Angeles, who dreams of being a business executive, attended the world premiere of the movie “Inside Out 2” as a special guest of Walt Disney Studios. Over the years, Disney Dreamers Academy has inspired more than 1,700 students from across the country. Graduates have gone on to become doctors, engineers, performing artists, entrepreneurs, Disney Cast Members, and more. Some have transitioned into mentors to the Disney Dreamers who followed them.

Disney Dreamers Academy is an important part of Disney’s commitment to supporting diverse communities by encouraging the next generation to think big and use what they learn in their relentless pursuit of their dreams to help make a difference in the lives of others.

For more information, visit DisneyDreamersAcademy.com, or follow us on social media at Facebook.com/DisneyDreamersAcademy and Instagram.com/disneydreamersacademy/.

About Disney Dreamers Academy:

Established by Walt Disney World in 2008, Disney Dreamers Academy’s mission is to inspire teens from Black and underrepresented communities to dream beyond imagination by providing life-long access to personalized support for the Disney Dreamers, their caregivers, and the community through insightful content and uplifting experts, mentors, and sponsors. Each year, 100 high school students are awarded a trip to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida to experience this four-day immersive and transformational program.

The post PRESS ROOM: Disney Dreamers Academy Makes Dream Come True for Teen Entrepreneur with Visit to ‘Shark Tank’ first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp Telegram Email
Previous ArticleHow a Caring Community, Including Head Start, Propelled My Life
Next Article Drug Used to Treat Diabetes Now a Weight Loss Miracle but Difficult to Obtain in Black and Brown Communities
staff

Related Posts

OP-ED: Thena Robinson Mock: My American History

OP-ED: Thena Robinson Mock: My American History

With 200 Supporters in Norfolk Outside, NY Attorney General Letitia James Pleads Not Guilty

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Video of the Week
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxFXtgzTu4U
Advertisement
Video of the Week
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjfvYnUXHuI
ABOUT US

 

The Windy City Word is a weekly newspaper that projects a positive image of the community it serves. It reflects life on the Greater West Side as seen by the people who live and work here.

OUR PICKS

DeLorean’s Untold Legacy

Luxury, Tech, and Efficiency: The 2025 Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo Has It All!

Why We Need Gay Black Love Stories

MOST POPULAR

THE HUTCHINSON REPORT: Hit-and-Run Epidemic Continues to Plague South L.A

Recognizing World Mental Health Day: How families play a crucial role in suicide prevention

Denied Care, Divided Nation: How America Fails Its Sickest Patients—and the People Fighting Back

© 2025 The Windy City Word. Site Designed by No Regret Medai.
  • Home
  • Lifestyle
  • Podcast
  • Contact Us

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.