San Diego Youth Kick Off the Realize the Dream Movement
On Saturday, June 20, 2026 – the day after Juneteenth – San Diego youth gathered at Mt. Miguel High School to sign a national service pledge, step onto a tennis court, and kick off the Realize the Dream movement in their city.
The event marked San Diego's official launch of Realize the Dream, a national initiative led by Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters King, and Yolanda Renee King to inspire 100 million hours of volunteer service by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 100th birthday on January 15, 2029. The King family launched the movement to unite Americans through service, foster connection across communities, and build a culture of empathy rooted in Dr. King's belief that the time is always right to do what is right.
In Spring Valley, that belief took tangible form. Every participant signed the national Realize the Dream pledge. High school student volunteers then put their pledge into immediate action by teaching tennis to elementary and middle school youth, modeling the kind of youth-led, generational service the movement is built to inspire. For many younger participants, it was their first time on a tennis court, picking up a racket alongside teenagers who looked like them and lived in their neighborhoods.
Teens Rise Foundation (TRF) Executive Director Gaby Millán framed what the moment meant for the TRF community: "Dr. King's dream is not realized through commemoration; it is realized through service. Every young person who signs a pledge to serve, every high schooler who mentors a younger peer, and every family welcomed into a community of opportunity is how Teens Rise Foundation honors Dr. King."
The kickoff extended Teens Rise Foundation's role as one of more than 270 organizations in the USTA Foundation's National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network – a community of programs helping young people from under-resourced communities succeed through tennis, education, and mentorship.
For Teens Rise Foundation, the Realize the Dream kickoff was not a one-day commitment but the latest expression of a mission the organization has carried for years: that South County San Diego youth deserve the same access, mentorship, and community celebration that more affluent communities take for granted.
The pledges signed on Saturday do not end on Saturday. Each participant joins a national network of Americans working toward 100 million hours of service by 2029 – and Teens Rise Foundation will continue partnering with families, schools, and community organizations across South County to make that vision real.
To learn more about Realize the Dream, visit realizethedream.org.