About the Co-Founders

Kristy Long began her fifteen years of public service to U.S. Senator David L. Boren. Ms. Long has a Bachelors in Political Science and a Masters in Public Administration. Her inspiration for the institute comes from a battle with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA), since the age of 2. Ms. Long has been an advocate for JRA, which includes testifying before Congress for additional funding for research.

Rodney Bryan Pratz, author of the book "Amazing Achievers: Living your purpose while overcoming adversities" was inspired to write this book after his own personal struggle with several disabilities. Mr. Pratz received a Bachelors of Science in International Business and works for a company in the midwest.

Together they formed this institute to assist and increase the educational success of students with disabilities.

Mission and Vission

Mission Statement

The DREAM Institute is dedicated to enriching and increasing the success of the higher educational experience of students with disabilities through a three-fold approach, which includes: academic and professional mentorship; academic assistance, and scholastic awards.

The DREAM Institute CORE VALUES and BELIEFS

Integrity - To honor our commitments and to conduct our organization in an ethical manner and to manage our funding with sound business practices.

Commitment to people with disabilities - The recipients of our program are a priority and we will provide a quality comprehensive program to these individuals; providing academic and professional mentorship and academic and financial assistance.

Commitment to motivation - To motivate both disabled students and people in the community to have a can do positive attitude and to never give up. Encourage students with disabilities and communities at large to find their talents and to strengthen those talents to become successful.

Commitment to disability resources and advocacy -Assisting students with learning or physical disabilities to accomplish their higher educational and career goals. Helping them develop self-advocacy skills, while maintaining a successful career and together change the paradigms of students/people with disabilities.

Commitment to education - To build alliances with secondary and post-secondary educational institutions to increase the success of the higher educational experience of students with learning and physical disabilities.

Commitment to our donors - To manage funds with integrity and to maintain low operational cost and to provide the services stated in our mission. To issue timely donor reports on how funds are used, and maintain accurate accounting records. The Institute has an open door policy.

Commitment to Tolerance – To be committed to a practice that recognizes and respects the beliefs of others when those beliefs differ or conflict with ones own. Although, we are committed to tolerance and can respect someone’s opinion, we will not support behaviors or acts of terrorism, racism, bigotry, and or any inhuman acts or destruction to a city, state, or community. The DREAM Institute will not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, disability, and age.

Commitment to Compassion and Restoration – To be an organization that embodies a compassionate heart with clear focus to work with others to help repair the world through helping students with disabilities attend higher education and achieve.

Community - To help enhance the community in which we live and work.

Standard of Excellence - To maintain a standard of excellence in everything that we do. Recognizing that we are not perfect, but that we can strive for a standard of excellence. To accomplish outstanding results and performance and to always seek to improve. To maintain a cost efficient organization to support the mission and longevity of the Institute.

Communication - To share information, both facts and feelings. To be responsive in a timely manner to our partners, our program recipients, our donors, and other third parties. First seeking to understand before being understood. Being open to new ideas and possibilities. Welcoming out-of-the-box-thinking and ideas. To be honest in all communication.

Teamwork - To work together at all times and to respect and trust one another, to meet and achieve a specific goal together.

Alliances/Partners - To build alliances and partnerships with non-profits, state agencies, professional organizations, businesses and others, to support the mission of the Institute and to provide positive cohesive services to students/people with disabilities.

Tax Exempt Status

The DREAM Institute has been recognized as exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501 (c ) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code and eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions. All contributions are tax deductible under non-profit tax guidelines.

Funds and Planned Giving Services are managed by the Tulsa Community Foundation.

Governance

The DREAM Institute is committed to the highest ethical standards and operating the organization with the highest level of integrity. The Institute’s core values and beliefs and our commitment to the highest level of integrity drives our behavior as we aspire to earn and keep the respect and trust of our supporters, donors, volunteers, program recipients, and friends of the Institute. Click here to review important Institute documents that were approved by the DREAM Institute Board of Trustees and adopted by the Institute.

The DREAM Institute Board of Trustees

Kristy Long, Co-Founder of the DREAM Institute & Chairman of the Board

Trustee Pending Appointment, Vice Chairman of Board and Treasurer

Carolyn Dubie, Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services

Billye Beach, PSO

Tripp Hall, University of Oklahoma - Trustee Emeritus

James Martin, Ph.D., University of Oklahoma - Zarrow Center

Kathy Daily, Tulsa Community College

Nate Waters, Advocate, Williams Companies, Inc.

Claire Gentry, Artist and Illustrator

The DREAM Institute Advisory Board

Phil Lakin, Tulsa Community Foundation

Emily Wood, Educator & Advocate

Phil Wood, City Auditor, City of Tulsa

Ken Levit, George Kaiser Family Foundation

Raja Basu, Ph.D., Oklahoma State University/Tulsa

Jerry Dillon, Global Connect

Deniese Dillon, Dillon International

Yolanda Williams, Tulsa Community College