Some of the biggest stars across the music, sports and entertainment industries will come together at the summit to empower today’s youth. The event is open to all Temple students and select high school students in the School District of Philadelphia.
The Dream Chasers Summit was inspired by the significant success of Meek Mill’s Dreamchasers albums, and it is open to all students enrolled at Temple.
Photo courtesy of Meek Mill
For Philadelphia native and multiplatinum hip-hop artist Meek Mill, the term “dream chaser” is more than just the name of a series of some of his most successful albums. It is emblematic of Meek’s own path and a consistent motif within his music, as it is a theme he frequently references to help inspire young people.
That theme will be on display next month when some of the biggest stars across the music, sports and entertainment industries come together as the Dream Chasers Summit returns to Temple University’s campus. This marks the second iteration of the summit; the first Dream Chasers Summit was previously held in August 2013, also at Temple.
“Our community has been starved of resources and starved of opportunity,” said Meek. “The Dream Chasers Summit exists to change that. We are investing in the next generation, giving them insider access to elite expertise to ignite hope and turn dream chasers into reality makers.”
The event, which was inspired by the significant success of Meek’s Dreamchasers albums, is open to all students enrolled at Temple and will feature a series of interactive panels and discussions featuring A-list speakers. Co-sponsored by both Meek and Temple, the Dream Chasers Summit will be held Thursday, Sept. 10, at Temple’s Liacouras Center. The summit runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Temple students will use their IDs to enter.
The summit has been built around three official pathways, each of which is tied to a specific theme: Dreams and Nightmares (Culture, Music and Ownership), Championships (Sports, Leadership and Legacy), and Wins and Losses (Community, Career and Second Chances). The various panel discussions and conversations throughout the day are all tied to one of the three themes.
In addition to Temple students, 300 specially selected high school seniors from the School District of Philadelphia will attend the summit. Through a partnership between Temple University, the school district and Heights Philadelphia, participating schools will identify seniors to take part in this unique leadership development and career exploration experience. Throughout the course of the day, student attendees will hear from and engage directly with Meek and other high-profile leaders across sports, entertainment, business, culture and community, gaining valuable professional connections and insights on what it takes to succeed in their respective fields. Speakers for the event will be revealed in the weeks to come through special posts made to Meek’s Instagram profile.
“As Philadelphia’s public research university, we are delighted to partner with Meek Mill on this important endeavor and provide students with opportunities to connect with some of the most prominent names in entertainment, sports and business,” Temple President John Fry said. “Meek has never forgotten where he came from, as he remains deeply committed to serving this city and its young people, and we are grateful that he has chosen to give back to Temple in this way.
“One of the priorities of our strategic plan is Place-based Impact, and it is hard to imagine a better way to make an impact in our city and region than by bringing together so many important and influential voices for an event like this,” Fry added.
“Temple isn’t just a university; it is the very heartbeat of Philadelphia,” added Meek. “Philly is where I found my purpose, where I found my people and where I grew up. It will always hold a piece of my soul.”
The event will kick off with a special keynote from Meek titled “From North Philadelphia to Global Impact.” During his talk, Meek will discuss his own path, specifically focus on how he never lost sight of his dreams. He will then leave attendees with an important call to action and question for consideration: What are you willing to chase?
Philadelphia-born fast-casual brand honeygrow, founded by Temple University alum Justin Rosenberg, FOX ’09, is partnering with the summit to support students by providing fresh, complimentary lunch for attendees.
“Temple played an important role in my own journey, so supporting an event that helps students turn their goals into reality is especially meaningful to me,” Rosenberg said. “We’re proud to help create opportunities for the next generation of dreamers and doers.”
Multiple current professional athletes and musical artists are expected to participate in the event. Temple alum Larry Miller, FOX ’82, the current chair of the Advisory Board for Nike’s Jordan Brand, has been confirmed to serve as one of the panelists for the event and will join Meek for a featured conversation at the summit.
“The Dream Chasers Summit represents the type of partnership we strive to create at Temple,” said Arthur Johnson, vice president and Debbie & Stanley Lefkowitz ’65 Director of Athletics. “By bringing together leaders from sports, music, business and entertainment, we’re giving young people the opportunity to learn from individuals who have overcome adversity and/or turned dreams into achievement. We want every student who walks into the Liacouras Center to leave believing that they can overcome adversity and their goals are within reach while understanding that success is built through preparation, perseverance and the willingness to embrace opportunity.”
For more information on the Dream Chasers Summit, visit the event’s landing page. This page will also be updated with a run of show once speakers have been announced and confirmed.