Shokare (Sho) Nakpodia, a native of Lagos Nigeria, is the creator of DreamWeek San Antonio. He studied in London and New York. He came to San Antonio in 2002 and founded The Mighty Group advertising agency. He serves on several boards and committees related to San Antonio community development.
DreamVoice, LLC was established in 2011 by Shokare Nakpodia as an offshoot of his Mighty Group advertising agency. It solicits funding for DreamWeek through sponsorships, donations and sales of branded merchandise and sponsors the Mayor's Ball fundraiser at the end of DreamWeek.
DreamWeek grew up around the annual Martin Luther King Day March in San Antonio as an educational forum to generate civil discussion on important topics facing society today. It has been held annually from mid to late January in San Antonio since 2013.
This SAPL LibGuide contains many helpful suggestions for people doing African-American research.
The San Antonio Martin Luther King Freedom Day March has become one of the largest and most popular in the country. In 2011 San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro challenged local advertising agencies to come up with a series of cultural and educational events to promote the exchange of ideas on universal issues facing San Antonio's diverse communities as an adjunct to the MLK march. Shokare Nakpodia, founding partner and creative director of The Mighty Group, a multimedia design, marketing and advertising firm, created DreamWeek, named after Martin Luther King's iconic "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963. The first DreamWeek lasted 12 days, from January 11-22, 2013 and featured more than 60 lectures, guest speakers and symposiums in and around downtown San Antonio. Each year since then, with the exception of 2021, the number of partners and events has grown and the conference has received international attention. Topics addressed have included racial discrimination and racism, LBGTQ issues, homelessness, immigration, domestic violence and gun violence. In 2017 the conference expanded to 16 days. In 2021 it was held virtually due to the Covid pandemic and was only 10 days long. The tenth annual DreamWeek in 2022 had over 200 events sponsored by 150 partners at more than 50 venues around the city and closed with a formal Mayor's Ball. The 2023 conference will run from January 13-29.
2013 (Inaugural DreamWeek)
"S.A. summit will cover multi-cultural issues." Southside Reporter, The (San Antonio, TX), December 19, 2012: 18SR. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
Wilson, Mark D. "Business briefing to kick off DreamWeek." Southside Reporter, The (San Antonio, TX), January 9, 2013: 1SR. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
Ayala, Elaine. "City's MLK celebration kicks off today ; 12 days of events are on tap during DreamWeek S.A." San Antonio Express-News (TX), January 11, 2013: 3B. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
Rodriguez, Andi. "DreamWeek sets a goal to share San Antonio's voice." San Antonio Business Journal, January 11, 2013: 12.
Huddleston, Scott. "Volunteers lend a hand with MLK preparations." San Antonio Express-News (TX), January 20, 2013: 1B. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
"A fitting day to reflect on King's legacy." San Antonio Express-News (TX), January 21, 2013: 18A. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
Pimentel, O. Ricardo. "Traditional 'justice' is merely failure." San Antonio Express-News (TX), February 1, 2013: 13A. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
Ayala, Elaine. "BLACK HISTORY MONTH ; Creative thinker celebrates King ; Inaugural DreamWeek had 60 events." San Antonio Express-News (TX), February 19, 2013: 3A. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
Ayala, Elaine. "City's diversity showcased in 1005 Faces." San Antonio Express-News (TX), July 29, 2013: 2A. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
Silva, Elda. "A sense of face ; Photographer uses portraits with messages to help define San Antonio." San Antonio Express-News (TX), July 31, 2013: 1D. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
2014
Ayala, Elaine. "OPINION COLUMNIST ; DreamWeek aims to bring more tolerance." San Antonio Express-News (TX), January 6, 2014: 2A. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
Ayala, Elaine. "DreamWeek events kick off today." San Antonio Express-News (TX), January 10, 2014: 2A. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
Hendricks, David. "Students compete to speak like King ; Contest a part of DreamWeek." San Antonio Express-News (TX), January 12, 2014: 3A. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
Hendricks, David. "enfoque ; Contest honors King legacy; Students practice their oratory skills." Conexión (San Antonio, TX), January 15, 2014: 8CX. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
2015
Ayala, Elaine. "OPINION COLUMNIST ; 12-day DreamWeek encourages city unity." San Antonio Express-News (TX), January 5, 2015: 2A. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
"inBrief." Southside Reporter, The (San Antonio, TX), January 7, 2015: 2SR. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
Davis, Vincent T. "Week honoring rights leader is underway." San Antonio Express-News (TX), January 10, 2015: 2A. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
Davis, Vincent T. "DreamWeek 2015 to end with MLK march." Southside Reporter, The (San Antonio, TX), January 14, 2015: 12SR. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
Ayala, Elaine. "King's legacy today." San Antonio Express-News (TX), January 18, 2015: 12K. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
2016
Ayala, Elaine. "OPINION COLUMNIST ; DreamWeek's creator has national goals." San Antonio Express-News (TX), January 4, 2016: 2A. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
Ayala, Elaine. "World-class status is a constant goal for the city." San Antonio Express-News (TX), January 14, 2016: 2A. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
2017
Davis, Vincent T. "Summit ahead of MLK march will begin today; Open forums cover range of topics." San Antonio Express-News (TX), January 6, 2017: A004. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
Eaton, Emilie. "Panel at forum takes up issue of gun violence." San Antonio Express-News (TX), January 8, 2017: A003. NewsBank: America's News - Historical and Current.
Ayala, Elaine. "OPINION COLUMNIST ; Disparate people meet during DreamWeek." San Antonio Express-News (TX), January 9, 2017: A002. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
Davis, Vincent T. "DreamWeek; A DreamWeek of activities; Forums, remembrances lead up to big Jan. 16 MLK March." Southside Reporter, The (San Antonio, TX), January 11, 2017: SR004. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
2018
Reports, Staff. "300 ; S.A. Tricentennial ; Arts; Mural tour is part of DreamWeek; Tricentennial event Sunday showcases West Side." San Antonio Express-News (TX), January 3, 2018: A011. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
O'Hare, Peggy. "Discussion eyes emotional toll of racist words." San Antonio Express-News (TX), January 7, 2018: A003. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
Ayala, Elaine. "OPINION COLUMNIST ; MLK march's success may be in city's DNA." San Antonio Express-News (TX), January 15, 2018: A002. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
2019
Davis, Vincent T. "16-day DreamWeek slated downtown." San Antonio Express-News (TX), November 25, 2018: A002. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
Davis, Vincent T. "DreamWeek citywide summit kicks off Friday." San Antonio Express-News (TX), January 10, 2019: A003. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
Davis, Vincent T.. "Ólájú market showcases Africa; Festival shows the diversity of African cultures." San Antonio Express-News (TX), January 13, 2019: A003. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
Anglin, Maria. "Column: MLK Day is a time to pay attention." San Antonio Express-News: Web Edition Articles (TX), January 15, 2019. NewsBank: America's News Historical and Current.
2020
Davis, Vincent T. "The search for black cemeteries is a journey into San Antonio's past." San Antonio Express-News (TX), January 12, 2020: A001. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
Riker, Marina Starleaf. "'They helped build the nation'; Dozens of families celebrate history of Buffalo Soldiers at Institute of Texan Cultures." San Antonio Express-News (TX), January 13, 2020: A003. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
Davis, Vincent T. "City set for 33rd official MLK March." San Antonio Express-News (TX), January 17, 2020: A003. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
Davis, Vincent T. "San Antonio Stories; Her work uncovers humanity in every face." San Antonio Express-News (TX), February 17, 2020: A002. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
2021
Davis, Vincent T. "Scaled down DreamWeek begins; Despite COVID, 10-day summit marks ninth year." San Antonio Express-News (TX), January 15, 2021: A003. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
2022
"DreamWeek marks 10 years of celebrating S.A.'s diversity," San Antonio Express-News (TX), January 13, 2022: 3. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
Editorial: "COVID stops MLK march, not its spirit," San Antonio Express-News (TX), January 13, 2022: 10. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current.
"Diverse future found in fashion, DreamWeek gives 'everyone the opportunity to share their voices,' San Antonio Express-News (TX), January 18, 2022: 3. Newsbank: America's News - Historical and Current.
