Realize the Dream is a visionary movement aimed at uniting communities to achieve an extraordinary goal: completing 100 million hours of service by January 15, 2029—the 100th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birth.

Inspired by Dr. King’s unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and a compassionate society, Realize the Dream embodies his vision of a strong, unified foundation for all. The initiative seeks to empower hundreds of thousands of teachers and bring hope to over six million students in underfunded schools across the United States.

As a company deeply committed to education and literacy for every child, Scholastic has partnered with this transformative mission. And as part of this commitment, Scholastic will be donating half a million dollars’ worth of books over the course of the initiative to help support Realize the Dream’s ongoing programming. 

Late last year, Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King visited Scholastic Headquarters in New York City to discuss the initiative in a conversation moderated by award-winning author, and Scholastic Vice President and Editor, Andrea Davis Pinkney. In today’s episode, the Kings and Andrea are back, joining guest-host Billy DiMichele in the studio for another compelling conversation about Realize the Dream!

About Realize the Dream: Learn more about the initiative.  

About Martin Luther King III: Learn more about the American human rights activist, philanthropist, advocate and the eldest son of Doctor Martin Luther King Junior and Coretta Scott King.

About Andrea Waters King: Learn more about the social justice leader and President of the nonprofit Drum Major Institute.

About Andrea Davis Pinkney: Learn more about award-winning author award-winning author, and Scholastic Vice President and Editor.

About Yolanda Renee King and We Dream a World: Learn more about the author, activist and sole grandchild of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and Corette Scott King, and her book.

Realizing the Dream with Scholastic: Kid Reporter Leyla Saldanha’s coverage of Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters King, and Yolanda Renee King’s October 2024 visit to Scholastic Headquarters to talk about the Realize the Dream initiative.

We Dream a World: Celebrating Black History Month With Yolanda Renee King: Suzanne McCabe speaks with Yolanda Renee King and Andrea Davis Pinkney in this 2024 episode about the picture book We Dream a World: Carrying the Light from My Grandparents Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. 

Martin Luther King III, American human rights activist, philanthropist, and advocate

“We wanted to create something that causes people to turn to each other. As we’re working together, we’re doing something that’s bigger than ourselves, in a climate, which is divided, this will hopefully begin to create the beginning elements of some level of community.” 

“What we really want is not to share what someone should do. What we want is people to decide for themselves what they want to do…What we know is when one is passionate about something, they’re going to do a better job.”

“Civility is kindness. Civility is how we say, what we say. Because we can say it in a constructive way, or we can say it in a destructive way. And we need to be creating the climate for constructiveness.”

“My greatest hope is that our nation becomes closer and not to just Realize the Dream, but people will realize their own dreams in a way that compliments everyone.”

Arndrea Waters King, social justice leader and President of the nonprofit Drum Major Institute

“One person can make a difference. All together we can change the world.”

“It is important, again, for all of us to find ourselves within the King legacy, but also for everyone to understand that if you’re doing something for someone else, if you’re serving your community, you are doing something to realize the dream of Martin Luther King Jr.” 

“Acknowledging the shared humanity of us all, at its core, is the foundational principle of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King’s work…As a humanity, we are all brothers and sisters. And that to me is what the cornerstone of what this movement is.”

Andrea Davis Pinkney, award-winning author and Vice President and Executive Editor, Scholastic Trade Publishing

“[Kids] want to take action. They’re big-hearted. And they know what it means to work together.”

“As well all know, books change lives. Books spark conversations. And that’s what We Dream a World does. It’s changed lives. It has sparked conversations.”

“Stories connect us. They unify us. They bring us together. In the case of the book, We Dream a World, it’s a jewel and a tool. It’s a jewel because it glistens, because its beautifully illustrated, because young people will engage with it and its beautifully written. It’s a tool, because it’s a way that young people can have the roadmap to say, “how do I make a change?” 

Producer: Maxine Osa, Anne Sparkman, and Allyson Barkan 

Sound engineer: S. Shin

Music composer: Lucas Elliot Eberl

Art & Writing 2025