Dream Justice Cohort FAQs

Who is eligible to apply?

Dream.Org is an equal opportunity/affirmative action organization. It encourages applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, sex, gender identity, age, disability, religion, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, veteran status, or whether the criminal justice system has impacted you. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and strive for a criminal justice reform that is led by those impacted by it. We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds to submit their applications with an emphasis on people who are justice impacted by the legal system. If you are newer to advocacy or have a few years under your belt, this is the cohort for you.

Therefore, the eligibility criteria are as follows:

18 years of age or older as of the application deadline.

And (one of the following):

Justice Impacted (impacted by the Criminal Legal System)
Indirectly Impacted (Family Member, Significant Other, Friend)
A supporter of Justice Reform

When is the application deadline?

Friday, March 16, 2025 at 11:59 PM PST

I have previously applied to the cohort, am I able to apply again?

Yes! Applicants are encouraged to reapply.

How will I be notified about the status of my application?

Notifications are sent primarily via the email you submitted in your application. Every applicant will receive a notice about their application. If you are not contacted within 2 weeks of your application, the email you submitted included an error.

What is the timeframe of the cohort?

May 21 - September 27, 2025

Where will the cohort take place?

The model for the cohort is a hybrid between in-person and virtual meetings. There will be 2 in-person trainings (August & September) and multiple virtual live trainings (May-September). The in-person locations of the cohort will be announced to those selected at orientation. Below are the dates:

In-Person Training Dates

Tuesday, August 5 - Sunday, August 11
Friday, September 26 - Saturday, September 27

Virtual Training Dates

Thursday, May 15 (3:00 pm PT/6:00pm ET)
Wednesday, May 21 (3:00 pm PT/6:00pm ET)
Wednesday, May 28 (3:00 pm PT/6:00pm ET)
Wednesday, June 11 (3:00 pm PT/6:00pm ET)
Wednesday, June 25 (3:00 pm PT/6:00pm ET)
Wednesday, July 9 (3:00 pm PT/6:00pm ET)
Wednesday, July 23 (3:00 pm PT/6:00pm ET)
Wednesday, July 30 (3:00 pm PT/6:00pm ET)
Wednesday, August 20 (3:00 pm PT/6:00pm ET)
Wednesday, September 10 (3:00 pm PT/6:00pm ET)

Will travel be financially covered?

While every member may incur some personal costs throughout the cohort, all airfare, hotel, and most meals costs will be covered by Dream.Org.

What are my responsibilities if I am chosen as a cohort member?

All cohort members must attend all training sessions (in-person and virtual).
Every cohort member will be paired with a mentor who they will be required to meet with on a biweekly basis.
There will be assignments starting in May up until graduation weekend in September that will also need to be completed. Plan to spend 10-15 hours a month on trainings & assignments (though this may be less or more for some individuals). Some assignments will require you to work with other members in the cohort on a team, though time will be provided within the weekends for those projects.

How can I contact you?

Email us at justice.cohort@dream.org