Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey kicks off in Orlando

By Joi Pearson | March 6, 2015 |

Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and Essence Magazine kick off the eighth annual event at Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The three-day weekend started March 5 and the 100 dreamers will graduate on March 8. The Academy is a career-inspiration program for 100 high school students from across the U.S. and includes interactive workshops, motivational seminars, hands-on creative experience and fun at Walt Disney World Resort.

The kick off started with a parade, then the Welcome Kick Off in the World Showplace Main Hall in Epcot hosted by former Dreamer and graduate Princeton Parker and Tracey Powell (executive champion for Disney Dreamers Academy). Mikki Taylor (editor-at-large for ESSENCE magazine), Yolanda Adams (gospel singer), George A. Kalogridis (president of the Walt Disney World Resort) and Steve Harvey also spoke candidly at the kickoff. Check out a few of the photos from the first day in the gallery.

Photos by Todd Anderson and Joi Pearson Photography

: Dreamer Sabrina Belcher and mother (WV)

: Dreamer Tia Cage (LA)

: Disney Dreamers

: New York Dreamers

: New York Dreamers

: Steve Harvey and Disney Dreamers

: Dreamer Jonathan Bowers (CA)

: Dreamers Aakilah Cameron (IL), Courtney Commodore (IL) and friends

: Dreamer Jonathan Bowers (CA) and mother

: Dreamers Aakilah Cameron (IL) and Courtney Commodore (IL)

: Steve Harvey

: Yolanda Adams

: Mikki Taylor, editor-at-large for ESSENCE Magazine

: Tracey D. Powell, executive champion for Disney Dreamers Academy

: George A. Kalogridis (President of the Walt Disney World Resort)

: Former Dreamer and graduate, Princeton Parker

: Joi Pearson with Dreamers Jonathan Bowers (CA), Aakilah Cameron (IL) and Courtney Commodore (IL)

: Joi Pearson, Rolling Out rep with The Mayor of Disney World

: (L-R) Disney Dreamers Academy participants Kayla Hargis-White, of Burlington, N.J., Bianca Benett of Bronx, N.Y., Brandon Iverson of Atlanta, Ga., and Armani Young of Chicago, Ill., pose March 5, 2015 with Minnie Mouse and television personality Steve Harvey during Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and Essence Magazine at Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The eighth annual event, taking place March 5-8, 2015 at Walt Disney World Resort, is a career-inspiration program for 100 high school students from across the U.S. (Todd Anderson, photographer)

: (L-R) Tracey D. Powell, executive champion for Disney Dreamers Academy, television personality Steve Harvey and Mikki Taylor, editor-at-large for ESSENCE Magazine, pose with Minnie Mouse March 5, 2015 during Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and Essence Magazine at Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The eighth annual event, taking place March 5-8, 2015, is a career-inspiration program for 100 high school students from across the U.S. and includes interactive workshops, motivational seminars, hands-on creative experience and fun at Walt Disney World Resort. (Todd Anderson, photographer)

: National entertainer and television personality Steve Harvey poses with Minnie Mouse March 5, 2015 during Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and Essence Magazine at Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The eighth annual event, taking place March 5-8, 2015, is a career-inspiration program for 100 high school students from across the U.S. and includes interactive workshops, motivational seminars, hands-on creative experience and fun at Walt Disney World Resort. (Todd Anderson, photographer)

: (L-R) Disney Dreamers Academy participants Danyscia Jarvis, of Riverview, Fla., Shanese Campbell of West Park, Fla., and Lionell Wright of Belle Isle, Fla. pose March 5, 2015 with Minnie Mouse and television personality Steve Harvey during Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and Essence Magazine at Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The eighth annual event, taking place March 5-8, 2015 at Walt Disney World Resort, is a career-inspiration program for 100 high school students from across the U.S. (Todd Anderson, photographer)