DREAM IN COLOR Returns with Black Houston Creatives Network

Dream in Color will run November 1 through December 12

BHCN returns with a goal of collecting another 15,000 for community-nominated organizations serving Houston youth

After Houston residents helped Black Houston Creatives Network (BHCN) collect more than 15,000 new and gently used art supplies for local youth during its inaugural Dream in Color campaign, BHCN is returning for a second year with a goal centered on sustainability: mobilize the community to do it again.

BHCN is working to establish Dream in Color as a sustainable annual community initiative capable of consistently expanding access to creative resources.

“Sometimes a child does not need a program or a perfect plan. They just need access,” said Denise N. Upshaw, Founder and CEO of Black Houston Creatives Network. “A box of crayons, a sketchbook, or a paintbrush can be the first step toward discovering something they did not know was inside them.”

This year, BHCN is asking Houstonians to begin at home by looking through closets, drawers, boxes, and storage spaces for new or gently used art supplies that could be placed into the hands of a young person.

At the center of Dream in Color is one question: What could a child create if given the tools to bring their dreams to life?

For Chukwunonso Ofili, a Dream in Color Ambassador and caricature artist, the answer began with a box of crayons.

“My parents saw my love for visual art and bought me a Crayola 64-count box of crayons,” Ofili said. “Growing up in Nigeria, I had never seen that many colors in one box before, and that moment changed my life. It boosted my imagination and showed me a whole new world of creative possibilities.”

Today, Ofili makes his living through creativity.

“I’m a caricature artist now, but back in the day, I remember hating markers because they would run out so fast,” Ofili said. “Now, 30 years later, it’s crazy to think that these same markers are part of how I make a living and feed my family.”

Dr. Cashuna “Shun” Huddleston, a psychologist supporting the campaign, said creative expression can help children communicate, process experiences, and develop confidence.

“Children do not always have the words to explain what they are thinking or feeling, and creative expression can give them another way to communicate and process those experiences,” Huddleston said. “Art can also provide a sense of accomplishment, build confidence, and create a safe space for children to explore their emotions and develop their own voice.”

Huddleston said investments in creative resources can support children emotionally, socially, and cognitively.

The 2026 Dream in Color campaign will include community donations, volunteer experiences, storytelling, and partnerships designed to mobilize Houston around investing in the next generation of creatives. Organizations serving Houston youth will have an opportunity to be nominated by the community to receive supplies collected through the campaign.

Before buying something new, look around your home.

An unopened box of markers, extra paintbrushes, a sketchbook, colored pencils, canvases, or creative supplies sitting in storage could become some of the first tools a young person uses to discover what they can create.

To donate art supplies, volunteer, nominate an organization, or learn more about participating in Dream in Color, visit www.blackcreativesnetwork.com/dream-in-color.