Fairhaven Businessman Urging Support for New Bedford’s Dream Out Loud

You will never catch Fairhaven businessman Joel Cordero saying a bad word about the Dream Out Loud Center in New Bedford.

Cordero, now 39, grew up in New Bedford and said the center opened a whole new world for him when he entered the program at 15 years old.

Cordero joined Townsquare Sunday this week to talk about the impact the Dream Out Loud Center has had on his life.

Dream Out Loud is located at 127 West Rodney French Boulevard (inside the Kilburn Mill) in the city's South End. The center is a member of the Greater New Bedford Youth Alliance, serving young people ages 11-18 interested in creative and performing arts.

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Its Creative Careers Program offers education and mentoring in areas such as graphic design, music, creative writing, theater and video.

Twenty-four years ago, Cordero's world opened up when Dream Out Loud introduced him to computers, graphic art, Photoshop and others task that he immersed himself in.

"I haven't stopped doing it since," he said.

Joel owns a company called Cordero Video and Photo which does video and photos for commercial businesses, specializing in real estate and product marketing. Cordero said the Dream Out Loud Center gave him "empowerment, the belief and the intangibles that you can't often find where I came from."

To show his support for the center, Cordero is donating half the proceeds from "Sky's the Limit," his sold-out exhibit on June 16, to Dream Out Loud. He wants to see the organization continue to provide a supportive environment to young people pursuing a career in the creative arts.

He's urging others to donate as well at joelcordero.com or to the organization itself with information on the Dream Out Loud Facebook page.

The complete interview with Joel Cordero can be heard here:

Townsquare Sunday is a community affairs program heard Sundays at 6 a.m. and 11 a.m. on WBSM.

The program highlights individuals and organizations seeking to make Greater New Bedford a better place to live and work.

If you would like your organization featured on Townsquare Sunday, please email the host at jim.phillips@townsquaremedia.com.