Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor heads to Bronx for 'Dream Big Day"
NEW YORK (WABC) -- A Supreme Court Justice is helping schoolchildren in the Bronx to dream big.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor came home Thursday to help the Bronx Children's Museum mark its "Dream Big Day".
She literally led the cheers among the kids, as one of the Bronx's biggest cheerleaders and most influential natives returned to her home borough.
"I'm a kid at heart you know," she said. "I still like having fun. I loved learning, and what else guys? I still have dreams like they do."
It's a celebration inspired by Bronx native and renowned musician and educator Dr. Valerie Capers.
Dr. Capers was the first and is the only person who is blind who has graduated from the Julliard School.
"Dream Big" is an intensive summer arts enrichment program for children from second to third grades.
"Dream Big" inspires kids to do just that. "Growing up in the Bronx sometimes you didn't have opportunities, and we're trying to change that, so we're allowing them to see what the world has to offer," said Omar Perez of the Bronx Children's Museum.
In 2013, Dream Big expanded into a five month after school dance and visual arts program at PS 55 and in 2014 at PS 49.
Teaching artists engage children in the visual arts, dance, music, and drama culminating in a closing celebration at their school or in the summer at a Bronx University or College where children display what they have learned.
Sotomayor was the first "Dream Big" honoree six years ago, but she's come back every year, and on Thursday introduced Capers, who spent the last few weeks working with third and fourth graders on an original composition.
"I learned you've gotta try hard to reach your destination," said student Zaynab Kone.
"The important part is that their dreams, they're our dreams for the future, for how we can better the world," said Sotomayor.
The Bronx is the only borough without an actual children's museum, but that is set to change. A new facility is scheduled to open in 2017.
