Dream Community Center

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United States
Thousand Oaks, CA
Dream Community Center

An inclusive recreation center for neurodiverse teens/adults in Southern California. Edlyn Peña, Ph.D. Her pride and joy is her teenage son, Diego.

Chief Executive Officer

For nearly 15 years, Dr. Peña has been highly involved in advocacy, research, and program coordination for the autism community. Dr. Peña is a Professor of Educational Leadership at California Lutheran University. She has sat on government and non-profit advisory boards that support disabled communities across the U.S. Her scholarship has resulted in over two dozen publications. As an autistic self-advocate, Diego’s need for communication support and inclusion inspired Dr. Peña to co-found the Autism and Communication Center at CLU, an incredible community resource that offers conferences, summer camps, college transition programs, professional development training opportunities, and social activities.

03/15/2026

We had the joy of celebrating three of our Dreamers—Jack, Ryan, and Sam—at the Celebrating Autistic Minds Art Show hosted by the Autism Society of Ventura County. 🎨✨

Jack wowed the audience with some awesome musical performances, and we are now the proud owners of beautiful artwork painted by Ryan and Sam—pieces that will soon be displayed in our new Dream Community Center space!

Congratulations to all of the talented autistic artists featured in the exhibit. Your creativity, voice, and expression inspire our community. 💛

03/13/2026

Friendships matter! Many unemployed autistic adults spend much of their week at home, which can unfortunately lead to isolation and limited opportunities for social interaction. At Dream Team day program, we intentionally create space for friendships to grow. Through interactive activities, group discussions, games, and shared experiences, our participants build meaningful connections and relationships with one another. 🧡

03/11/2026

Big news! 🎉 Dream Community Center is moving to a larger suite in the same building complex by early April!

We are excited to have a larger classroom, a more spacious gym, and a second classroom for breakout activities and classes.

Our new suite is currently under renovation, and we can’t wait to share the progress with you. Stay tuned. We’ll be posting updates along the way!

03/09/2026

The Dream Community Center was inspired by a larger vision from our CEO, Dr. Edlyn Peña—that people who don’t always have the privilege of using their voice, or who are too often unheard, will truly be seen, heard, and meaningfully included.

Today, Dream Community Center is that vision brought to life. We are growing and thriving, and we are proud to offer a place where teens and adults can shine with purpose, connection, and joy. Thanks to our amazing community of supporters for making it happen!
-2020, colored pencil art by Edlyn Peña

03/05/2026

We’ve loved welcoming both new and familiar faces to our Dream Team day program and social recreation classes this week! The energy, laughter, and connections have been amazing. Let’s keep the fun going! ✨

03/03/2026

Please welcome our new Creative Arts instructor, Kim Culhane. She teaches at Dream on Tuesdays and will be teaching art in our Dream summer camp. We are excited to have her! 🎨

“I’m a graduate of California State University Northridge with a bachelor’s degree in Art.

I’m married, a mom of three adult children, and I enjoy spending time with family and friends whenever I can. I love being outdoors—soaking up the sun, camping, and especially spending time on the Colorado River, which is my favorite place to be.

Art has always been my happy place. From woodworking in my garage to designing custom home décor, signs and banners for every occasion, I’m happiest when I’m creating! Teaching art is something I’ve done for as long as I can remember. Inspiring others to explore their creativity continues to be one of the most meaningful things I do.

I’m excited to be part of the Dream Community Center and look forward to sharing my love for all things art through hands-on creative experiences!”

“Art is not what you see but what you make others see.”

-Edward Degas

02/28/2026

Stop by and visit us at the Spring Transition Fair at the VCOE Conference Center in Camarillo this morning! 🌸

This event is perfect for teens and adults who are exploring resources and services for adulthood. Come learn more about Dream and other amazing programs in our community.

We’re friendly… and we promise we don’t bite! 😊

We can’t wait to meet you!

02/26/2026

Dream Community Center will be at the 2026 Spring Transition Fair in Camarillo this Saturday! 🌷

Join us on February 28th from 9am–12pm at the VCOE Conference & Educational Service Center in Camarillo. This wonderful event supports teens and young adults with disabilities as they prepare for adult life.

Come meet our team, learn about our Dream Team program, social recreation classes, camps, and inclusive community opportunities. We would love to connect with families, educators, and community partners!

Stop by our table and say hello. We can’t wait to see you there! ✨

02/24/2026

Enjoying the sunshine ☀️ and soaking up some fresh air on the patio near our center after a little Starbucks run ☕️💛

The simple moments are sometimes the best ones.

02/22/2026

Join us in welcoming our new yoga instructor, Marissa Acosta-Kane. Our Dreamers love her! Marissa is a certified yoga instructor of 7 years with a passion for creating inclusive, respectful, and supportive movement spaces. She brings a calm, grounded teaching style that prioritizes clarity, choice, and awareness. Her approach honors individual needs, and she is committed to creating a space where students feel seen, supported, and empowered. Marissa teaches the 1:00pm class on Tuesdays. 🧘🏻

02/19/2026

🌞 Dream Summer Camp weeks are filling up quickly!

We are so excited to see our campers for another incredible summer of fun, connection, and inclusive recreation. Some weeks are full, so be sure to secure your weeks soon.

Register here:
https://www.dreamcommunitycenter.org/summer-camp 💛

Address

Thousand Oaks, CA

Telephone

+18057964276

Website

http://www.dreamcommunitycenter.org/

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Senior Care Authority Santa Barbara and Ventu
Service Area:, Ventura

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