The holidays are always a special time. It’s a time to reflect on the year, take stock of where you find yourself, and begin preparing for the new year ahead. It’s also a time to build community and create new relationships that will guide your future. In early December, we got to see that in action here in Brooklyn.
On December 6, the Brooklyn Nets hosted the Dream Summit at their new Brooklyn Basketball Training Center. The new Center has been open since September 25 and has already hosted community events featuring the Nets and New York Liberty. The Social Justice Fund hosted the event on the 6th, and as we’ve covered here at NetsDaily, the SJF has worked to uplift various organizations and causes in Brooklyn.
This time around, they linked up with a Chicago hero.
December 6, 2025: Artist and entrepreneur Common at Dream Summit in Brooklyn, NY. Photo via BSE Global
Common has been involved in community efforts for many years. The Chicago artist, activist, and entrepreneur has been active across the United States in advocating for various causes over the decades and continues to do so heading into 2026. Free to Dream has been active since 2024 and has assisted kids in places such as Chicago, Los Angeles, and now New York. This line from their website stands out and is something we should all remember:
“We don’t know what the future will look like, but we do know the dreams of this next generation will help create it.“
That guiding light influences the work Free to Dream does, and it was on display in Brooklyn on December 6
“One of the things I always wanted to be a part of is things that can be active in people’s lives for young people, Common said. ”For me, to be here with the young people and say, “Okay, when we leave, you have some things to do. You got work to do, and you know what you need to do.
I don’t like just coming up and speaking, donating some money, and then I don’t know what the follow through is. You make an impression, but we need follow through… So to know that we are laying down groundwork for practical things that they can apply in their lives, and we will be checking in and making sure that this is a process that we can be supportive in and encouraging. This a long term journey, and not just a one [time] moment [where] I’m showing up [and] taking pictures. [Follow through] is the most important thing for me.“
December 6, 2025: The Dream Summit in Brooklyn, NY. Photo via BSE Global
To begin the Dream Summit, the kids took part in deep breathing exercises and affirmations to refresh their bodies and energize them for the day ahead. From there, took part in group exercises in which they discussed their experiences and intentions for the year. Some of the group came from as far as Paterson, New Jersey to take part in the Summit. We also got to see organizations like CASES, who have past history with the Social Justice Fund, partner with Free to Dream and take part in the festivities. The Social Justice Fund has made community building a big part of their mission and partnerships like these go a long way in achieving their goals.
“Our focus,” Gregg Bishop, Executive Director of the Social Justice Fund said, “is really on supporting grassroots organizations across Brooklyn that are making investments in their particular community. And together, through our investments, we’re making them stronger. We want to make sure that they are sustainable and they continue delivering the great services that they’re doing in their community. So the Social Justice Fund is really about investing in Brooklyn, and today, this is a manifestation of that.”
After the events concluded, everyone took a trip across the street to Barclays Center and got to watch one of the best games of Michael Porter Jr’s career as the hometown Nets beat the New Orleans Pelicans.
As we move in to a new year, having people pour into you and support your dreams matters more than ever. With an unknown amount of challenges awaiting us, it helps to know that you’ve got good people behind you and uplifting you at the same time. For the Social Justice Fund, their work in uplifting Brooklyn guides them and keeps them motivated to do even more. With partnerships like the one with Free to Dream, they can continue to reach as many people as possible.