Meek Mill returned to North Broad Street as thousands of Temple students and Philadelphia high school seniors gathered for a day of candid conversations on success, leadership, ownership and overcoming adversity.

The Liacouras Center was buzzing with energy last week as more than a thousand Temple students and Philadelphia high school seniors gathered for the Dream Chasers Summit. More than a decade after the summit first came to Temple, its return to North Broad Street gave a new generation of students the chance to learn from those who had turned their ambitions into success and consider what it will take to pursue their own. 

Held Sept. 10, the summit united Temple University and Philadelphia native and multiplatinum hip-hop artist Meek Mill around a shared goal: connecting students with leaders whose experiences reflected many of the realities and aspirations shaping young people today. Through wide-ranging conversations, speakers shared the lessons and defining moments that influenced their personal and professional journeys. 

“What stood out to me most was the energy in the building and how engaged the students were throughout the day,” said Arthur Johnson, vice president and Debbie and Stanley Lefkowitz ’65 Director of Athletics. “You had Temple students and high school seniors from the School District of Philadelphia hearing directly from people who have achieved success in sports, music, business and entertainment, and who were vulnerable and candid about the challenges and setbacks they faced along the way. To hear about the work required to achieve and maintain success, and to see students listening, asking questions and really connecting with those stories was powerful.” 

Rather than traditional lectures, the summit unfolded through a series of conversations designed to connect students with leaders who could speak firsthand about navigating adversity and building successful careers. 

The day’s programming centered on five themes: Respect the Game: From the Locker Room to the Boardroom; All Eyes on You: Athlete Power, Purpose and Leadership; How Far We Came: Building Businesses That Build Community; Dreams Worth More Than Money: Turning Culture Into Ownership; and Dreams & Nightmares: Adversity, Second Chances and the Power to Rebuild. 

The summit opened with remarks from David W. Brown, Temple’s executive director of community impact and civic engagement; Jessica Jackson, CEO of REFORM Alliance; and Tony B. Watlington Sr., superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia. 

For Brown, the value of the summit extended beyond what students heard from the stage. 

“One of the things that makes this experience so important is that students can see that you can start anywhere and get to anywhere,” Brown said. “Whether they ultimately come to Temple or not, they have an opportunity to experience the kind of learning and connection that an institution like Temple fosters. When you bring together like-minded young people who are here to learn, share knowledge and build relationships, the possibilities for where they go from here are limitless.” 

Among those sharing their experiences with students throughout the day were Wallo, author, motivational speaker and co-founder of the Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast; Larry Miller, FOX ’82, chair of the Jordan Brand Advisory Board; Shawn Gee, president and co-owner of Live Nation Urban; and Chamillionaire, rapper, entrepreneur and venture capitalist. 

Temple voices also helped guide the day’s conversations. Claire Smith, founding executive director of the Claire Smith Center for Sports Media and assistant professor of practice in Temple’s Klein College of Media and Communication, moderated a discussion on athlete leadership. 

Jonathan Howe, assistant professor and director of the AIRE Lab in Temple’s School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management, led a conversation on building businesses that strengthen communities, while Lauren Bullock, associate professor of instruction and director of sports media at Klein, moderated a discussion with Chamillionaire about turning cultural influence into ownership. 

Throughout the summit, speakers challenged students to think intentionally about the resources already at their fingertips. Meek, reflecting on how technology and social media helped him market his music, tell his story and build his brand, encouraged students to view their phones as tools for creating opportunities. 

“You can meet people, you can go anywhere, you can connect,” Meek told students. “You can build brands, you can shoot a movie, you can record an album, you can start a clothing line. You can do anything with this, but it’s about how you see it.” 

The summit culminated with Dreams & Nightmares: Adversity, Second Chances and the Power to Rebuild, a conversation that brought Meek together with Miller and moderator Wallo to reflect on the experiences that shaped their lives and careers. 

For Meek, the conversation became an opportunity to reflect on his deep connection to Philadelphia. From growing up in North Philadelphia to becoming an internationally recognized artist and entrepreneur, he spoke about how his experiences in the city influenced both his resilience and his approach to success.

“Philadelphia, to me, made me on every level—from my aggression, the way I attack success,” Meek said. “I’ve been all over the world, but Philly’s always going to be home.”