Mowlid Aden: Many Youths Don’t Lack Potential, They Lack Safety, Structure and Someone Who Truly Sees Them

Shaped by lived experience, Mowlid Aden believes that when young people are given the right environment, they don’t just change; they rise. Mowlid grew up navigating hardships, instability and the kind of quiet struggles that often go unseen. Like many young people, he learned early on how to survive, sometimes by being strong and sometimes by being silent. In 2024, Mowlid jointly established Dreamsafer Behavioral Health services to create the space he wished had existed when he was younger: a place where youths could be safe without being coddled, challenged without being shamed, and supported without being written off. At the facilities on Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, Mowlid has truly created a space for over 100 youths “to walk with them until they realize they are capable all along.” Mowlid recently took the Publisher of New Americans magazine Deba Uwadiae on a tour of Dreamsafer facilities saying that “my work is rooted in the belief that healing, discipline and purpose are not luxuries, they are necessities.”

Mowlid Aden

I am a community builder, youth mentor, and one of the founders of Dreamsafer. But before any title, I am someone shaped by lived experience. I grew up navigating hardships, instability and the kind of quiet struggles that often go unseen. Like many young people, I learned early how to survive, sometimes by being strong and sometimes by being silent. Those early years taught me something that never left me: many youths don’t lack potential, they lack safety, structure and someone who truly sees them.

That understanding has helped shape everything I do. My work is rooted in the belief that healing, discipline and purpose are not luxuries, they are necessities. And when young people are given the right environment, they don’t just change; they rise.

Dreamsafer

Dreamsafer was born out of deep frustration and an even deeper hope. Repeatedly, I watched young people get labeled as “problematic”, “unmotivated”, or “trouble”, when in reality, they were hurting, overwhelmed or simply unheard. Many masked their pain with jokes, distractions, bravado or risky behavior often dismissed as shenanigans that looked like rebellion but were really cries for grounding and direction.

Dreamsafer was started to create the space I wish had existed when I was younger: a place where youths could be safe without being coddled, challenged without being shamed, and supported without being written off. Dreamsafer is holistic by design, it integrates mentorship, behavioral health support, physical activity, life skills and value-based development. It’s not about quick fixes; it’s truly about building young people from the inside out.

Youth

Youth is the crossroads of everything. It’s where identity forms, coping habits take root and futures quietly begin to solidify. If society waits until adulthood to intervene, we are already late. Many young people carry invisible burdens, trauma, instability, pressure and unanswered questions about who they are and where they belong.

When youths don’t have healthy outlets, that pain often comes out sideways; through acting out, disengagement or self-destruction. Dreamsafer exists because investing in youths early isn’t just compassionate; it’s transformative. When young people are guided with structure, accountability and genuine care, they don’t just avoid harm, they become contributors, leaders and anchors in their communities.

We believe youths don’t lack potential; they lack structure and space to be human. What often looks like rebellion is really a search for safety and a voice that feels heard. At Dreamsafer, we hear them, and we see them.

Experiences

Working with young people has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. The successes are powerful – watching a young person learn to regulate their emotions, take responsibility for their actions, speak honestly about their struggles or believe in themselves for the first time. These moments don’t always come with applause, but they change lives.

The challenges are real, too. Many youths arrive guarded, skeptical or emotionally exhausted. Trust takes time. Growth is not linear. But consistency matters. Showing up matters. What makes Dreamsafer different is that we don’t walk away when things get messy. We stay. And in staying, we’ve seen resilience emerge where others expected failure.

Parents

Parents are essential partners in this work. Dreamsafer maintains an open-door approach through community outreach, referrals, informational visits, and direct communication. We encourage parents to engage, ask questions and see the environment for themselves. Our process is transparent and intentional, ensuring that each youth receives support aligned with their needs while families remain informed and involved every step of the way.

New Americans magazine January 2026

Promise

To be honest, Dreamsafer isn’t just a program, it’s a promise. A promise to young people that they are more than their mistakes, more than their coping behaviors and definitely more than the labels placed on them. Many youths laugh loudly while hurting quietly. Dreamsafer exists to meet them there, not with judgement, but with structure, dignity and belief. We don’t aim to “Save” youths. We aim to walk with them until they realize they are capable all along.

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