"There is no such thing as a neutral educational process. Education either functions as an instrument which is used to facilitate the integration of the younger generation into the logic of the present system and bring about conformity to it, or it becomes ‘the practice of freedom,’ the means by which men and women deal critically and creatively with the reality and discover how to participate in the transformation of their world.” — Richard Shaull (1919-2002)

Nurturing the Dream celebrates the Student Community Center — a tangible symbol of goals set, struggles fought and dreams realized — and draws attention to the beautiful and tranquil natural setting of its north entrance.

The individual ceramic tiles reflect the multiple cultures, intersecting identities, and rich diversity of all those welcomed in the center. They also represent the various paths, goals, causes and struggles of the students: academic, social, personal and political.

In June 1990, UC Davis Art in Public Places issued a call to artists for a mural competition to "portray UC Davis' transition to a campus of true diversity, reflecting the richness of its many cultures and supporting its growing underrepresented populations."

Kim Anno and Miranda Bergman were selected by a committee of students, staff and faculty to paint the mural, which they titled The Unfinished Dream.