Week of the Young Child, Staley Da Bear, OST Award, State of the State, & More!

At the Carole Robertson Center, early childhood education is important every day of the year. Every April, the Center celebrates NAEYC’s Week of the Young Child: a whole week dedicated to enriching activities for young children and their families. From April 1-7, children and their families were invited to sing and dance, try new foods, build something new, and create art, all while spending quality time together. 

Early Childhood Education (Ages 0-5):

Staley Da Bear and PNC

Thanks to our friends at PNC Bank, the Chicago Bears Homeroom Huddle program visited our Little Village flagship site and surprised our children with a visit from mascot Staley Da Bear! Staley stuck around for high-fives and hugs, while volunteers read stories to children across the site! Scott Swanson, Regional President of PNC Illinois, was among the volunteers.

Out-of-School-Time (Ages 5-17):

OST Program Recognized for Excellence

Congratulations to our Out-of-School-Time Program for winning the Illinois Afterschool Network’s Jill Bradley Best Practice Program Award! This award is given annually to an after-school program that exhibits programmatic excellence and innovation while serving as a model for all after school and youth development programs.  

Artecito Animal Hearts

For Valentine’s Day, our youth spent the afternoon opening their minds and hearts while learning all about animal hearts! Many thanks to Lincoln Park Zoo and OPEN Center for the Arts for making this day possible and partnering with us as fellow members of the Marshall Square Resource Network’s Peace Committee. 

Program-Wide:

Women's History Month

Women have been the backbone of the Carole Robertson Center for decades, fearlessly leading our organization and serving Chicago’s children, youth, and families. Our Social Justice and Equity Committee gave children and families empowering storybooks featuring women and girls to celebrate Women's History Month and continue this strong legacy. 

Grow Your Own Spotlight

Our Grow Your Own program caught the attention of both Governor J.B. Pritzker and Senator Ram Villivalam – so what is this inspiring, life-changing program? Read more about our early education apprenticeship model in the story on our blog.

Community-Based Advocacy: 

Sen. Ram Villivalam Visits Albany Park

In March, our Albany Park flagship site welcomed a visit from State Senator Ram Villivalam. There, he learned more about the Carole Robertson Center's impact in and out of the classroom. Senator Villivalam also publicly recognized Albany Park Teacher Aide Daisy Martinez, one of our exceptional Grow Your Own participants, on his social media pages. 

Ald. Samantha Nugent Visits Albany Park

In April, newly re-elected Alderman Samantha Nugent also visited Albany Park to discuss ways that the Carole Robertson Center can deepen our work with the Albany Park community, especially with other organizations that help families navigate issues that stem from a lack of quality child care.

Illinois Early Childhood Education Advocacy Day,

April 18

Senior Director of Community-Based Advocacy Julissa Cruz and several of the Carole Robertson Center staff joined 300 others in Springfield for Early Childhood Advocacy Day. The early childhood advocates were joined by Governor J.B. Pritzker, State Senator Cristina Pacione-Zayas, State Senator Ram Villivalam, Representative Joyce Mason, and Representative Katie Stewart. Our staff appreciated hearing about the Governor's long-standing commitment to our earliest learners that predates his time as an elected official.

Illinois State Board of Education Meeting, April 19

Following funding issues at the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), Senior Director of Community-Based Advocacy Julissa Cruz and Senior Director of Out-of-School-Time Programs Kenny Riley delivered testimony at the ISBE meeting on April 19 to support continued funding for 21^st Century Community Learning Centers. ISBE has an obligation to fund after school programs across the state.

In The Media:

State of the State Address

Inspired by his Jan. 4 visit to our Little Village flagship site, Governor J.B. Pritzker extended an invitation to Teacher’s Aide Itanzia Dawson and Chief Programs & Impact Officer Sonja Crum Knight to attend his State of the State address in Springfield on February 15. Gov. Pritzker spotlighted Itanzia’s story in his remarks, for which she received a standing ovation. 

At the State of the State address, the Governor proposed multi-year Smart Start Illinois investments (outlined in FY24’s budget) that will further Illinois’ commitment to prioritizing the state’s youngest learners. 

Press Release from the Mayor's Office

Early Childhood Data for an Informed City, March 17: President and CEO Bela Moté is proud to champion the Chicago Early Childhood Integrated Data System (CECIDS), stating that “by providing clear, accessible data at the neighborhood level and citywide, CECIDS puts our youngest learners on the map—literally.”

Chalkbeat

Early Education and the Mayoral Election, April 3: President & CEO Bela Moté comments on the importance of early childhood education issues during the Chicago mayoral election in this article by Chalkbeat Chicago.

Chicago PBS/ WTTW

Smart Start Illinois and Investments in Education, April 18: In April, Sonja Crum Knight, Chief Programs & Impact Officer, was invited to discuss Governor JB Pritzker’s Smart Start Illinois plan on Chicago Tonight: Black Voices. The weekly WTTW - Chicago PBS series featured Sonja alongside our partners at Illinois Action for Children and the Erikson Institute. 

At the Podium:

2023 InterAct CLASS Summit

Sonja Crum Knight, Chief Programs & Impact Officer, Ashley Nazarak, Vice President of Scaling & Dissemination, and Allen Rosales, Senior Program Advisor, led an interactive workshop in Miami on leveraging the CLASS tool to scale a content-driven professional learning system that supports teaching staff. By sharing the Carole Robertson Center's experience, the workshop encouraged colleagues to brainstorm ways they could build a transformational learning program.

Upcoming Opportunity:

Save the Date for Our Annual Celebration | JOIN US FOR OUR E3 GALA ON MAY 11!

Save the Date! Our Annual Celebration has a new name that highlights our mission to Educate, Enrich, and Empower children, youth, and families! It'll be a joyful evening with emcee Jacoby Cochran from City Cast Chicago and social media sensation from Chicago Mahogany, Shermann "Dilla" Thomas, as our keynote speaker! Join us as we honor our Curba Merrill Friend of the Center, Congressman Mike Quigley, and our 2023 Corporate Partner of the Year, Labelmaster.

Giving:

Give Today. Empower Tomorrow!

For every dollar you invest in us, you will see the return on your investment in the stories and impact on our children, youth, and families. 

An Honor & Responsibility

Since its inception, the Center has worked to honor the life and memory of Carole Robertson who, together with her friends Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, and Denise McNair, was killed in the 1963 bombing of the 16^th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama.