E3 Gala, Smart Start Illinois,

Groundbreaking Research, and More

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (Ages 0-5):

Albany Park Flagship Site Earns NAEYC Accreditation

The Carole Robertson Center for Learning is thrilled to share that our Albany Park flagship site has earned accreditation through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The recognition followed a rigorous, year-long process that involved a self-study to better understand quality standards and identify strengths and areas for improvement; a self-assessment to prepare evidence for a site visit and demonstrate eligibility requirements; and the site visit itself. Read the full announcement on our blog.

Providing Support to New Parents 

The Carole Robertson Center’s commitment to educating, enriching, and empowering children and families extends far past the classroom. To support caretakers of infants and toddlers, our Mental Health Team facilitated a free, bilingual, and virtual support group to discuss the challenges of parenthood.  

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

Destination Imagination Global Finals

Congratulations to our Out-of-School-Time (OST) youth who competed in this year's Destination Imagination Global Finals in May! Destination Imagination is an experience that empowers kids from around the world to exercise their creativity through various STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) challenges. At the global competition in Kansas City, the Carole Robertson Center's Destination Imagination participants put their heads together to complete the High Stakes Service Learning Challenge with a lively, Jeopardy-themed skit focusing on health and wellbeing.

OST Summer Kickoff

On June 22, we celebrated our annual Out-of-School Time (OST) Summer Kickoff! Joy and laughter filled Douglass Park as summer campers from all three of our flagship sites performed chants and songs, enjoyed snow cones, played sports, and spent quality time outdoors with their friends and teachers. Special thanks to our staff and volunteers from Neurocrine Biosciences for supporting a full day of summer magic for our community’s children. 

Cook County Justice Advisory Council Gun Violence Prevention Grant

The Carole Robertson Center is proud to announce that we have received a grant from the Cook County Government Justice Advisory Council as part of the County's Gun Violence and Reduction Grant Initiative. With this funding, we will be able to expand our youth development programming in two North Lawndale schools: Herzl Elementary and Lawndale Community Academy. 

Program-Wide:

E3 Gala

This May, we hosted our annual E3 Gala. E3 stands for the Carole Robertson Center's three mission pillars: educate, enrich and empower. We were delighted to surpass this year’s fundraising goal to make access to high-quality early education and youth development a reality for Chicago's children and families. These investments will make a positive impact on our city's young people for years to come! Relive this joyful evening with us by visiting our blog.

CTA Ad Campaign

It’s a bus, it’s a train, it’s … a Carole Robertson Center for Learning ad! We’ve launched a three-month advertising campaign on CTA buses, trains, and stations to increase awareness of our programs and enrollment opportunities. Find us on your commute and be sure to tag us on social media!

Community-Based Advocacy: 

Smart Start Illinois Invests in Early Education

The Carole Robertson Center commends the Illinois General Assembly for prioritizing the needs of our state's children and families by approving Governor Pritzker's ambitious Smart Start Illinois plan as part of our state's FY24 budget. President and CEO Bela Moté attended the budget signing. Read our full statement on our website.

Senator Villivalam Secures $450,000 for Albany Park Flagship Site

A big thank you to Senator Ram Villivalam (IL-08) for stewarding $450K in state funding towards capital improvements to our Albany Park location! With his invaluable support, we can ensure that our children are cared for in an environment that facilitates high-quality learning experiences. We appreciate his continued impact on one of the nation's most diverse neighborhoods, and on our state’s youngest learners.

OST Advocacy in Washington, D.C.

Young people need supportive, engaging spaces to learn, play, and grow—even and especially when school isn't in session. This June, Senior Director of Out-of-School Time (OST) Programs Kenny Riley went to Washington, D.C., to advocate for exactly that! Alongside his counterparts in the Afterschool Alliance, Kenny met with the offices of Senator Dick Durbin, Representative Danny Davis, Representative Delia Ramirez, and Representative Eric Sorensen to discuss the importance of investing in youth programming. 

Alderwoman Scott visits Little Village Flagship Site

In June, we were delighted to host Alderwoman Monique Scott—a Carole Robertson Center alumna—at our Little Village site! Alderwoman Scott exemplifies the impact of a Carole Robertson Center education by showing up for her neighbors and advocating for a more equitable West Side. We look forward to continued partnership with Alderwoman Scott in the months and years ahead.

Social Justice & Equity: 

Celebrating Diversity through Food

To celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Month (APAHM), our young learners enjoyed goodie bags full of snacks spanning Asia's diverse cuisines! By expanding their minds, palates, and cross-cultural literacy at an early age, children develop a sense of unity and connection with those around them. 

Juneteenth: A Day of Liberation and Abundance

Juneteenth marks the day when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform the public of the abolition of slavery—two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had passed. We closed in observance of the holiday to give staff and families time to celebrate meaningfully with their communities. Our enrollment staff also hosted an information table at the Juneteenth Village Fest in Douglass Park, engaging directly with the neighborhood.

Virtual Summer Speaker Series

Across three Saturdays in June and July, we hosted our first-ever Virtual Summer Speaker Series. Themed around "Advancing Social Justice in our Practice," the series brought three early childhood experts—Nawal Qarooni, Ki Gross, and Dr. Lilliam Perez—to the digital podium to share their knowledge and insights.

In The Media:

Public News Service



When lawmakers fund high-quality early learning, everyone benefits. That's the message Senior Director of Community-Based Advocacy Julissa Cruz shared in a May interview with Public News Service about Smart Start Illinois, Governor Pritzker's plan to increase Illinois families' access to early childhood education.

At the Podium:

President & CEO Bela Moté Co-authors Paper on Opportunity Gap 

In May, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) released a report titled “Closing the Opportunity Gap for Young Children” which our President & CEO Bela Moté co-authored! She lends her expertise as the paper’s sole practitioner voice, bridging theory and practice to promote children’s success at home, in communities, and in schools. 

Chief Programs & Impact Officer Sonja Crum Knight, Ph.D., Addresses Benefits Cliffs

In June, Chief Programs & Impact Officer Sonja Crum Knight, Ph.D., spoke on a panel hosted by the University of Chicago's Inclusive Economy Lab. Sonja and fellow panelists discussed how benefits cliffs—the threshold at which eligibility for benefits is lost—impact Illinois families. Sonja cited a lack of affordable child care for all as a key barrier to families’ economic well-being.

Giving:

Operation Back to School

The Center's annual back-to-school supply drive defers the average $75 cost of a backpack and supplies for children entering a new school year. With your support, we can provide more than 500 children and youth with the essentials needed for a successful start to the school year. Click the buttons below to get involved!

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.