Give four-year-old Bella just a few wooden blocks, and it doesn’t take long before her vision starts to take shape.
“It’s like a castle!” Bella said, adding a ramp to create what she imagined as a slide.
Her teacher, Anastasia Oliver, watched over her work, asking her where she thinks the windows or the doors for her castle should be.
This is how learning should be for young kids like Bella, Ms. Oliver said, who serves as the lead preschool teacher at the brand-new The Maker’s Clubhouse Early Learning Center.
“Communities are built of children, so giving them a good solid understanding of academics and virtues like empathy and critical thinking is going to be kind of the first step towards building a healthier and more resilient, more joyful community,” she said.
The center opened its doors for enrollment in the heart of Homewood, aiming to provide a safe and inspiring place for preschool-aged kids. The newly renovated facility is part of The Oasis Project, a community outreach and economic development arm of Bible Center Church.
Grants from the Henry L. Hillman Foundation, Heinz Endowments and other donors helped make the design and construction of the new center possible, along with new furnishings, books and play equipment. More than a daycare, the space is meant to offer a culturally-rich learning environment for children of all backgrounds, with a special focus on serving Black families.
Local parents had the opportunity to share their ideas for the center through a series of community focus groups. They largely expressed a desire for a beautified learning space for their children, something they don’t see enough in their own neighborhood, said Cynthia Wallace, The Oasis Project’s executive director.
“I think the challenge with Homewood is there are not a lot of child care centers or preschools,” Ms. Wallace said. “We wanted to have a world class, educational program in this community.”
They hope children will find this experience in the center’s bright indoor play spaces, where they can pick up books curated for Women’s History Month or learn about gemstones stored at the science corner. Colorful murals made by local Black artists splash the center's walls, featuring encouraging messages like “Follow your Dreams.” Another shows a group of children dressed up like scientists surrounded by test tubes.
“We want children to see themselves reflected in a very positive light here,” Ms. Wallace said.
Just across the street is an updated and fenced playground with gardens and outdoor classrooms. For Candice Herriott, Early Learning Center director, the center is about inspiring a love for learning early on in their lives, led by their own interests and interactive, hands-on activities.
“They are encouraged to ask questions, they're encouraged to problem solve,” Ms. Herriott said. “These things are actually foundational to how they see themselves as they move through their academic career and just imagine who they can be. It really is planting the seeds for children's academic success.”
Interested families are invited to an open house on Saturday, March 16 at the center on the lower level of 717 N. Homewood Avenue. There will be a morning session from 9 — 11:30 a.m. and an afternoon session from 1 – 3:30 p.m.
First Published: March 6, 2024, 12:00 a.m.
Updated: March 6, 2024, 5:10 p.m.
