CREATING A COMMUNITY HUB FOR EARLY LEARNING
What was once an empty school room, is now being filled with colorful children’s books and engaging early learning resources.
In December 2015, the Women’s Leadership Council (WLC) of United Way of Lake County members were the first to deliver more than 300 children’s books to North Chicago’s Green Bay Early Childhood Center.
WLC’s delivery supports a community-wide effort to create a central family resource room for North Chicago families with children ages birth to five.
“Our hope is that this family resource center will become a community hub for the families and children- providing them the tools and materials they need to help their children learn the critical skills to start kindergarten on the right foot and to continue to succeed in school.” Lori Cruz (WLC member)
On December 17th, WLC members visited Green Bay Early Childhood Center classrooms to read to the students. WLC members also gave each student a holiday gift bag with their own book to take home.
“Early childhood education has proven time and time again to be pivotal to a child’s success in this ever-changing world; the earlier the better.”Patrice Maloney-Knauff (WLC member)
TOGETHER WE CAN GIVE OUR STUDENTS A CHANCE
WLC members presented the books to Nicole Johnson, Principal of North Chicago’s Green Bay Early Childhood Center:
“At Green Bay Early Childhood Center, we serve students facing multiple risk factors. It is especially important that we let these students know that they matter. Thank you for coming today and making the students feel special by reading to them and giving them a gift to take home. The needs are great in our community. With the help of our partners, we are able to make Green Bay Early Childhood Center great. Working together we can give our students a chance.” Nicole C. Johnson, Principal, Green Bay Early Childhood Center
