For families, by families, with families
Since 1976, the Carole Robertson Center for Learning has been dedicated to educating, enriching, and empowering children and families through comprehensive child and family development programs.
WHAT’S NEW AT THE CENTER?
OUR MISSION
To educate, enrich and empower children and their families.
OUR VISION
To help build a just and equitable society, the Carole Robertson Center for Learning, in partnership with families, will be a beacon of best practices, innovation, and impact in early childhood and youth development.
OUR PURPOSE
We exist to ensure that every child and family can reach their full potential in school and life. Anchored by our commitment to closing the opportunity gap and creating a more just, inclusive, and equitable world for all children, we offer high-quality early education and youth development environments abundant in compassion, support, and empowerment.
What We Do
The Carole Robertson Center for Learning serves as a trusted neighborhood anchor and living incubator for fresh ideas in early childhood education and youth development. With an approach that combines direct service, robust data and evaluation practices, and community-based advocacy, the Center reaches 15,000 children and adults in Chicago and beyond each year. Rooted in social justice and our mission to educate, enrich, and empower children and families, we catalyze systems change to benefit young learners everywhere.
Early Care and Education
We provide directly operated Early Care and Education (ECE) programs for children 0-5 years of age. As a trusted, high quality, and innovative early care and education organization, the Carole Robertson Center works in partnership with families, to be a beacon of best practices, innovation, and impact in early childhood education.
We offer a myriad of early care and education programs and services in order to serve the needs and realities of our communities while also placing parental choice at the forefront.
Youth Development
Since 1976 we’ve recognized and proven that the best way to support social-emotional learning and positive identity development is through engaging, stimulating, and hands-on learning. We create experiences that infuse youth voice and choice and are grounded in research and best practices. Our year-round programs serving children ages 5-17 build on the vision of creating a just and equitable society through exploring democracy, activism, and the broader world and engaging in STEAM through a highly qualified, culturally-competent, energetic and passionate staff.
After-School Programs
High quality academic support and enrichment activities during the school year at the following locations:
- Little Village (2929 W. 19th St.)
- North Lawndale (3701 W. Ogden Ave.)
- Albany Park (5101 N. Kimball Ave.)
- Herzl School of Excellenece (for students enrolled there)
- KIPP Ascend Primary North Lawndale (for students enrolled there)
- Lawndale Community Academy (for students enrolled there)
- Maria Saucedo Scholastic Academy (for students enrolled there)
- Mary Gage Peterson Elementary (for students enrolled there)
Summer Day Camp
Social-emotional learning, problem-solving skills, team-building through fun and engaging activities and experiences during school closures at the following locations:
- Little Village (2929 W. 19th St.)
- North Lawndale (3701 W. Ogden Ave.)
- Albany Park (5101 N. Kimball Ave.)
Our Service Models
The Carole Robertson Center reaches 15,000 children and adults annually through our direct service programs, community partnerships, workforce development efforts, and support services for independent child care providers. Our direct service footprint extends to more than two dozen communities across Chicago, with flagship sites in Little Village, North Lawndale, and Albany Park. We offer early education programs for children prenatal through age 5 through a variety of program models: center-based, home visiting, micro-centers at local schools, and via a network of center and family child care provider partners. We also offer youth development programs for youth ages 5 to 17 at our flagship sites and at a network of partner schools.
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 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama.
Support Our Mission
We rely on our volunteers and supporters to execute our mission and vision for tomorrow.
Give
Direct donations and material goods give us the power to expand educational opportunities for all.
Volunteer
Individual, group, and corporate volunteer opportunities are short or long term ways to be involved in the community.
Attend Events
Our events promote awareness, fundraising, and serve as a focal point for members to understand our mission.
