Celebrating 50 Years of Service

CHICAGO, IL [January 7, 2026] – The Carole Robertson Center for Learning proudly marks its 50th anniversary in 2026, celebrating a legacy that began in 1976 when community members on Chicago’s West Side worked to save a beloved after-school program. Their determination to protect a vital resource for children and working families led to the founding of the Carole Robertson Center for Learning—with a commitment to educating, enriching, and empowering children and families that continue to define the organization today.

Over its five decades, the Center has grown from a single site serving a few dozen youth to one of Chicago’s leading providers of high-quality early childhood education and youth development programs. The Center serves 2,500 children and youth at every stage of development from prenatal to age 17 and reaches approximately 15,000 children and adults annually from a variety of populations across 27 Chicago communities.

The Center’s comprehensive programs include early childhood education for children from birth to age 5; out-of-school time programs for youth from ages 5 to 17; and family support services. These initiatives promote learning, growth, and well-being for children and their families. Grounded in its mission to educate, enrich, and empower children and families, the Carole Robertson Center for Learning delivers high-quality, data-driven programs that parents can rely on. The Center creates safe, nurturing spaces in which children can learn while enabling parents and caregivers to work or pursue their own education and training opportunities so they can support their families.

Throughout 2026, the Center will host a number of events to commemorate its 50th anniversary. These celebrations aim to honor its rich history serving children and families and the promise of its next 50 years.