ABOUT US

Our Mission

To educate, enrich, and empower children and 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.

 

 

Every community has strength. Every community has potential. Every community has power.

The mission of the Carole Robertson Center for Learning is to work with disenfranchised communities to unlock that power.

This mission doesn’t come from the outside. It comes from families deciding to fight against inequity and fight for their future. It comes from looking at what is wrong and deciding to make it right.

With the support of volunteers and donors, we unlock the potential of generations. The Center is built for families, by families, and with families. It’s built by the community.

Empowering Staff to Empower Everyone

It takes everyone working together to create change that lasts. Our staff comes from everywhere, but especially from the community. We grow together.

Our values include:

  • Commitment to Empower and Support Our Staff
  • Work Respectfully, Transparently, and with Integrity
  • Listen With Open Hearts and Caring Minds
  • Seek Innovation, Collaboration, and Continuous Improvement
  • Take Joy and Pride in Our Work

Who Is Part of Our Planning Process?

Equity means making every voice heard and valuing everyone’s contributions. What we strive for in society, we practice at the Center. Stakeholders engaged in our planning process include:

Youth

Board of directors

Staff

Partners

Parents

Academics

Peers

Advocates

The Center’s Inspiring and Rich History Supports Generations of Youth

The story behind the vision and mission.

It was the Civil Right Movement that channeled the inspiration for forming the Carole Robertson Center 1976. At the time, the mission was to bring equitable opportunities and experiences to youth in the community and that mission still remains today.

Read About Our History

Center Staff

Our Flagship Sites. The Center of the Community.

Art. STEM. Activity. Activism. When your children open our doors, they open opportunities.

Let’s discuss your options

Get On the Waitlist

North Lawndale Location

North Lawndale

3701 West Ogden Ave.
Chicago, IL 60623

773.522.8400

 

Little Village Location

Little Village

2929 West 19th St.
Chicago, IL 60623

773.521.1600

 

Little Village Location

Albany Park

5101 N. Kimball Ave. 
Chicago, IL 60625

773.509.5657

 

Happy Parent at Graduation

Community Partners You Can Trust

Families and community child care providers can receive additional support outside of the Center.

We have a list of trusted child care providers that are located around the city. These partners are certified and trained on the same programming offered by the Center.

Also, if you are a child care provider offering services to the local community, we have great resources and programs to help you get certification and training.

Take a look at these resources

Our Staff and Volunteers

The success of our programming can be attributed to our wonderful and caring staff and our steady stream of volunteers.

Thank you so very much for all that you do and for your shared dedication to our mission to support our community’s youth and their families.

I want to work at the Center! 

I want to volunteer!

Center Staff

Our Centers

Where your children come to grow, learn, discover, explore, dream, and make friends.

Program Pilot and Replication Selection

We have been selected for several key new program pilots and replications because of our track record of comprehensive, sustainable, and innovative programming.

These organizations chose us to pilot their programs:

  • Erikson Institute: Principles and Practices of Dual Language, 2017-2018
  • Erikson Institute: EHS and PI Home Visiting Project, 2017-2018
  • Jumpstart: Literacy Support Project, 2017-2018
  • University of Chicago Behavioral Insights and Parenting Lab: Math for Parents and Children Together project, 2017-2019
  • Chicago Community Trust Nuestro Futuro Program: Bilingual Immersion Project, 2012-2013
  • Parent-Child Home Program: The 1st replication site in the state of Illinois, 2007
  • Strengthening Families Illinois: Lead the Chicago Learning Network, 2005
  • Erikson Institute: A validation site for the Ounce Scale- Infant Toddler Assessment Tool, 2005 – 2007
  • Illinois Action for Children: Alternative Pre-K Project, 2004
  • Illinois Department of Human Services: Odd Hours Child Care Program, 1999

Learn More About How Sustainable Education Creates Stronger Communities

We’re proud to be part of North Lawndale, Little Village and Albany Park.

Find out more about how you can be part of our programs.

get involved

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.