CAPITAL INVESTMENTS – LITTLE VILLAGE
The Carole Robertson Center for Learning educates, enriches, and empowers children and families through comprehensive child and family development programs. As we embark on the Center’s first capital campaign, we invite supporters to make a lasting impact and further our mission through investments at our Little Village site.
The Center’s Little Village campus (2929 West 19th Street) holds a special distinction among our service area locations as our largest flagship site. At approximately 40,000 square feet, the facility currently includes 23 classrooms serving more than 300 children and youth.
We understand that children learn best within the context of a safe classroom climate. To that end, we work to ensure that our spaces are warm and welcoming high-quality learning environments, where social-emotional learning is the foundation to every child’s holistic development and long-term success, with a keen focus on kindergarten readiness, third grade reading, and transition to middle and high school.
The Carole Robertson Center for Learning has established a $10 million goal for fundraising for the capital enhancements at the Little Village location. This will enable the Center to continue to be a beacon of best practices, innovation, and impact in the Little Village community.
The Carole Robertson Center for Learning seeks to raise $10 million to $15 million to support the capital enhancements needed at our three flagship sites. The improvements planned for our Little Village location will enable the Center to continue to be a beacon of best practices, innovation, and impact in the Little Village community.
PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS
The following spaces will be upgraded through the support raised by the capital campaign:
• 23 classrooms for children and youth (6 weeks – 17 years of age) with technology and infrastructure upgrades to promote learning
• Therapeutic/wellness room
• Multi-age library
• Music room
• Gymnasium
• Health office
• Full-service kitchen
• Administrative offices and conference rooms
• Professional development, planning, and staff lounges
• Community multi-purpose room
• Children’s and all-gender restrooms
• Storage rooms and laundry room
• Play and recreation space for all ages
COMMUNITY BENEFITS
The Carole Robertson Center for Learning’s Little Village site is well-situated to serve as a community hub where residents, community partners, and families can come together for celebrations, educational programs, health and well-being activities, and other community events. The site has a prime location at the corner of 19th Street and Sacramento, with easy access to public transportation, and with Douglass Park functioning as the Center’s “front yard.” Its location puts it in close proximity to residential and business centers.
Anticipated community benefits of the capital improvements include:
• Provide Little Village residents with a welcoming and inclusive space where they can go to connect with their neighbors, pursue common interests, and find support when they need it.
• Connect residents to community resources and services, increasing access to community assets and networks.
• Foster more meaningful interactions between community residents, expanding their social connections and deepening their sense of belonging.
• Offer a gathering space for cultural celebrations and other community-wide events.
• Provide community residents opportunities for volunteerism and community service.
CAMPAIGN GOAL AND PROGRESS
After launching our campaign in September 2022, the Carole Robertson Center has already made tremendous progress toward our overall goal, with $4.25 million raised to date for our Little Village site.
Together, we can create lasting change for Chicago’s future. We welcome the opportunity to discuss the capital campaign and pursuant gift recognition opportunities in more detail, including opportunities to name spaces in the renovated facility.
