President & CEO Bela Moté wins 2023 Erikson Institute Advocacy Award

Congratulations to President and CEO Bela Moté on being named the first annual 2023 Erikson Institute Advocacy Award Honoree! This award honors an individual who embodies Erikson’s core ideals of “equity and advocacy for a more just future for young children.” Bela's tireless commitment to children and families spans decades, from her career beginnings as a Montessori preschool teacher to her current role leading the Carole Robertson Center for Learning through a period of unprecedented growth. Thank you, Bela, for championing young learners with compassion and conviction always!

Read our Annual Report

During Fiscal Year 2022, the Center experienced unprecedented growth, expanding its capacity to nurture the joy of learning in 27 neighborhoods throughout Chicago. Learn more about how we educate children, enrich communities, and empower families by reading our Annual Report.

Staff Education, Enrichment, and Development (SEED) Conference

In August, the Center hosted its annual, organization-wide Staff Education, Enrichment, and Development (SEED) Conference, hosting both in-person and virtual sessions covering topics like family engagement, child-centered learning, storytelling, self-care, and more. The Center closes for three full days each year to host this conference and provide intensive professional development as well as time for staff engagement and community-building. Keynote speakers Erika L. Sánchez and Chazz Lewis (aka "Mr. Chazz") inspired our workforce of over 300 to practice self-love and model conscious discipline with the young learners we serve. 

Center Families Celebrate Pre-K Graduation

In August, children and families across all three of our flagship sites enjoyed ceremonies celebrating our community’s young learners and their many accomplishments. As we watch these young ones take the next step in their education, we're reminded of the exciting transitions that lie ahead—as well as the role we play in preparing children for school and beyond. 

Illinois Action for Children features the Center’s Community Saturation Work

The Center was featured in a video by Illinois Action for Children for our dedication to working alongside families in North Lawndale through our Community Saturation efforts, which promote school readiness by connecting neighborhood parents with vital supports like formula, learning kits, and transportation resources. Together, we’re championing kindergarten readiness! 

Campers Make Unforgettable Memories Outdoors at YMCA Camp Duncan

During an overnight visit to YMCA Camp Duncan, the Center’s campers explored the outdoors, strengthened their teambuilding skills, laughed, and made memories to last a lifetime. We're so grateful to our Out-of-School-Time team and the staff at YMCA Camp Duncan for making these cherished moments possible for our community's kids! 

Youth Explore the Brookfield Zoo with Support from Alderman Nugent

Thanks to a donation of tickets from 39th Ward Alderman Samantha Nugent, summer campers from the Center’s Albany Park flagship site were able to learn about the wonders of the animal kingdom on a field trip to Brookfield Zoo! Through experiential learning experiences like this, youth see real-life applications for the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) lessons they learn in school and in our programs. 

Summer Ends with a Splash at OST Summer Carnival

At our Little Village site, campers from all three of our flagship locations soaked in those last few weeks of summer by enjoying bounce houses, obstacle courses, a splash zone, rock climbing, train rides, and more as part of our Out of School Time (OST) Summer Carnival! Many thanks to our amazing OST staff and volunteers for organizing a day full of play and laughter. 

Center Staff Advocate for Head Start Funding in Washington, D.C.

In late September, Center advocacy champions joined fellow changemakers from around the country, calling upon lawmakers in Washington, D.C. to fully fund the vital Head Start program. Special thanks to Rep. Danny Davis, Sen. Mike Quigley, Sen. Dick Durbin, Rep. Delia Ramirez, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for engaging meaningfully with Center staff, and for their commitment to our youngest learners. And, with October being Head Start Awareness Month, the advocacy continues!

State Senator Lakesia Collins Hosts National Diaper Needs Awareness Week Drive

September 18-24 was National Diaper Need Awareness Week, and Program Advisor Latoya Hazzard was invited to speak at State Senator Lakesia Collins’s third annual Diaper Drive at Bee Love Cafe in North Lawndale on September 18. Thank you to Senator Collins for mobilizing around this fundamental need and including the Center in your work!

National Early Care and Education Workforce Center features Chief Programs and Impact Officer Sonja Crum Knight in Video

We are honored to have our own Chief Programs and Impact Officer, Sonja Crum Knight, featured in a video by the National Early Care and Education Workforce Center. Through innovative strategies, the Carole Robertson Center for Learning has met its benchmark of an 80% retention rate with our workforce.

Dianne Robertson Braddock, Sister of Namesake Carole Robertson, Shares Message of Remembrance

September 15, 2023, marked the 60th anniversary of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing, which took the lives of our namesake Carole Robertson, as well as Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, and Denise McNair. Dianne Robertson Braddock, sister of Carole Robertson and an honorary board member of the Center, shared a video of her reflections that underscore the vital role our Center plays in upholding civil rights and social justice.

Celebrating Culture during Hispanic and Latine/x Heritage Month

Hispanic and Latine/x Heritage Month takes place annually from September 15-October 15. As an early education organization with a strong presence in many of Chicago’s historically Latine/x neighborhoods, we proudly celebrated the month. Children, youth, and staff honored the occasion by reading multicultural children’s books in both English and Spanish, participating in activities to learn about Latine/x heritage, and wearing traditional clothing during our Legacy Week Peace March.

WTTW’s Chicago Tonight: Black Voices

During the Center’s annual Legacy Week honoring the life of our namesake Carole Robertson, Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, and Denise McNair, WTTW aired a segment from Chicago Tonight: Black Voices that features Program Advisor Latoya Hazzard.

ABC 7 Chicago

"We learn about the Birmingham bombing, we take those lessons, and then we create resilience and hope," said Social Justice & Equity Committee Co-Chair and Kindergarten Readiness Community Liaison Candice Washington in an interview with ABC 7 Chicago’s Jasmine Minor. 

Operation Back to School Distributes 583 Backpacks

This August, we launched our annual “Operation Back to School” drive to collect school supplies for Carole Robertson Center children and families. Thanks to generous monetary and in-kind gifts, we were able to distribute 583 backpacks!  Thank you to the donors, community partners, and volunteers who helped us fill vital resource gaps in our neighborhoods.