Introduction to Little Angels Learning Center
ENGLEWOOD — The leader of an early learning center cut the ribbon on a state-of-the-art building this month and hopes to welcome a cohort of children to the building by next year. Nashone Greer-Adams has served generations of Englewood’s children from a single room at Alpha Temple Church, 6701 S. Emerald Ave.
About the Center
Greer-Adams’ early education services at Little Angels Learning Center provide personalized social, emotional and academic support to kids 6 weeks to 5 years old. The Englewood center offers wraparound programs for parents to “service the family as a whole,” said Greer-Adams, the center’s executive director. After years of operating in cramped quarters, Greer-Adams has a new, 15,000-square-foot home where she can lead the next generation of South Side students.
New Facilities
Mayor Brandon Johnson was one of many to join Greer-Adams earlier this month at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the $5.7 million Little Angels Learning Center, 6704 S. Emerald St. The new center sits across the street from the church where Greer-Adams currently runs the Englewood program. The new Little Angels Learning Center has a therapeutic space “that will accommodate our friends as they’re coming in and having a meltdown or dealing with the unfortunate trauma that plagues our community,” Greer-Adams said. Each classroom — an upgrade from the single room the center operates in now — has a bathroom and saltwater tanks for fish because it’s “very therapeutic to have pets,” Greer-Adams said.
A classroom at Little Angels Learning Center in Englewood. Credit: City of Chicago
Additional Features
The center has indoor and outdoor gross motor movement rooms and a Robert R. McCormick Parent Resource Center where educators can connect with parents in a dedicated space. Staff can recharge and “get fresh air” in the staff lounge, complete with a balcony that overlooks the community.
History of Little Angels
Greer-Adams opened Little Angels in 1994 near the Parkway Gardens apartment complex on 64th Street and King Drive. Years later, she relocated to Alpha Temple Church, where she built a reputation for operating a thriving early learning center. Former Mayor Rahm Emanuel awarded Greer-Adams $1.4 million in 2018 to expand Little Angels and serve more children on the South Side as part of the city’s efforts to boost access to early learning across the district.
Challenges Faced by the Center
But just a year later, in 2019, the city cut Little Angels’ funding by more than 30 percent, devastating leaders at the care center. An extension was put in place but ran out in June 2020. Little Angels faced another setback in July 2020 when the city’s Department of Family and Support Services forced the center to shut down after failing to meet the academic requirements necessary to remain open. Families and staff camped outside of then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s home, demanding answers. The center reopened by 2021 to continue serving families.
Funding and Support
Closing a funding gap was the biggest hurdle to opening the new center, Greer-Adams said. Leaders at Little Angels received a $250,000 community development grant in 2023 to go toward building the Englewood campus. The city grant “was huge for us,” and combined with the estimated $3.9 million Little Angels received in grants from the city and state between 2019 and 2020, it brought the center closer to its financial goal. But there was still a $2 million construction gap, Greer-Adams said.
Executive Director Nashone Greer-Adams speaks at Little Angels Learning Center, 6701 S. Emerald Ave., in Englewood on Jan. 13, 2022. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Community Support
Then the support started to pour in. Donations from the Robert R. McCormick Foundation and the Chicago Community Trust “came in and helped save the day,” Greer-Adams said. Funding from the McCormick Foundation and CME Group also supported a $500,000 gap in Little Angel’s programming budget to bring on two mental health consultants and a family support specialist to the campus. UJAMAA Construction helped build out the space because the Chicago-founded construction firm “wanted to see our program come alive and believed in our vision,” Greer-Adams said.
Future Plans
With the Little Angels center complete, the next step is launching a fundraiser to close the gap in the programming budget, Greer-Adams said. Many of the previous grants the center received to support its initiatives will expire in 15-18 months, she said.
Braylen Williams listens as Mrs. Renee Hayden reads “A Bedtime for Bear” before nap time at Little Angels Learning Center, 6701 S. Emerald Ave., in Englewood on Jan. 13, 2022. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Conclusion
The new Little Angels Learning Center is a state-of-the-art facility that will provide high-quality early learning experiences to children in the Englewood community. Despite facing numerous challenges, the center has received significant support from the community, including donations and grants. With the center complete, the next step is to launch a fundraiser to close the gap in the programming budget
