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The learning environment at Listen and Learn
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As Teresa Valentine and her dedicated staff opened the doors to Listen and Learn Child Development Center in October 2008, Congress Heights was given a helping hand. Bright and early that Monday morning, they began their mission to give the children of Congress Heights a solid foundation and proper education for the early years of life. Teresa began Listen and Learn CDC because she “wanted to be a part of developing young minds.” She wanted to make sure that “by the time they get to first grade, they can take off and be successful individuals.”
As owner, president and CEO, Teresa surrounded herself with experienced and more than capable staff. Between Director Florence Mullen, who holds a master’s degree in early childhood education, Head Teacher Tracey Coleman, Teacher Assistant Denise Akwara and Development Manager Diana Simpson, the four of them have over half a century of experience working in early childhood education.
However, a year earlier, before Teresa and the rest of the Listen and Learn family could open their doors, before they could begin to build the foundations of the children the center would serve, they needed to give it a solid foundation of its own.
Beginning in July 2007, with personal funds and hard work, Teresa began to renovate the newly acquired building at 617 Raleigh Place SE. Despite being operated as a child care center for over 50 years, Teresa quickly realized the 88-year-old home needed a few, albeit expensive, upgrades before she could help the children, families and, ultimately, community of Congress Heights. While she personally funded the purchase and renovations thus far, Teresa sought help from the Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF) to finance and allow her to finish the work she had so selflessly undertaken.
Through WACIF’s CareBuilders program, which is funded by the District of Columbia’s Office of the State Superintendent of Education, a program that aims to create, improve and expand child care services throughout the District, Teresa was able to complete renovations to the two-story home. The funding WACIF provided allowed Listen and Learn CDC to install a sprinkler system, purchase necessary equipment and cover monthly operating expenses; all of which gave Teresa and her new center the ability to open their doors to Congress Heights.
Fast forward to today: Listen and Learn CDC is not only up and running but has stuck to their guiding principle of being more than just a place to drop off the kids.
Serving ages 2 ½ to 14, the center schools children through age-appropriate programs that range from teaching them to read and count, to tutoring assistance with homework, computer training and Spanish. Targeting working families, Listen and Learn CDC is near public transportation, residences and businesses and open from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Currently the center is licensed for 20 children, though Teresa has plans to expand in size and scope. Soon to add nine more slots, Listen and Learn CDC is also looking to provide pick-up and drop-off services and extended hours for nurses, police and other working families whose jobs do not fall into the traditional 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. shift.
Through committed staff like Florence and Tracey, Teresa has made and continues to transform Listen and Learn CDC into a resource hub for underserved families from the surrounding community. Eventually the center plans to add a GED-training program for local parents as well as family and parenting classes. Teresa says she “wants to be there to help where we can, not just for child development, but the community as a whole.”
Listen and Learn Child Development Center is located at 617 Raleigh Place SE. Call 202-373-0200 for more information. |
