Two new Learning Spaces sites welcome little learners and their caregivers
Toddler chatter and a soft hum of an upbeat tune fills the room. Some kids stomp on color-changing floor tiles, and another shows off some toy cars to his friend. “Let’s come to the carpet, let’s come to the carpet,” sings the class facilitator with a book in hand, and kids and caregivers gather to sit and to listen to a story. Adults point out the pictures to their young ones as they listen. Soon they’ll sing songs together, then do hands-on activities based on the book. This is Learning Spaces, a safe place for children ages birth to five to come weekly and learn together with a preschool curriculum in a free community space.
This month, we celebrated the grand opening of two new United Way of Greater Atlanta Learning Spaces in Scott Candler Library and William Walker Recreation Center, each serving their individual neighborhoods, and expanding the program’s reach to dozens of new families.
Lily Payne, a mom of two, has attended Learning Spaces since 2022 when her oldest was just eight months. She drives to different locations but is especially thankful for the William Walker location that opened right by her house.
“The family engagement piece here is big for me. I feel included in my son’s education all across the board,” she said. “Being able to see him each and every day, learning, engaging in different settings, is really helping in education reinforcement and building his socialization skills. I’m so thankful this program is at our fingertips.”
School readiness support—and more—for kids, caregivers & the community
Since our first site opened in 2016, Learning Spaces has provided more than 8000 opportunities for preschool experiences in nontraditional sites. This month, we opened Scott Candler Library Learning Spaces in partnership with Dekalb County Library Foundation as our 18th program site, and the second location in South Dekalb. Our 19th site hosted at William Walker Recreation Center opened in partnership with the City of Atlanta and is the first in its region.
According to data from our Child Well-Being Index, South DeKalb and Southwest Atlanta both demonstrate a need for more access to early learning supports to set young children up for success when they reach school age. In South Atlanta especially, early learning is in flux —two early learning centers recently closed, impacting 500 young learners.
Each new Learning Spaces center gives families a cross-generational space to learn and explore each week. The students benefit from literacy and fine motor-skills activities and Learning Spaces facilitators share with caregivers how to build their children’s cognition skills and incorporate the curriculum at home.
Families who attend Learning Spaces are supported by additional wraparound services as well with United Way of Greater Atlanta and our partners. Any parent at one of our Learning Spaces who would like their child screened for age-appropriate developmental behaviors and growth can get screened for free through our partnership with Georgia State University. If needed, they are referred out for services at the Georgia Department of Health at little to no cost, allowing them to receive interventions before they even reach school age.
“We try to create a comprehensive experience for our parents so that they know that if there’s a need that they can’t address alone or at the pediatrician, they can always come talk to the Learning Spaces facilitators,” said Patrice Laird, Senior Director of School Readiness at United Way of Greater Atlanta. “This is a family experience for not only the children, but also the caregivers and the community.”
Helping Greater Atlanta kids start school strong
A. L. Bilal Muhammad’s four-year old son’s favorite part of Learning Spaces is dancing and singing — he’s not normally as outgoing, but being around the other kids has brought him out of his shell. Since participating in the program, their family has also taken advantage of the partnership with Georgia State University for evaluation services.
“Without Learning Spaces, we wouldn’t have much. We don’t have a religious community, and in our neighborhood there’s no kids playing outside, but Learning Spaces has given my son and I a life, and we’re thankful.”
To find out more about Learning Spaces, and to see weekly schedules for each location, click here.
We offer these programs free of charge to local families in neighborhoods that will see its impact most. You can help Learning Spaces students have opportunities to set them up for educational success. Give to help our littlest learners start school strong.