Learning Bridge Early Education Center (1840 Asbury Ave.), which provides education and developmental support for children ages two to five, will hold its 80th anniversary celebration at 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 26, at the Crystal Ballroom and Lounge in Evanston. The evening features an award presentation to Cornelia Grumman, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and child advocate, and an address from guest speaker Shawntay King, the Early Education Department Chair at National Louis University. Proceeds from the event support tuition supplements for working families and enrichment activities for their children.
Tickets for this event are $200 and include a cocktail reception, dinner and a program. Tickets can be purchased on the organization’s website.
About Learning Bridge
In 1944, with the nation at war and many families experiencing mothers working outside of the home for the first time, the need for childcare and early education was immediate throughout Evanston and surrounding communities. Unfortunately, segregation closed many childcare doors to African American families. With help from Evanston Women’s Club and funds from the Community Chest, passionate leaders established Learning Bridge (then Child Care Center of Evanston) in the basement of Bethel A.M.E. Church where they would educate and care for children.
Fully integrated since 1966, Learning Bridge, located in Evanston’s historic Ridge neighborhood, now serves a multi-racial and diverse student body that includes children with neurodivergent learning diagnoses. Learning Bridge offers families an affordable and quality full-day, full-year program of basic math, science, early language and literacy.
Executive Director Bernice Mahan says, “Today is a great time for the mission to go forward. Our mission is to ensure that every child at Learning Bridge is mentally, psychically, psychologically, emotionally and academically balanced so that when they go to kindergarten they are ready for the world that’s ahead of them.”.
Learning Bridge celebrates 80 years of preschool education on Oct. 26 is from Evanston RoundTable, Evanston's most trusted source for unbiased, in-depth journalism.