Little Angels Early Learning Center has served generations of South Side kids for 32 years, most of it in shared church space.
"I knew this day would come somehow, some way. I just didn't know exactly when and how, and, you know, I didn't know the when and how, but it's just a feeling that it's like a relief," said Nashone Greer-Adams, Little Angels Early Learning Center founder.
After almost eight years of bureaucratic red tape and other road blocks, on Tuesday, Little Angels infants and toddlers moved into their new 15,000-square-foot space on the corner of 67th Street and South Emerald Avenue.
"The city said want to support this, came in with the seed funding to get us started. We went through the large lot program in Chicago. So, we're excited about that. We're built on three lots," Greer-Adams said.
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The state kicked in funding and so did private foundations. The process began in 2018, but hit a snag in 2019, when the city cut funding by 30 percent. It was one hurdle after another. Parents and staff credit Greer-Adams for never giving up. They say it's the same attitude of hope that they teach their students.
"We are different because we are a learning center where every moment there's a teachable moment," said Renee Hayden, Little Angels Early Learning Center director and teacher.
From grandparents like Shelia Culverson, who has sent all her grandchildren to the center since 2005, to new parents, they all say Little Angels is more than just a brand new shiny building.
"It really does feel like home; you are coming into a welcoming warm environment with open arms," parent Renee Locket said.
"All of my grandchildren that came went to a gifted school," Culverson said.
But, the hurdles are far from over. Students between 3-6 years old remain at the old church site. The state will only license one age group at a time for the new building. Greer-Adams says if all kids are not moved in before the end of the year, the center could lose some of the original seed money from the city, which expires Jan. 1.
Despite the remaining obstacles to completely move into this new building, the staff is confident, given how far they have come, the bureaucratic red tape will work itself out by the end of the year.