Helping children thrive is at the core of Age of Learning’s mission and is what drives us each day. That’s why our team was particularly excited to spend the day volunteering at the Children’s Institute Western Head Start Center in South Los Angeles recently.
We were happy to support Children’s Institute (CII), a nonprofit organization that provides early education, behavioral health, and family strengthening services to children and families impacted by poverty and trauma in Los Angeles.
After visiting the Western Head Start Center for the first time and speaking with their teachers, our team was inspired to help transform their outdoor spaces. The goal was to turn drab walls and plain pavement into vibrant and interactive artwork that encourages play and learning.
With a staff of 500+ professionals at Age of Learning who are passionate about early education, it was not hard to find a large group eager to work on this project. We called on our 80 artists and designers to submit mural concepts for CII’s largest wall to bring color and joy to the space. The winning concept, chosen from the six diverse concepts submitted, is a celebration of the vibrant neighborhood surrounding the center and allows students to see themselves represented in the scene.
Martine Singer, CII’s President & CEO, said an environment that inspires creativity and learning is important to children in early education programs.
“The team at Age of Learning did an amazing job painting the mural and interactive games,” Singer said. “We are so grateful to the team of volunteers for creating such a beautiful space for our kids to learn and play.”
More than 50 of our staff members from all departments, plus family members, arrived at the Head Start site and spent the full day bringing the mural concept to life. In addition, we also painted interactive games, such as hopscotch, put up new signage, and donated games for the playground. To see each step of the process including some “before” and “after” photos click on over to our album here.
“This was such an amazing experience! Not only was this an opportunity to give back to the kids in the community, but it gave me a new appreciation for our company’s efforts to contribute in notable and worthwhile ways,” said Jennifer Enoex, an Age of Learning staff member. “Words can’t describe how fulfilling this was for me, and I’m happy to have taken part in this project with fellow coworkers.”
Our team truly enjoyed contributing our time to this cause, bonding with our colleagues, and feeling connected to the community. We will continue to partner with CII and other nonprofit organizations serving children throughout Los Angeles.