Mayor Thomas M. Menino today announced the development of a $16 million early
childhood and family Learning Center at the Bromley-Heath public housing development in
Jamaica Plain. Developed and operated by Associated Early Care and Education, the center will
create an innovative urban learning facility for low-income families unlike any other in Boston.
 
“I am proud of this effort, which has brought so many of our city’s important
organizations together resulting in this significant investment of public and private dollars in an
Early Learning Center for our youngest children at Bromley-Heath,” Mayor Menino said. “This
project will serve as a model for other housing authorities and early educators across this
country. This is our Thrive in 5 promise to Boston’s children at its best.”
 
The Mayor was joined by state Secretary of Education Paul Reville, Boston Housing
Authority Administrator Bill McGonagle, Wayne Ysaguirre, President and CEO of Associated
Early Care and Education, Michael K. Durkin, President of the United Way of Massachusetts
Bay & Merrimack Valley, and a host of other officials and community leaders. The center is the
result of a partnership that includes the Boston Housing Authority, US Department of Housing
and Urban Development, Associated, United Way, and other community organizations and
foundations.
 
“This is Associated’s crowning achievement and is the result of four years of planning
and dreaming with many community partners to bring our vision to completion," Ysaguirre said.
“The Center's goal is to engage the community – parents, civic partners, service providers,
neighborhood leaders, public schools, health care institutions – to take a shared interest in
helping young children achieve school readiness to succeed in school and in life.”
"A comprehensive element within Thrive in 5’s city-wide effort and a demonstration of
the Mayor's commitment to the city's children, the Bromley-Heath center will add critical
services for parents and teachers to significantly shape the future drivers of our region’s
economy,” Durkin said. “As a long-time partner of Associated, United Way is proud to build
upon our joint history by entering a new era of innovation and partnership to advance the healthy
development of young children,"
 
The first-of -its-kind program to serve families and their children in a public housing
development will reach more than 1,000 low-income families and house a childhood education
center that incorporates a variety of creative, evidence-based curriculum and teaching methods.
The preschool and after-school programming will be available to 175 children up to age 8, their
siblings and families; 50 percent of the children will be residents of the Bromley-Heath
development.
 
The curriculum will include Science Technology Engineering & Math programs (STEM),
enrichment in physical fitness and the arts, adventure play and after school programs focusing on
nature and outdoor exploration. The center will include a 12,000 square foot outdoor play area
with a natural playground and rooftop greenhouse. The building will be LEED (Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certified to ensure energy efficiency and a healthier
climate for children and staff.
 
The 20,000-square-foot facility will also offer parents workforce development assistance
such as mentoring, interviewing and workplace coaching as well as health screenings, parenting
classes, nutrition coaching and GED classes. The project is part of Boston's commitment to
universal school readiness -- the Thrive in 5 movement, which Mayor Menino and the United
Way launched to ensure that all kids have the support and resources they (and their families)
need to be ready for Kindergarten.
 
“We have worked a long time with the Bromley-Heath community to see this vision for
a high quality early childhood education center become a reality,” said Bill McGonagle, Director
of the Boston Housing Authority. “We greatly look forward to the day when the Learning Center
is bustling with activity.”
 
The Center received a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development. Another $11 million is being raised through private philanthropy and financing.
This includes almost $2 million from the members of Associated's Board of Directors, $1 million
from the Barr Foundation, $250,000 from the Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation,
$200,000 from the Highland Street Foundation, as well $500,000 in capital support from the
United Way. New market tax credits and financing are being provided by Massachusetts
Housing Investment Corporation, Citizens Bank, and Bank of America. Other partners in the
project are Action for Boston Community Development, Children's Hospital's Martha Elliot
Health Center and Family Services of Greater Boston.
 
Construction will begin in late November, with an anticipated completion date of January
2014. The Center will replace an abandoned building that formerly housed the neighborhood’s
health center and be leased to Associated for $1 per year by the Boston Housing Authority.
 
Studio MLA Architects is designing and CWC Builders will construct the Learning Center.