On Monday, July 21, the Wellston community celebrated the grand opening of the Early Explorers Child Development Academy with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The child care center is located in the heart of Wellston, at 1232 Robert L. Powell Pl., adjacent to the Metropolitan, Education, and Training (MET) Center and the Wellston MetroLink station. It is a unique transit-oriented development focused on workforce training, education and the revitalization of the community.
It will become the only licensed, accredited, center-based early childhood education facility in the area, providing a crucial service and peace of mind for working parents.
As a working mother of three children, Carolyn Seward, president and CEO of the Family and Workforce Centers of America, understands the concerns parents have for affordable and quality child care.
Seward said, “I want to make sure that they know when their children come to our facility that we are here to serve, protect, nurture and develop their children.”
At least 40 families have already inquired about enrollment, Seward said, which will begin in September for children ages six weeks to five years old. At full capacity, the center will house 121 children. An educational team from the Family Workforce Centers of America will operate the center, implementing a two-generational approach in early childhood education as well as parent engagement.
“Some of you are probably going to say, ‘This is an outstanding building. Why is it here?’” St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley said at a press conference before the ribbon-cutting. “Why not?”
“Our children are our most important asset,” said County Councilwoman Hazel Erby. “To have this beautiful, state-of-the-art facility here in Wellston where we can serve our kids and the community is a blessing.”
Parents toured the new $5.6 million facility that still smelled of fresh paint while a balloon artist entertained children in a classroom overlooking the playground. Outside Khai Carr, 4, Catelyn Davision, 3, and 18-month-old Lucas Erby took turns sliding down the new playground equipment.
Funding came from both private and federal grants. The Missouri Department of Economic Development donated $2 million. More than half a million dollars in additional funds came from the St. Louis County Economic Council and ARCHS.
Educators, business and community leaders understand that a reliable, trained workforce requires quality early childhood education, said Mike Downing, executive director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development.
“By continuing to invest in high-quality early childhood education at centers like this, we’re laying a sturdy foundation of which to build a workforce equipped for an economy of the future,” Downing said.
Downing added that Missouri has a large and extremely capable workforce, making the state a top destination for growing businesses. In order to maintain the state’s competitive edge, he said, more must be done to find ways to invest in education. The center’s galaxy theme serves as an everyday reminder for children.
“We want them to reach for the stars,” Seward said. “We want our children to know that there is absolutely nothing that they can’t achieve.”
Seward thanked long-time Wellston resident and retired teacher Bishop Matthew K. Franks, of First Born International Ministries, for his continued prayers.
“Do you know that as this facility was being built and through today, we have not had one incident,” Seward said.
About two years ago, Franks said, the Lord gave him a vision of the building in its finished state. It’s a vision that has come into fruition, he said.
“I saw Wellston when it was beautiful,” Franks said, “and now God is restoring what the cankerworm has come to destroy.”
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