CENTER CITY ACADEMY INC
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Mission Statement
It is the vision of the Downtown Day Care Center to be a resource for families that are living, working and playing in Wichita’s vibrant urban core by providing academically-enriched, accredited child care at an affordable cost. As a non-profit organization with a 40+ year history of service in Downtown Wichita, the Downtown Day Care Center seeks private and public support in funding a secure, state-of-the-art facility that will be an environment in which all children have the opportunity to fully develop a healthy mind, body and spirit with an emphasis on celebrating the diversity that enriches our downtown community.
About This Cause
CENTER CITY ACADEMY A Need in Downtown Wichita A renaissance is underway in downtown Wichita! Our hometown spirit is seen everywhere on flags, tags, t-shirts at many local festivals and events. As announcements of grand openings circulate, the blueprints for projects yet unveiled are contemplated by civic leaders and business developers. It is clear; our local pride is bursting at the seams! As a community, how do we expand on this positive momentum and sustain our progress into the future? We should start at the beginning; at the core. We seek to create a non-profit early child development center that will provide affordable, high-quality child care for those living and working in Wichita’s urban core. This concept is not new. Previously known as the Downtown Day Care Center, we have an established and successful 43-year history in serving downtown Wichita’s diverse child care needs. Our renewed vision is to reorganize and embrace the transformational growth taking place in Wichita’s inner city. A new grass roots effort is underway! Our objective is to establish and fund a secure, centrally located, state-of-the-art facility in which all children have the opportunity to develop a healthy mind, body, spirit and character while receiving accredited child care in an academically enriched environment. The average cost of daycare per child at an accredited center in Kansas ranges from $14,537/year for infants, $12,117/year for toddlers to $9,542/year for 4+ years of age (http://www.ks.childcareaware.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/KS_Facts.pdf). This creates a significant financial strain on even middle class earners. As in our previous business model, tuition will be determined on a sliding fee scale; based on household income and the number of children eligible from the same family. THE CRITICAL YEARS Experts in early childhood development have long known the significance of years 0-5 as a predictor in overall success in social, emotional and cognitive skills. Now advanced technologies in neuroscience are providing the proof. At birth, the brain undergoes tremendous development through interaction with primary caregivers and family alike. New research shows that both genetics and environment affect the long-term brain architecture. Both are considered equally important in building a foundation of skills that last a lifetime. Genes provide the basic blueprint, but experiences shape the process that determines whether a child’s brain will provide a strong or weak foundation for all future learning, behavior, and health (http://www.urbanchildinstitute.org/why-0-3/baby-and-brain). THE INTERVENTION During early childhood development, the brain’s circuits and pathway connections are forming at a very rapid pace. Through the child’s daily stimulation and experiences, crucial networks are activated and formed. The neurons of the brain that are continually and positively engaged become stronger and more efficient. On the other hand, if the young brain encounters repeated negative experiences, such as neglect, abuse or trauma, its development is interrupted or stunted. The connections that determine control over emotion, behavior, memory, logic, language and motor skills become fragile and ineffective. Similar to the construction of a building, a strong foundation provides the support for the development of skill upon skill. Without strong brain architecture in all of the essential areas, future learning and skill development are compromised. The good news is, we have the ability to tip the scale in favor of more positive outcomes and Center City Academy seeks to be such a catalyst. THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT The bottom line is that an investment in early childhood development is a WIN-WIN for Wichita! It’s a WIN for the child who becomes a better student, a better adult and an independent community leader. It’s a WIN for the parent who is supported by the availability of safe, affordable child care and in turn, can be a more emotional stable parent and reliable employee. It is a WIN for the employer and business investor who will reap the benefit of a well-educated, responsible workforce. And, it’s a WIN for a stronger community because quality early childhood development contributes to breaking the cycle of poverty, overall community health and economic growth. The immediate benefits to our city and the sustainability of growth into the future depend upon on our commitment to the core. DOWNTOWN WICHITA IS GROWING AT A RAPID PACE Economic development and the relocation of residents to the downtown area has happened at an impressive pace. As published by Downtown Wichita (http://www.DowntownWichita.org), the State of Downtown Report 2018 reveals an interesting shift in demographics: 879 new residential units have been built and 699 additional units are in development. As of the date of the report (May 2018), there are 2,319 individuals residing in the downtown area and sixty-eight percent of those individuals are between the ages of 20 and 50. Seventy-six percent of those residents moved to downtown since 2010 and forty percent of downtown residents hold a Bachelor’s or higher educational degree. Available developments offer studio units or plans that accommodate one to four bedroom apartments. Since the adoption of Project Downtown: The Master Plan for Wichita in 2010 (http:/www.wichita.gov/Planning/Pages/Downtown.aspx) almost $600,000,000 of private and public investment has been made in downtown Wichita and the growth continues at a phenomenal rate. There are currently 10 companies that report a range of 100 to 800 employees in this area. Yet, with all the additional people working and living within the downtown corridor, adequate resources for quality childcare in the area are lacking. Currently there are two open enrollment childcare facilities in the downtown area with the capacity to serve only 143 children. Additionally, the 2018 Child Care Supply Demand Report: The Landscape of Child Care in KS (http://www.ks.childcareaware.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/KS_Facts.pdf) states that the number of available openings in child care facilities in Sedgwick County can serve only 48% of the number of children under age six potentially needing care. The missing component of the plan for the development of downtown Wichita is the availability of quality day care and early childhood education for preschool children. This unmet need creates a challenge for the parent, the workforce and the employer alike. The big picture for effective urban growth must include a mindful understanding of the community’s fundamental needs while enabling the flow of new commerce and opportunity for revitalization. OUR HISTORY – A LEGACY OF LEARNING The rise of women and single parents in the workforce in the 1960's created a challenge to provide quality education, meals, and nurturing care for children in the early stages of development. As previously mentioned, the Downtown Day Care Center opened in 1971. In its 43 year history, it enriched the lives of thousands of children. As a Non-Profit corporation, the center was a licensed, nationally certified facility qualified to serve 100 children from 1 – 5 years. In 2010 an infant room was added to serve children as young as 6 weeks. Hours of operation were from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The sliding scale allowed tuition based on household income and included discounted fees for additional children from the same family. Further support for the annual budget came from church provisions, private contributions, grants from community foundations and organizations, and the Department of Children and Family. The Board of Directors included community volunteers, professionals in law, education, business, finance and parents of enrolled children. All requirements for education in early childhood education were met by a staff of twenty nine professionals. The Downtown Day Care Center ceased operations in the summer of 2014 due to structural and mechanical issues in the facility. OPPORTUNITIES FOR DONORS We are in search of community leaders to join us in an effort to become “Committed to the Core” by cultivating a non-profit child care center of superior and affordable nature in the heart of our re-emergent downtown. If you share a passion for children and are inspired by the momentous transformation taking place in Wichita’s inner city, please consider this invitation to be a part of our team! This journey will take many generous hearts and hands with a wide range of talent and dedication. Many levels of commitment and participation will be available. Would you consider being a part of this crusade to support the early development of Wichita’s future generations? Please reflect on your availability or resources to help us celebrate the diversity that enriches our community while providing a service that is desperately needed by those who will one day lead the ongoing vision and future of this place we call home! We believe that early child development is the foundation of a prosperous, innovative, resourceful and resilient community. PLEASE JOIN US IN COMMITTING TO THE CORE! For more detailed information, please visit our website at www.CenterCityAcademy.org.