“Where we apply our dollars intelligently to the people who take care of children, we would spend millions of dollars less on the damage done to society by wounded adults.
Wounded children become wounded adults, and wounded adults can destroy a planet.”
- Marianne Williamson, A Year of Daily Wisdom
Save a child. Save a city.
starting now.
Did you know that the most important developmental years for a child's long-term success are the ones before his 5th birthday?
The Early Childhood & Family Learning Foundation focuses its programs on the crucial role of high quality early childhood education in closing the achievement gap between children who are socioeconomically challenged and those who are advantaged. ECFLF establishes avenues for young New Orleans children to be physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy while receiving quality early education that will ultimately lead to successful, healthy, and happy lives.
The Mahalia Jackson Early Childhood & Family Learning Center models a bold, comprehensive approach to early childhood education. The primary goal is to prepare students from birth through age five - in mind, body and spirit - to go to school ready to learn, leading to health, confidence, and success in school and beyond.
Crucially, the proven and holistic Mahalia Jackson Center model also enrolls children’s parents and neighbors in the many physical, mental and social well-being, literacy, job training, parenting training, and other programs for which Central City residents and community leaders expressed needs.
All onsite service partners offer established, sustainable programs, located and working cooperatively at Mahalia Jackson Center.
Mahalia Jackson Center is comprised of several large buildings, playgrounds, gardens, and more. It takes up an entire city block - see the red brick buildings with green roofs amid green grass and trees? That's MJC! And our community garden is getting even greener...
MJC houses Total Community Action's Early Head Start and Head Start programs, and Orleans Parish Schools' Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade programs. You'll find, along with the early education programs, a health clinic, meeting and fitness rooms, state-run support programs, a branch of the New Orleans Public Library, a computer training and resource center, a community garden (from which we eat!) and much more.
175 children attend Mahalia Jackson Early Childhood School in this 2011-2012 school year, and ECFLF's and MJC’s outreach programs to neighboring child cares and schools continue to touch 2500 children and youth in Central City.
All families with a Central City address qualify for a full, free membership to MJ Center. All citizens of the world qualify for other types of free membership!
Our promise is that no one is turned away; if a member requests a service we do not offer, we find out who does, and we help the member access it.
Please explore our website to learn more about the Mahalia Jackson Center model, along with ways you can help. Please check back frequently, as we are evolving and our websites are frequently updated with additional information and news of our exciting progress and work in New Orleans and beyond.
Click here to watch the WK Kellogg Foundation's Video Annual Report feature on MJ Center
Extreme Makeover: Mahalia Jackson Center Edition!:
Mahalia Jackson School close-up 2008....
the same building as it looks today
You can see many photos of Mahalia Jackson Center students, members, volunteers, staff, and supporters at work and at play by clicking on the "Take a Look" page of this website as well as on our Facebook page (link below).
Please visit us often here and at: www.mahaliajacksoncenter.org .
Click here to learn more about What We Do...
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