Carole Robertson Center for Learning will hold its 2022 Annual Celebration on Wednesday, May 11, from 6-9 p.m. at Venue West (221 N. Paulina St., in Chicago). The evening is centered on celebrating and uplifting the Workforce Behind the Workforce, our dedicated staff who deliver comprehensive early childhood education, out-of-school-time programming and family support services in historically under-resourced communities in Chicago.
Rooted in the commitment to working for, by and with the community, our workforce consists of educators, youth development mentors, home visitors, family support specialists, mental health advisors and many other staff members who provide vital services to more than 2,000 children, youth and their families across 27 communities. The 2022 Annual Celebration recognizes the workforce that is the heartbeat of the organization and the driving force behind the Center’s life-changing impact on children and families.
More than 250 supporters and community partners will gather for the signature annual fundraiser, which will be emceed by Jacoby Cochran, host of popular daily news podcast “City Cast Chicago” and contributor to the “Nerdette” podcast. The evening’s keynote speaker is Xavier Ramey, a North Lawndale native and CEO of social impact consulting firm, Justice Informed. Featured guests include Secretary Grace Hou of the Illinois Department of Human Services — the 2022 Curba Merrill Friend of the Center awardee — and Adams Street Partners, Corporate Partner of the Year awardee. PNC is the presenting sponsor, with Scott Swanson, President, Illinois and Territory Executive, Midwest Region, PNC, serving as the 2022 Annual Celebration event chair.
A Social Justice Mission
The Center’s vision is to help build a just and equitable society in partnership with families, and to be a beacon of best practices, innovation and impact in early childhood and youth development. A core belief is the strength, potential and power of all children, regardless of the zip code into which they are born.
Since its inception more than 45 years ago, the Carole Robertson Center for Learning has been dedicated to educating, enriching and empowering children and families. The Center works to honor the life and memory of its namesake, Carole Robertson, who, at 14 years old and together with her young friends Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley and Denise McNair was killed in the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama.
The Carole Robertson Center was founded by families and community residents who successfully rallied to save a popular and much-needed after-school program that was threatened with being shut down after its sponsoring school closed, leaving many working parents on Chicago’s West Side with few options for their children. The Center has always been committed to serving under-resourced communities across Chicago, with flagship sites in Little Village, North Lawndale and Albany Park.
The Annual Celebration helps raise much-needed resources in support of our programs and the children, youth and families we serve.
Tickets are available for purchase here.
For information about the Annual Celebration, contact Tara Harper, chief development officer at tharper@carolerobertsoncenter.org or 312-243-7300, ext. 267.
