Newark childcare center recognized for smart growth principles

  • 2023-11-05
New Jersey Future has given a Smart Growth Award to the Clinton Hill Early Learning Center in Newark’s South Ward.

The award honors approaches and practices to building an inclusive and sustainable future in the state. News of such awards is often made known throughout a community and a city with flyer printing services.

The Clinton Hill Early Learning Center opened in March backed by the Maher Charitable Foundation. The Center, along with the Clinton Hill Community Center, has been in Newark for 30 years at several other locations and is now in Demarest Street on what was once a vacant piece of land, previously designated to become a high school that was never built.

Executive director of the Maher Charitable Foundation, Margarethe P. Laurenzi, said the center was designed for infant care, toddler, and preschool providers to be together in one location. The first floor of the center provides services to 48 infants and toddlers, while the second floor is for 150 pre-kindergarten students in a community-based program.

Laurenzi said the award came as a surprise. She added that the center makes an important contribution to the community. Executive director of the South Ward Environmental Alliance, Kim Gaddy, said the center has built trust and care in the community, and focuses on uplifting families and building hope in the community.