St. Mary's Center for Women and Children co-launches children’s center to offer ‘safe educational space’

The St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children in Dorchester, Boston, recently co-launched a children’s center in Boston to give local kids a ‘safe space’ to learn. Image: Ben Wicks

The St. Mary's Center for Women and Children in Dorchester, Boston, co-launched the Carolyn Lynch Children's Center on March 13. The former said it would give local kids a "safe educational space."

A 'Safe Space' To Learn Things

According to a report by The Boston Pilot, the newly-opened Carolyn Lynch Children's Center was the result of a partnership between the St. Mary's Center for Women and Children and Children's Express Child Care, Inc. The latter had its first branch at 114 South Main St. in Attleboro before opening its satellite center at 90 Cushing Ave. in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood.

Maura Letourneau, the executive director of Children's Express Child Care, Inc., told the news outlet that the Carolyn Lynch Children's Center has a compass rose-shaped sign hanging on its walls. She explained that the compass rose symbolizes what St. Mary's Center for Women and Children aims to achieve.

"A compass rose is a tool to help guide you to a destination. I wanted to let the families who live here know that this is not their final destination, that they're on their way. This is merely a stop along the way," The Boston Pilot quoted Letourneau saying.

The news outlet disclosed that the new children's center is a state-of-the-art facility that cost $1 million to complete. The report said the Lynch Foundation gave St. Mary's center a grant that helped it renovate its old Dorchester campus, which has over 9,500 square feet of space.

The newly-refurbished facility has eight classrooms located on two whole floors. Once operational, the children's center could serve at least a hundred kids aged 8 weeks through preschool. 

The report noted that Children's Express would supply teachers to look after the kids who are with their moms in St. Mary's shelter facility. Meanwhile, the newly-launched children's center will take care of the safe space for learning that its target beneficiaries require.

Taking Care of Poor Women's Childcare Needs

St. Mary's Center President Alexis Steel said during her welcome remarks at the ribbon-cutting program that women and children face many risks from poverty. Steel particularly highlighted the difficulties single working mothers have to deal with.

According to her, single mothers face the dilemma of using much of their salaries on childcare or having to stop working to take care of their kids personally. Meanwhile, kids who don't have a home run a high risk of getting their development delayed.

The report noted that women and children comprise a staggering 70% of individuals living and poverty.

Steel told those at the ceremony that the pandemic affected 90% of mothers whom the St. Mary's Center accommodates. She added that they finished renovating the new children's center facility in just half a year while getting their operating license in just eight months.

"You've done this under the most stressful of times for contractors, families, communities like ours. We are so incredibly thankful for making this center happen," she told the prime movers of the program.

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