Engage Community

We’re all in this together.

There is tremendous potential in the power of early childhood education, potential for the child, the family, the educator and the entire community. At Friends Center, we build community participation and partnership to promote and advance high-quality early childhood education and its potential to transform lives and communities.

New Haven Children’s Ideal Learning District

The possibilities are vast, and so is the task: to adjust the way we, as a city, think about early childhood education and work toward providing opportunities for high-quality early learning experiences to all young children in New Haven. Thanks to a new collaborative initiative, New Haven Children’s Ideal Learning District (NH ChILD), we’re poised to make New Haven a model of ideal learning by increasing quality and access to early childhood education for all 14,800 New Haven children ages zero to eight. Read more

Fair Haven Family Stroll and Festival

Each year, the Fair Haven Family Stroll and Festival brings hundreds of community members together in a fun-filled event with a mission: to raise awareness and funds to address the urgent need for high-quality early childhood education. Organized by Friends Center, in partnership with other early childhood education programs, the day begins with a scenic 1.5 mile bridge loop, followed by a festival full of activities, entertainment and resources, including: juggling, magic, hula hoops, zumba, ballet, bubbles, music, face-painting, food and dozens of tables providing information on valuable community services. Read more