Thanks for supporting our 10th annual Stone Soup!
This year’s annual fundraising event and convening of early childhood leaders and supporters celebrated innovation in early childhood education. Because of the generosity of our friends and partners, we raised over $100,000 in support of our work to implement innovative strategies designed to increase access to high quality early care and education for under-resourced children and families. Click here to see photos from the event. Visit our Stone Soup page to learn more about the event and to make a donation!
Message from the President: Our Commitment to Equity
Dr. Pamela K. Harris
President and CEO
Mile High Early Learning
Mile High Early Learning strives to fulfill our vision–to joyfully welcome everyone into our learning community, prioritize equity, and find strength in diversity. As we have seen and experienced, the world we live in does not reflect these same values.
Our mission at MHEL is to cultivate every child’s potential. Our children are observing us and acting upon what they see. We know that they recognize unequal treatment based on skin color by age 2; demonstrate social bias by age 3; and recognize and act against racial injustice by ages 4 and 5. Our children and families come from 18 different countries and speak 30 different languages. We have committed in our work to deepen our understanding of race and diversity and to call out and act when we see racism and injustice so that all of our children will thrive.
Part of our work extends beyond the classroom. It’s speaking up when we see racism. It’s advocating for changes in laws and policies that ignore these institutional barriers. It’s making others listen when they want to walk away.
We do not yet live in a world where everyone is treated equally. We do not yet live in a world where the color of your skin doesn’t limit your destiny. Together we need to create the world where we want to live.
Mile High Early Learning News
On May 18, 2024, we officially cut the ribbon on the Tamara M. Sparks Early Learning Center at Mile High United Way! We are thrilled to welcome children and families into the center, located at Mile High United Way’s headquarters on 711 Park Ave. West in Curtis Park. This new center is operated by Mile High Early Learning and provides early care and education for nearly 60 children ages six weeks to 5 years, as well as workforce development opportunities for educators and wraparound support for families. At least 70% of the slots are reserved for families eligible for the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program. Watch this video to learn more!
Mile High Early Learning was selected as a Phase 2 Grant Recipient of Opportunity Now Colorado – an $85 million grant program catalyzing transformative change for Colorado’s workforce. MHEL received a grant to scale evidence-based practices in early childhood education and workforce development – specifically our Child Development Associate (CDA) training program – and will recruit, train, and place teachers in early childhood programs. MHEL’s CDA program provides the content training necessary to earn the foundational CDA credential, which allows a teacher to serve in a lead classroom position and earn higher wages. A new community facing staff position will build relationships within our communities and recruit students to become teachers, while also serving as a mentor. MHEL will offer paid internships for participants while they complete the 480 hours of classroom experience necessary to earn a CDA. Read the press release.
We celebrated the grand opening of The Rose on Colfax Early Learning Center on January 24, 2024! The Rose on Colfax Early Learning Center serves children ages 6 weeks to 5 years and includes preschool, toddler, and infant classrooms. This state-of-the-art facility — located at 1500 Valentia Street — has over 2,000 square feet of covered outdoor play space that allows for year-round gross motor activity for our children. Read the press release to learn more about this new development and our partnership with Mercy Housing! Go here to see a video news segment from Denver7.
Our Mission and Vision for Equity
Mile High Early Learning ensures all children thrive by cultivating every child’s potential, engaging families, and championing our early learning workforce.
Mile High Early Learning’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is deeply embedded in our work. Our vision through all of our programming is that children, families, and staff of all racial, cultural, economic, and social backgrounds are joyfully welcomed into a learning community that prioritizes equity and finds strength in diversity.
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