Learning Spaces has a new home in Rex, GA

The Hand, Heart and Soul Project is a renowned nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing Clayton County by enhancing access to quality education, nutrition, and community resources.

“I WISH THEY HAD A CENTER LIKE THIS WHEN I HAD MY FIRST SON! The program has been amazing for me and my daughter. I feel a different type of closeness in learning how to better interact with her day-day,” exclaims one of the parents.

Through a successful partnership with the United Way of Greater Atlanta, the organization has established several ‘Learning Spaces’ centers specifically designed for child care providers, caregivers, and children aged 0-5.

These innovative learning centers are staffed with committed teachers who not only educate the children but also empower the parents to develop healthy eating habits, engage in workshops, storytelling sessions, playtime, exercise, and even practice yoga. “We recognized the critical importance of early development,” Ben Mitchell (Education Outreach Coordinator for Hand Heart and Soul). She also emphasized the fact that training provided between the ages of 0-5 can shape behavioral patterns and lay the foundation for lifelong success.

Each ‘Learning Spaces’ center offers 2 hours of daily availability. Upon joining the program, parents, caretakers, or caregivers gain access to 2 hours per day from Monday to Friday, during which they must be present alongside their child. Drop-offs are not permitted, as the organization believes in the significance of meaningful engagement between the child and their daily caregiver. The grand opening of the centers witnessed the participation of numerous parents and children, eager to celebrate and partake in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The United Way of Greater Atlanta, a key supporter of the Hand Heart and Soul Project, sent representatives to the event. Notable attendees included Travis Amsterdam (Community Organizer), Magdalena Perez (Project Manager, Family Engagement & Leadership), Cerrice Dawson (Senior Director of Early Learning), Patrice Laird (Learning Spaces Partnerships Manager), and Cori Cain (Associate Vice President, Strong Learners).

To further engage interested parents, the project hosts a special orientation every Friday. The seventeen ‘Learning Spaces’ centers are strategically located across Cobb, Clayton, DeKalb, Douglas, and Fulton counties. Additionally, Hand Heart and Soul strongly advocates for the farm-to-table approach to foster healthy eating habits within the community. To explore more about their initiatives and to find out the dates of the next monthly fresh vegetable distribution, please visit their website at https://handheartsoulproject.org.

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