Latinx Center set to break ground on new $4M bilingual early education facility
Summary
FLINT, MI - A major step toward expanding bilingual early education in Flint is set to take place next week.The Latinx Technology & Community Center is scheduled to break ground at 10 a.m. Friday, March 14, on its new Bi-Lingual Early Education Center at 2101 Lewis St.The ceremony marks a significant milestone for the Latinx community and Flint residents, providing children with access to high-quality education in both English and Spanish.Guests, educators, and community leaders are expected to be in attendance to celebrate the occasion, with a special breakfast following the event.The new two-story facility, right next door to the Latinx Center, is designed to support early childhood development through culturally inclusive learning, preparing children for future academic success while honoring their heritage.Weve been working on this project for over two years, said Asa Zuccaro, executive director of the Latinx Center. To get to this point of reaching the groundbreaking, its an exciting time.Funding for the project will cost $4 million.The Latinx Center earned a $2.6 million grant directly from the Michigan Department of Education, along with several grants from the city of Flint for under $300,000.The new facility is expected to open in approximately one year.We have about $1 million left to fundraise and were excited people want to support this project, Zuccaro said.While the organization has received a lot of insight from the community through focus groups and town halls in conversations related to the water crisis, he said one issue that stood out was literacy.Seeing how literacy plays in an individual life and recognizing in the neighborhood there is a complete lack of access in early childhood education on Flints east side, there is a limited number of seats even available to service this whole geographic side, Zuccaro said. This facility will have over 65 seats available for early childhood education.This isnt the first improvement in recent time at the center.Two years ago, the Latinx Center revealed a remodeled second floor made possible by a $575,000 grant from the C.S. Mott Foundation.The building being used for the new early education facility used to house a furniture store and has been vacant for the last couple years, he said.Recently we got an architectural rendering of what this school will look like, Zuccaro said. Its a really powerful moment.Attendees are asked to RSVP to ensure an accurate food count and to complete security verification.