Educational Reform & Equity

Hope For New Haven delivers high quality educational programming through the  HOPE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER. By emphasizing reconciliation and prevention, we deliver the gospel of Jesus Christ to children. These proven values guide behavior and build social and emotional competence, leading to improved educational outcomes.  Hope's investments in infants, children, and youth give them a solid foundation upon which to build.

Hope Child Development Center’s preschool graduates are reported being ready on day one upon entering kindergarten. Furthermore, they maintain their edge over their peers throughout their elementary years.

Economic reform & investments

Hope For New Haven’s mission seeks to not only transform our children and families but to transform the communities in which they live. In 2014, we co-founded CERCLE, a non-profit collaborative of early childhood educators and business owners serving Black and Latino children and families. Through CERCLE's shared services approach, we deliver innovative opportunities and experiences that develop skills and knowledge necessary for asset-building and wealth creation for CERCLE members.

Our work combats social, economic, and racial inequity by challenging institutions at all levels of society to see the truth that we are all God’s children and our brother’s keepers.

From Covid to Recovery

Op-ed by Georgia Goldburn
Executive Director, Hope For New Haven

On March 16, 2020, Mayor Justin Elicker issued an executive order responding to the emerging Covid-19 pandemic.  The executive order called for childcare centers serving more than 12 children to cease operations unless they provided care to healthcare workers.  Hope saw enrollment plunge from 73 children to 19 the following day.  A subsequent executive order by Governor Lamont further limited childcare centers’ capacity to 30.  Consequently, Hope shuttered the Pre-K room, along with four other classrooms.  Our once robust center, whose classrooms and hallways were filled with laughter and tears, became unusually quiet.  Shouts, squeals, and patters of little feet fleeing, followed closely behind by the hurried steps of parents trying to keep up were replaced by anxiety, fear, and questions as we contemplated our new reality.

Operating during the pandemic and being one of the few centers in New Haven to keep our doors open for families, provided an opportunity to witness firsthand the power of resilience within our community and the strength that emerges when people come together to support one another.  Amidst the uncertainty and ever-changing guidelines, our staff showed remarkable adaptability. We saw solidarity among families, staff, and the larger Hope family, leading to a shared purpose and determination to overcome the crisis together. 

Read more HERE.