Archbishop William E. Lori celebrated the grand opening of a new Head Start facility operated by St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore in the former Ss. James and John School in East Baltimore April 12.
The fully renovated building is the result of a $3 million dollar investment in the historic East Baltimore community. The building, one of the oldest Catholic School buildings in Baltimore City, features 10 refurbished classrooms with fully integrated technology, improved ventilation systems, and many other state-of-the-art improvements according to St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore
The archbishop, who led a ribbon-cutting ceremony, said he was pleased to see the building continued to be used for education.
Head Start early education programs provide support for lower-income families that extend beyond the classroom. The Whole Child/Whole Family model for Head Start “changes the trajectory of intergenerational poverty by meeting families where they are with the resources they need for long-term stability,” according to an April 11 news release from St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore. The result is higher test scores and graduation rates and improved health outcomes and financial stability for their families.
“We are excited to be moving into our new home at the historic St. James St. John School,” said Olutunde Clarke, Vice President of Child and Family Services at St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore. “This investment strengthens our commitment to providing quality, tuition-free early childhood education along with parent support services for low-income families.”
St. Vincent de Paul Head Start and Early Head Start serves more than 700 children and families throughout Baltimore City.
For more information about St. Vincent de Paul’s Head Start program, visit headstartbaltimore.org.
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