Stone Soup Breakfast – Celebrating 50 Years of Head Start Programs

Early morning, March 11, 2015, teachers, educators and government officials gathered to celebrate 50 years of Head Start at Mile High Montessori Early Learning Centers’ Stone Soup—Gathering Community, Nourishing Children.

The Curtis hotel downtown was a perfect location for bringing in the many dedicated individuals who have built careers around educating and caring for children. Included in the line up of speakers was Mile High Montessori Early Learning Centers’ President and CEO, Pamela Harris who also emceed the event.  The featured speaker was Yvette Sanchez Fuentes, who flew from Washington, D.C., in her role as President of the National Alliance for Hispanic Families. As the former federal Office of Head Start Director, Fuentes gave a moving talk about the need for programs such as Head Start and, praised President Lyndon Johnson for his foresight and determination to end poverty in America. Especially for the children who are most vulnerable. It was a special day.

Mayor Michael B. Hancock proclaimed: March 11, 2015, to be known as “Mile High Montessori Early Learning Centers Head Start Day.”

Mile High Montessori Early Learning Centers inspired by the Head Start program began 45 years ago, and to date has served 45,000 low income children and their families.

It is hard to believe that 50 years ago, President Lyndon Johnson and Sargent Shriver brought this amazing program to our underprivileged children living at the poverty level.

Mile High Montessori promotes positive social, emotional, physical and cognitive development for low income children, and provides comprehensive critical health, family and social services by using the Head Start and Montessori inspired programs.

Today,  Mile High Montessori offers a premier Head Start/Montessori inspired early learning program to over 500 children daily at five centers. The sixth center operates as a learning site for parents and family, friends and neighbor caregivers.

It was a special day, especially for the children. LaPhonso Salas stood up to tell his story. He was an early beneficiary of Mile High Montessori’s program. His testimony gave emotion and meaning to the building of children into adults – smart, responsible, caring adults.

From Mayor Hancock, to Don Mares to Happy Haynes and her inspiring mother, Anna Jo Haynes, it was a day to say congratulations to Denver, to America, and to the many elected officials and leaders who are behind our children and programs such as Head Start and Mile High Montessori Early Learning Centers.

To see for yourself how these programs work, stop by Mile High Montessori Early Learning Centers, A Mile High United Way Community Partner, located at 1780 Marion Street, Denver, 80218