The Little Angels Learning Center universe comprises five groups that make up the foundation: Parents, Teachers, Team Members, Supporters and the little angels themselves. Members of each group shared insights from their work, experiences and interactions — taken together, you’ll find a story rooted in forming family ties, uplifting parents, being of service, loving and leading with kindness and empowering through engagement that meets people where they are, literally and figuratively.
Praise from the Little Angels universe:
Scholars
Discover what makes our school a special place through the words of our Little Angels. When asked about their favorite things to do, they enthusiastically exclaimed, “Play and be friends!” Their emphasis on kindness and camaraderie shines through as they added, “Be kind to everybody, be nice!” It’s not just about play; it’s about creating a nurturing environment where friendships flourish. And when it comes to their teachers, their affection is evident: “They are the best—they are nice and kind and teach the kids!” With smiles and hugs, they appreciate the kindness and the invaluable lessons imparted by our dedicated educators. Plus, there’s always room for a little melody in their hearts, as they mentioned a beloved song that they enjoy singing. At Little Angels, we foster an atmosphere of joy, learning, and togetherness that truly makes every day an adventure.
Alumni & The Little Angels Themselves
Parents
“We were new to Chicago, I found Little Angels after reading online reviews. People said so many nice things. When I went there, they helped me navigate systems and fill out paperwork. I saw that they treated the kids and families well, and the teachers gave you detailed reports. When my son went on to school, he knew a lot of things already: colors and shapes, and he recognized his name. Little Angels is an exceptional daycare, very dedicated to families and children in Englewood. They go above and beyond, and it’s a decision I will never regret.”
— Ms. Abiola R.
“My first connection to Little Angels was volunteering, helping out as a teenager. Because of all the good things I would see and hear, word of mouth from friends and families, I decided to send my son there when he was 2 months old. I was a young mother, and it’s hard to trust someone with your child so early, but I had so much reassurance. They worked with me — all the staff and directors, the teachers, the people outside of the classroom; everyone is very hands-on and loving, very involved with everything. I knew my child would be safe…”
— Ms. Imani Bowman
“I would attend the celebrations and things that Little Angels would do in the community. I immediately felt comfortable sending my child to Little Angels because other kids in my family had gone there.
Little Angels makes you feel like family. I love that they make the parents feel comfortable. I had my child at an early age, and they offered a helping hand and shared resources. And because they supported me, I share resources with them, too, when I learn about jobs and schools. My daughter volunteered with the summer camp, a decision she made on her own, and I recommend Little Angels to everyone, especially single families and families in need, because of the warmth and comfort; they are authentic, they didn’t act a certain way in front of you and another way behind your back… ”
— Ms. Lakesha Harris
“My experience with Little Angels was amazing. Once I met Ms. Greer-Adams, I had no concerns; I had never met her before in my life, but just her presence alone let me know that my child would be safe. It’s clear that she is standing in her calling. She hires really good instructors, and she cares —the school invests in and checks on the children after they leave, they want to know that they’re doing well.
I didn’t have any assistance or help paying childcare costs, and they worked with me financially so my child could still have a quality education regardless. Childcare is expensive, so important that a place like Little Angels is in Englewood, where there aren’t a lot of facilities —Little Angels employs the adults in the neighborhood, and it lets kids stay in the neighborhood, so things like not having bus fare transportation don’t prevent you from being able to do for your child…”
— Ms. Ayesha Ollie
Teachers
“All children are unique. We know that they learn best through play, active exploration, and an engaging environment. Our children show tremendous growth in literacy, phonics, alphabet recognition, and reading print. They are realizing that print says something.
Our programs include yoga, therapy play, parent-child interaction, staff therapy, and just general help for the whole family. I’m delighted by the consistency of parent involvement, teacher-child interactions and high assessment scores for our classes.
Little Angels is a beacon of hope for children and families in the Englewood community: a change, a resource, a brighter horizon. Little Angels is making a difference, giving the community something to feel good about with the presence of an open heart, mind and spirit. “
— Ms. Renee Hayden
“What makes Little Angels unique is the care we have for the entire family, and also the family environment that we have as a team. The neighborhood faces a lot of crime and poverty: Our babies deserve this space, where they will be treated fairly and with respect. They need all of us as positive educators. When they come to school with huge smiles on their face, it is the most rewarding feeling; I have also been seeing our alumni come back to us, and they have continued their education and just positively furthering their lives.
Little Angels is a home for our babies, and they always say home is where the heart is.”
— Ms. Ebony P.
Team Members
“Little Angels brings joy to Englewood. We give our students tender loving care, we nurture our little ones as well as teach them skills. I have noticed that a lot of our scholars have been selected to gifted schools; they really grow academically; we even had one student that has graduated from high school with several scholarships to college, and that started from here. Not only do we engage with the children, but also we are involved with the parents. We make the parent feel important and special through consistent praise, warmth and energy. There can be so much chaos, and we, parents and residents, need a place where love and peace are exhibited, where we, our little ones, can be expressive and we can express ourselves, too.
Little Angels is where excellence is our expectation.”
— Ms. Lakeisha Veal, Parent Ambassador
“All four of my children attended Little Angels. I had years of experience in daycare, and I saw things at Little Angels that I didn’t see from my experiences — the people at Little Angels were dedicated, involved with the parents, the kids always had assignments…I had to know what Little Angels was doing that the places different from the places I had been working, so one day I took off work to see.
I saw that they were meeting with parents and giving them an opportunity to participate. And as my children went on from Little Angels, I saw how confident they were; they weren’t intimidated, they knew how to wash their hands, how to raise their hands, just how to be in a classroom. Teachers would always comment positively and ask what school they came from. Little Angels took my kids a long way, and that foundation still takes them far…”
— Ms. Octativa Fleming
Supporters
All five of my children attended Little Angels. It’s been more than 10 years since I sent my first child, and it was hard…I knew people who had bad and tragic experiences with daycare. When I went to Little Angels to get more information they sat and talked to me for an hour, they let me know that they had an open-door policy and I could come at any point throughout the day, because I wanted to know what was going on. That made me comfortable. And then I saw that when it was time to go to Little Angels, my child never cried, she always wanted to go, there were never any issues, and I was like, “I can do this…”
— Ms. LaTe’Shia Hollingsworth, parent & advocate, The Campaign for Equitable Funding
“I live in Englewood, and all of my daughters went to Little Angels. I learned a lot about being a parent — for example, a few years ago, when we were lobbying for promised funding, I learned about civic engagement and how to advocate for my kids; we called our council people and allies, we voiced our opinions, I even took two trips to Springfield. Through that experience we learned how to stand up for what we want and what we believe in: You don’t just hope that elected officials do right by your children, you make sure that they do what you want them to do. We learned how to fight for our children. I always credit Little Angels for being the first people to show me the power of my voice as a parent.“
— Ms. Constance Berry
