Ventura Mayor Joe Schroeder and Jim Duran, City Center Executive Director welcomed the attendees. Photos by Michael Gordon
The Bright Horizons Foundation for Children opened a Bright Space at The City Center, 837 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura, on Thursday, August, 24. Bright Spaces, the signature program of the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children, provide engaging environments for play that are cheerful, inviting, safe, and fun, and support non-profits like The City Center and the children and families in their care. The Bright Horizons Foundation has created over 300 Bright Spaces in the United States. This Bright Space will be a play space for families with young children who are experiencing homelessness.
The City Center provides a safe place for homeless families to learn the skills need to become productive members of society.
“Our goal with Bright Spaces is to give children the opportunities they deserve to develop resilience and form stronger bonds with their families and other caring adults. We strive to promote healing, offer nurturing and stimulating activities, and provide a stable, enriching environment for each child who walks through the door.” stated Yvonne Lynch, President of The Bright Horizons Foundation for Children.
Bright Spaces are customized based on the needs of the non-profit organization. The space created at City Center will allow preschool-aged and school aged children to experience a sense of normalcy and stability through play and learning. Through the collaboration between Bright Horizons foundation for Children, Amgen Foundation, The Rotary Club East, and a very special donor Fred C. Ferro, there is new furniture, toys, learning materials, and computers. Each area was intentionally designed to engage a variety of ages. The walls are adorned with beautiful candid photos of the children living at The City Center, courtesy of Tana Hayes Photography.
The City Center is a transitional living center for homeless families with children in Ventura County, equipping them to rebuild their lives and become self-sufficient. Almost 100% of our graduates do not return to homelessness. We provide our residents with a safe place where they can receive support through counseling, mentoring, case management, financial coaching & employment assistance. They learn life skills necessary for self-sufficiency, acquire transportation, obtain employment, and no longer require government assistance.
Bright Horizons® is a leading global provider of high-quality early education and childcare, back-up care, and workforce education services. For 35 years, we have partnered with employers to support workforces by providing services that help working families and employees thrive personally and professionally. Bright Horizons operates approximately 1,100 early education and childcare centers in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia, and India, and serves more than 1,400 of the world’s leading employers. Bright Horizons’ early education and childcare centers, back-up child and elder care, and workforce education programs help employees succeed at each life and career stage. For more information, go to www.brighthorizons.com.
