Childhood development and parenting center ready to open at Harris-Stowe

KSDK -- The William L. Clay Sr. Early Childhood Development and Parenting Education Center is built and ready to open at Harris-Stowe State University.

The dedication ceremony and tours for the $17.5 million facility will take place on Friday, August 14, 2009, at 10 a.m., directly in front of the center, which is housed at 10 N. Compton Avenue. A reception will immediately follow.

U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters will serve as keynote speaker for the event.

Construction on the 50,000 square-foot building began less than a year ago and was completed on time and on budget this month. The facility will meet the needs of four learning groups: young children, young parents, workers in the field of Early Childhood Education and HSSU Early Childhood Education majors. The program is designed to encourage healthy child development during a child's fastest-growing life period.

Dr. Patricia Johnson, Director of the Early Childhood Center and Program, said "The center will provide a comfortably furnished resource library for parents where they can read or borrow research-based materials on child development and child-rearing practices to help increase their knowledge and strengthen their parenting skills."

"This building will not only serve the Harris-Stowe community, but the entire St. Louis community overall," said Dr. Henry Givens Jr., President of Harris-Stowe. "We've been working on this building and this early childhood model for many years. Now that it is finally constructed, we are confident that it is a high-quality program that provides educational experiences our children need, and we are prepared to offer these services."