Early Connections Learning Centers celebrated a milestone nearly 130 years in the making: the opening of the Alice Bemis Taylor Center for Early Education.
We were joined by over 100 community leaders, partners, donors, advocates, families, and friends on June 11th to mark the occasion and celebrate what this moment represents for children, families, and the future of our community.
For years, the Alice Bemis Taylor Center existed as an idea. It was a vision rooted in a simple belief that every child deserves a strong start and every family deserves access to high quality early education.
Today, that vision is reality.
The Alice Bemis Taylor Center replaces our former Antlers Place location, a building that faithfully served children and families for generations, about 75 years. While Antlers held a special place in our history, this new center allows us to better meet the needs of today’s families and the growing demand for early childhood education in our community.
The center is now home to 140 children, including 30 infants and toddlers. These additional spaces help address one of the most significant child care challenges facing families in El Paso County while creating greater opportunities for parents to participate in the workforce and provide for their families.
The building also includes a dedicated Professional Development Center for Early Educators, creating a place where current and future early childhood professionals can learn, grow, and strengthen their practice. By investing in educators, we strengthen the quality of care and learning available to children across our region.
While we celebrated the opening of a beautiful new facility, what matters most is what is happening inside its walls. Children are learning. Teachers are teaching. Families are building new routines and connections. A new chapter for Early Connections has begun!
This center is more than a building. It represents our community’s commitment to children, families, and the belief that the earliest years matter.
To everyone who helped bring this vision to life, thank you. The doors are open, children are thriving, and the story of the Alice Bemis Taylor Center is only just beginning.
