where it all began
In 1907, Jane Addams started the Mary Crane Day Nursery after receiving
the donation of a memorial building from Richard Teller Crane. When
Hull House turned the Day Nursery over to the National College of
Education in 1925, Jane Addams joined with Edna Dean Baker, president
of the College, to pioneer a new way of thinking about early childhood
education. Their knowledge, combined with the firsthand experience
of working with children and families, would allow them to best prepare
young underprivileged children for success.
Originally assisting children
of poor immigrants on Chicago's near West Side, the Center moved
north to the Julia C. Lathrop Homes in 1963. Keeping in the
spirit of its inception, the Mary Crane Center continues to serve
and grow with its community. The
Center now has two locations, serving the communities of Rogers Park,
North Center, Avondale, Humboldt Park, Logan Square, and Hermosa.
In
1990, the Center became one of the first community agencies to join
the statewide network of pre-kindergarten schools in association
with Chicago Public Schools. The Head Start Program was added in
1991, and in 2000, The Mary Crane Center began admitting toddlers,
in addition to three to five-year olds.
The Mary Crane Center has
launched the lives of over 14,000 children and families. As a testament
to the program, former students have entrusted their children and
grandchildren to the Center, and it will continue to grow with future
generations. |
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The Mary Crane
Center is an educational tradition in Chicago.
“Let us accept the child in our midst
as
our greatest wealth and our highest responsibility. Let us exalt
him above industry, business, politics, and above all, the petty
selfish things that weaken and destroy a people. Let us know that
the race goes forward through its children.”
– Jane Addams, co-founder of
The Mary Crane Center
Board of Directors
Michael Stec
President
Mary Whalen
Peg Griffiths
Vice Presidents
Eligio Pimentel
Secretary
Gail Overby
Treasurer (Interim)
Roxanne Bloomfield
Cynthia Brunger
John Fitzpatrick
Corrine Kassitas
Miriam Roberts
Steve Wysham
Jeanne Zasadil
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