Work is far advanced planning an Intergenerational Living and Learning Neighborhood, radiating from an area of East Cleveland and Cleveland centered in the historic former Hough Bakery Complex (formerly The Star Bakery), at 1519 Lakeview Avenue, a few blocks east of University Circle. The plan is to base at this large complex of facilities and land a synergistic combination of an expansion of The Intergenerational School, a senor services and community center, a computer center with cybercafe, a food services incubator, and an Intergenerational Daycare and Preschool facility, with benefits to all the people in the surrounding community, radiating from The Star.

I'm leading development of this neighborhood and complex, through an entity called Star Neighborhood Development, and I am seeking people and organizations in this region interested to collaborate in the development of the Intergenerational Daycare and Preschool facility (and any of the other initiatives planned). There is immediate need for quality Daycare and Preschool in this area, and an approximate 5,000 square foot ground level indoor space and considerable land is available now for conversion to this purpose. Please read on and pass this on to anyone you know who may fit with the stated objectives.

Based on the intergenerational learning model, which has proved effective for K-6 education, by the highly effective Intergenerational School, an Intergenerational Daycare and Preschool will bring together lifelong learners young and old for a shared-village approach to early child development. The experts in this form of education are found at The Intergenerational School, and they will assist with program development for this Daycare and Preschool, which will serve as a feeder facility for a K-8 school, to be added to this complex in the future.

It would now be valuable to add to this collaboration others interested in excellence in early child development, and interested to develop a Daycare and Preschool program from the ground-up, to expore how intergenerational learning may provide an optimal learning environment for our most important people, young and old. That there is need where we plan this school is undeniable, as reflected by the number of children in poverty in the area, and the lack of preschool options in these neighborhoods.

Recent research has shown that children placed in Daycare and Preschool tend to be more aggressive in later school development, and it is clear our society needs to explore new models to support our youngest learners. Results of the study, by the National Institute of Health, released in 2003, found "evidence that children who experienced better quality child care-in which caregivers provided intellectual stimulation and were warm, positive, and sensitive to child behavior-had fewer child caregiver/teacher-reported problem behaviors and conflict than did children who experienced lower quality care." In Updated 2007 findings, "study authors suggested that the correlation between center care and problem behaviors could be due to the fact that center-based child care providers often lack the training, as well as the time, to address behavior problems. For example, center-based child care providers may not be able to provide sufficient adult attention or guidance to address problems that may emerge when groups of young children are together, such as how to resolve conflicts over toys or activities."

Especially in underserved communities like the neighborhoods of Cleveland and East Cleveland where we will locate this facility, the need for quality child care, at the very youngest ages, is certain. There is also a shortage of quality Daycare and Preschool for people working in the University Circle area, which this facility will serve. I know of this shortage, as my wife works at Case and there are few Daycare and Preschool programs in the vacinity. If you know of any, please post them here or email me (see end of posting)

My experience, to date, in looking for Daycare and Preschool for my son, is there are marginal childcare options available, at great cost... we're paying over $400 a month for part-time care in Lakewood, that is far from impressive. Already, after just a few days in the facility, our son exhibits behavioral changes that are not positive. He is eating the poorest quality food of his life - processed, surely with transfats - because they do not provide quality food nor allow outside food. All in all, the options we have found for daycare and preschool in the core of NEO are poor. The one exception I know of is the Music School Settlement, where my older daughter went. It is excellent but expensive, and I do not believe takes children under 3. I intend to check out the Karamu House program, although it is expensive, as well.

We do not know of any better options, so have taken what is available and seems safe. That is a disappointing next step in our son's development, but it is necessary for us to work. Oviously, we are not alone in facing such a sad circumstance and hopefully there are people in the community interested to drive better outcomes for the futures of our children and community. So, our near-2-year son will be one of the first attendees for the school we will create, as will be the grandchildren of the owners of the complex, the Williams family (of Hot Sauce Williams). And they will eat local-grown, healthy organic food, and receive quality care. Would you like to have your children or grandchildren join them - can you help develop the world's finest preschool? Here's some space to build in.

I am confident that the combination of a great location and facility with an innovative program developed with the experts at The Intergenerational School can lead to NEO having the finest early child development program in the world, and I seek those others in this community interested to help make that happen. Whatever your interest in this, whether educator, administrator, entrepreneur or parent, please feel free to post here your thoughts, or email me of your interest to collaborate - Norm Roulet - norm [at] realneo [dot] us