Our Story
The Rise Early Learning Center is an innovative and transformative high-quality childcare environment, co-located within the Rise on 7 affordable housing development in St. Louis Park, MN. A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Rise Early was made possible by the vision of the Westwood Lutheran Church community, in partnership with CommonBond Communities in realizing an affordable housing community that included an early childhood education (ECE) center. The reality of a high-quality ECE program in an affordable housing center aligned with the mission of Way to Grow. The combination of affordable housing, visionary early childhood programming, and the wrap-around family support services provides the resources needed to maintain stable housing, enable individual family members to thrive personally (financially, socially, and emotionally), and break the cycle of poverty through the nurturing and education of the next generation.
In 2018, upon consultation with community leaders and a city-sponsored survey, Westwood Lutheran Church identified affordable housing as the number one need in St. Louis Park and the surrounding area, as well as the need for affordable, high-quality childcare options. The Westwood congregation has pledged a $1.4 million commitment to help offset expenses, provide scholarships, and center the well-being of the whole community.
When Westwood learned the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church site in St. Louis Park would be sold, Westwood representatives approached Prince of Peace and CommonBond Communities about submitting a bid to purchase the site for affordable housing.
One of the largest nonprofit affordable housing developers in the Twin Cities, CommonBound Communities creates affordable housing communities, as well as referrals and access to educational opportunities - such as Rise Early - and employment opportunities, in order to ensure families have a safe and stable foundation for achieving their goals. The CommonBond bid was accepted, and they are moving forward in developing 120 units of affordable housing with the invitation for Rise Early to develop a childcare center located within the apartment complex.
Rise Early has joined forces with CommonBond Communities and Way to Grow to comprehensively support child development and provide housing, wellness, and education resources that meet the needs of the families served.
For over three decades, Way to Grow has worked to address the serious and prevalent gap in early childhood education in the Twin Cities. With a culturally diverse team of Family Educators, they provide year-round family support and educational programming for families with children ages prenatal through grade 3, ensuring all children are ready to succeed in school and beyond. Way to Grow's “Great by Eight” programming is shared through virtual and in-person home visits. Their Family Educators focus on building trusted relationships with parents and children, helping to prioritize personal well-being goals, increase knowledge of parenting and child development, health education, and ways to grow children’s literacy and social and emotional development.