Executive Editor

The first Burmese-owned childcare center in the U.S. at Catching the Dream Learning Center (CDLC) preschool will open Monday, Sept. 13 in Springfield.

Located at The Burma Center at 765 Upton Avenue in the former Springfield High School, the newly licensed program is billed as offering culturally competent preschool as well as child care for children aged zero to five-years-old.

“Catching the Dream Learning Center exists,” according to its mission statement, “to ensure that our children are intellectually, spiritually and emotionally ready for kindergarten while preserving their identity, culture and language.”

CDLC, a faith-based program, is a multi-lingual and bi-cultural program of the Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative (ELNC-BC is a project of New Level Sports Ministries) and its partners, according to its Facebook page.

“We’re happy to be a part of that,” said Pastor Chris McCoy, chairman of ELNC-BC and Executive Director of New Level Sports Ministries (NLSM). “It’s been a long journey but we did it. I’m just happy that we’re part of that history.”

An ELNC-BC ribbon cutting and open house for the childcare and learning center was held last Tuesday when there was also a Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting with President and CEO Kara Beer.

Also attending the events were Catching the Dream Learning Center 2018 founders, Pastor Biak and his wife Lashi Mai, Springfield Mayor Harry Burdett and Battle Creek Mayor Mark Behnke, as well as ELNC-GR founder and CEO, Dr. Nkechy Ezeh of Grand Rapids, McCoy and partners, including Dr. Peter Chang, CEO of Grace Health and Tha Tin Par, executive director of the Burma Center.

McCoy said last week that the preschool is fully staffed with trained and licensed providers and teachers.

“Pastor Chris McCoy and Dr. Ezeh met years ago at a early childhood conference,” explained spokesperson, Gena Reed. “Over the years they developed a friendship-business relationship focusing on early childhood.”

At New Level Sports Ministries (NLSM), early childhood education, after school programs, sports, etc., are provided, and, said Reed, the NLS Youth Village will incorporate those through “the five pillars foundation of sports, arts, personal growth, education, and industry.”

Because of her success with the pilot program in Grand Rapids, Dr. Ezeh was asked by McCoy to bring ELNC (Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative) to NLSM-Youth Village, explained Reed.

“From generous grants and fundings awarded, NLSM was able to form partnerships with the Burmese community, Sugar and Spice, and Sanctuary of Praise, Grace Health, ECC, CISD, and others to establish ELNC-BC,” said Reed.

In 2010, according to a bio provided by Reed, “Ezeh led a collaborative process involving seven grassroots neighborhood organizations for the purpose of planning and designing an intentional preschool service system aimed at providing, expanding and sustaining the capacity of high quality early care and education programs in the vulnerable neighborhoods of Grand Rapids Mich.”

Ezeh currently serves as the founder, Pedagogical Leader and CEO of Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative (ELNC) which she describes as “a trusted, place-based early learning collaborative that provides funding, innovative shared support services, and advocacy to partner organizations rooted in vulnerable communities.

“Through its successful dual-generational model, ELNC and its partners provide family support and high-quality, culturally competent early childhood educational services to at-risk families,” Reed explained “Under her leadership, ELNC has created over 500 preschool slots and received over $20 million in grants.”

Catching the Dream Learning Center (CDLC) was founded, according to Reed, in 2018 by Pastor Biak and his wife Lashi Mai, with the collaboration of a passionate small group of Burmese Americans who, as an ethnic group in their native country, were persecuted and prohibited to receive formal education. 

“Upon arrival to the United States, they recognized the incredible new opportunity to receive education and participate in the community as equals,” said Reed. “Therefore, they organized and started Catching the Dream Learning Center to support their Burmese American children as they began their new education in a new land.”

In 2018, Catching the Dream began working alongside ELNC-GR and ELNC-BC, Reed explained.

“These organizations support this center through providing educational programming, staff development, sharing resources, funding, and community involvement,” said Reed. “Now, the center has been licensed by the State of Michigan for childcare (age 2.5 – 6 years).”

It has also been registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Battle Creek, and the program is free for children who meet the ELNC qualifications according to the website, www.catchingthedreamlcbc.org.

Center Director is Sayama Lashi Mai.

“The biggest thing with this center,” said Beer after the rubbi cutting, “is it’s an opportunity for our community to have childcare and learning. With the Burmese population, there is a need, just in general, a need for early childhood education in our community and creating more options and opportunities is exactly why we feel this is the best thing for it.”

Beer pointed out that there are many business owners and workers who need childcare.

“So, this helps them get back to work,” she said, “creating an opportunity. We made history cutting some ribbon.”

Community member and soon-to-be restaurant owner, Zenia Thuai, also known as “Suipi” said she has no children but if she did, she would send them to Catching the Dream.

“For the next generation, I’m so happy and I’m very proud of this kind of opportunity we have,” she said, adding that Catching the Dream helps families remember their country of origin. “That’s why I took some time off to come here and support.”