WEST NEW YORK AND BEYOND — Father Carlos Fortunio of St. Mary’s opened the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Head Start Education Center located at West New York’s Our lady of Libra Roman Catholic Church on Wednesday, Dec. 7, with a prayer over the playful din of Head Start toddlers: “Let us pray, especially for patience for teachers of these children.”
The new facility, opened under the umbrella company of the North Hudson Community Action Corporation, has allowed the Head Start program to offer its services to 521 children and pregnant mothers across its seven sites. It will also allow Head Start to further support parents and their children with English and Literacy, Basic Computer Skills, Employment Readiness and 21st Century classes and workshops.
The new site was funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 with a $1,297,000 grant. NHCAC President Chris Irizarry told the audience he looks forward to Head Start filling the formerly abandoned Catholic school with “the voices and laughter of the beautiful children of our community.” — Gennarose Pope