This innovative initiative will serve families in the Globeville and Elyria-Swansea neighborhoods.
DENVER, CO – Mile High United Way and Right on Mobile Education (ROME) have launched the first mobile preschool in the City and County of Denver. The launch of the mobile preschool, a fully-renovated airport shuttle turned classroom on wheels, is part of Mile High United Way’s United for Families initiative – an initiative focused on increasing access to high-quality early childhood education in under-resourced communities. The mobile preschool operates in the Globeville and Elyria-Swansea (GES) neighborhoods. The GES community is considered a childcare desert.
“We are incredibly proud to bring the first mobile preschool to the City and County of Denver,” said Christine Benero, President and CEO of Mile High United Way. “This initiative is a continuation of Mile High United Way’s long-standing commitment to young children and their families. Through this program, we are re-imagining how high-quality early childhood education is delivered.”
“We are honored to be a part of this historic moment,” said Rany Elissa, Co-Founder and Executive Director or Right on Mobile Education. “Not only are we advancing our shared goal of ensuring young children enter kindergarten ready to learn, but through our partnership with Mile High United Way and local agencies, we can leverage other resources Mile High United Way brings to ensure our families’ holistic needs are being met.”
View more photos and learn more about the bus.
The unique concept of a mobile preschool was advocated for and informed by a group of resident moms in the GES neighborhood. Mile High United Way and ROME worked collaboratively with parents to bring the mobile preschool to fruition. The bus travels to the GES community and parks in easily accessible locations to bring the preschool to the neighborhood and its residents.
“I am proud of the innovative spirit of the Mile High City and our partnership with Mile High United Way to make this idea a reality,” said Denver Mayor Michael Hancock. “This mobile preschool helps advance our goals in the Denver Plan 2020 to ensure more children are reading at grade-level. When the public, nonprofit and private sectors work together to bring solutions to complex problems, especially for those in under-resourced communities, the positive outcomes we can accomplish are game-changing.”
As the school year begins in the fall, Mile High United Way and ROME have implemented local, state, and federal safety protocols, including frequent handwashing, cleaning, and masks. If needed, classrooms will be broken up into smaller groups sizes and multiple sessions throughout the week to ensure the safety of the children and teachers.
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About Mile High United Way
Working side-by-side with the community, Mile High United Way takes on critical human services issues facing our seven-county footprint including the Metro Denver, Boulder and Broomfield communities. Our united approach changes the odds for all children, families, and individuals in our community, so that we all have the opportunity to succeed. Learn more at unitedwaydenver.org and follow us on social media @UnitedWayDenver
About Right on Mobile Education
Right On Mobile Education (ROME) delivers high-quality educational services to pre-school children and their families right in their own communities. Our mobile bus is outfitted as a fully functional classroom, with certified teachers that travel to neighborhoods where access to affordable pre-school education is non-existent. Through community partnerships, parental education workshops, and project-based learning, ROME gives students a head start on developing the social/emotional and motivational skills for children to develop into capable, competent, and energetic learners.
Media Contact:
Shelby Morse
Senior Director, Media and Community Relations
Shelby.Morse@UnitedWayDenver.org
Cell: 970.978.1733
