Navigating childcare is difficult enough while holding down a full-time job. But for students that are raising families, while working and attending class, that challenge can impact their success in the classroom. And could cause a student to end their time on campus. Recently the Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College earned a $300,000 Mi-LEAP grant to support expanding the early childhood center hours, coinciding with when evening classes begin.
“This funding opportunity will also provide us an opportunity to provide meals for the children in the evening,” says KBOCC executive director of programs Kit Laux. “So that takes another stress layer off for the parents, which can be helpful to families as they’re managing that transition from work to school.”
To be able to fulfill their responsibilities, whether it’s with family or their employer or other aspects of their lives, we want to make sure we’re removing as many barriers as possible,” says college president Melissa Kiesewetter. “And to do that, it takes a village. And we are really appreciative of the number of relationships and the support that we’re getting from the community.”
Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College has worked to bring necessary resources to the L’Anse campus that can help students achieve their goals. The Ojibwa Early Learning Center has operated for more than a decade, providing essential child development services to Native American families. Learn more about the Ojibwa Early Learning Center online.
