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Over 100 community leaders and Head Start family members attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house at the Annapolis Gardens Head Start Center this morning to cele ate a complete refurbishing of the center.
Anne Arundel County Community Action Agency Board President Leslie Stanton served as the Master of Ceremony. City of Annapolis Mayor Josh Cohen was in attendance and gave the opening remarks during the program. Senator John Astle presented a Citation from the Maryland Assembly. City Aldermen Sheila Findlayson, Classie Hoyle and Kenny Kirby attended the event. Citations were also presented by representatives of Senator Barbara Mikulski, Congressman John Sarbanes, and Anne Arundel County Councilman Chris Trumbauer. Anne Arundel County Public School Superintendent Kevin Maxwell was represented by Ms. Carlissa Finney. Carl Snowden, President of the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis (HACA) and Vince Leggett, HACA's Executive Director also were on hand to give remarks.
The Anne Arundel County Community Action Agency (AACCAA) received grant funding from Head Start Region Three, which was leveraged by in-kind donations from the City of Annapolis and HACA, to update the Center. Improvements included: new windows and floors, HVAC, new kitchen appliances, updated bathrooms, new doors and room enlargements. While the improvements were being made, the Landex Company generously housed the Head Start program at the Carolyn Butler Community Center, which is also located in the Annapolis Gardens community.
“Team work was key to successfully completing this project,” stated Community Action's Head Start Director, Dr. Eleanor Harris. “Without the help of Judy Siegal from Landex, staff from the City of Annapolis and HACA, we wouldn't have been able to get the work done so quickly.”
“This effort for our children is in keeping with our mission to change people's lives, foster hope, improve communities, and make Anne Arundel County a better place to live,” said Kinaya Sokoya, AACCAA's Chief Executive Officer. “We'd like to thank everyone who contributed to this successful endeavor.”
The Annapolis Gardens Head Start Center serves 52 children and their families. There are two classrooms that operate both morning and afternoon sessions.
For more information about Head Start programming in the City of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, please contact CAA Head Start Director, Dr. Eleanor Harris, at 410.626.1900.
Since 1965, the Anne Arundel County Community Action Agency, a 501©3 non-profit, has worked to ing help, hope, opportunity and change to thousands of impoverished families in Anne Arundel County. Community Action is the designated anti-poverty agency for all of Anne Arundel County.r
Contact
Julie C. Snyder
Special Assistant to the CEO for Community Outreach
Anne Arundel County Community Action Agency
office: 410.626.1900 x1026
mobile: 443.336.3605
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