EOCF Opens First “Ruby Bridges” Preschool

Vancouver, Washington: On September 16, 2024, Educational Opportunities for Children and Families (EOCF) opened the “Ruby Bridges Early Learning Center,” just east of Fort Vancouver High School at 6907 East 18th Street Vancouver, WA. The name “Ruby Bridges Early Learning Center” was voted on by an EOCF naming contest committee. EOCF employees were asked to submit potential names for the new center with supporting explanations centered on EOCF’s mission and considering the diversity of our community and stakeholders. EOCF employee Barb Johnson, the contest winner, noted that she was “inspired by Ruby Nell Bridges Hall, an American civil rights activist, and that ‘Bridges’ could be a great metaphor for the significance of preschool in a child's life.” As a result, we are proudly paying tribute to the legendary Ms. Ruby Bridges by upholding her legacy and commitment to civil rights through delivering early childhood education services that are culturally responsive.

“It’s such a privilege to honor Ms. Bridges and her selfless contributions to our educational system as we know it. She paved the way for every single one of us!” Rekah T. Strong, MSW, CEO, EOCF.

In July 2019, EOCF was awarded grant funding from the Office of Head Start to purchase a property and building to provide school-day Head Start Preschool services. EOCF faced many challenges locating a suitable property with the needed space leading up to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. On December 27, 2021, EOCF finalized the property purchase. Renovation of the building to include two Head Start Preschool classes, a donor-supported playground, and office space for staff, began in March of 2024.

Although the population is dense, this area of Clark County is considered an early learning desert. The surrounding community has high needs, high poverty, and one of the highest homeless rates within Clark County. Due to this community’s high needs and transient nature, it is one of the few locations where EOCF offers bus transportation to families to increase the program's accessibility.

Vancouver Public Schools has four elementary schools within a 2-mile radius of this new early learning center. These four schools have an average of 97% of families eligible for free or reduced lunch, 51% of kindergarteners ready in all six areas of development, and an average of 65% of the children identifying as children of color. Offering school-day services to children and families in this neighborhood will help close the achievement gap, providing families with a school experience that supports them to advocate for their children and to be an active partner in their child's education, while receiving differentiated supportive services and resources for the entire family.

EOCF has been connecting, empowering, and transforming the lives of children and families in SW Washington for more than 57 years. Longitudinal research has found that children who receive high-quality early learning enter Kindergarten with better math, language, and social skills. For the long-term, research has proven that children who receive high-quality early learning services are more likely to graduate from high school and go on to college, and more likely to be employed and to earn more as an adult.

Please join us for a ribbon cutting celebration on Thursday, October 17th at 4 pm to honor Ruby Bridges and commemorate the new “Ruby Bridges Early Learning Center.”

Supporters can donate to the organization by visiting, https://eocfwa.org/donate/

Media Contact: Christina Monks, Director of Culture & Development, Christina.Monks@eocfwa.org