4 Churches Approved For Learning Hubs

Four churches in Fair Haven, Dixwell, and Newhallville won permission to run daycare centers-turned-learning hubs — to offer relief to working parents who can’t leave their kids home alone during the day, and reliable internet and in-person educational support to students.

Those approvals came Tuesday night during a marathon four-hour meeting of the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA). The virtual meeting took place online via Zoom.

Zoning commissioners unanimously approved special exceptions to permit child daycare centers at First Calvary Baptist Church at 609 Dixwell Ave., Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal at 99 East Pearl St., Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church at 255 Goffe St., and New Hope Missionary Baptist Church at 109 Butler St.

All four places of worship have long served predominantly working-class, African American and Hispanic neighborhoods across the city.

And all four plan on running remote learning hubs for local public school students as the New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) system remains entirely online during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, and as the city has shuttered its own public park-based learning hubs.

“This is really just how the church is being a part of the community,” said Bethel AME Rev. Steven Cousin. ​“How the church is opening its doors when so many places are closed during this time.”

“In this time of crisis,” Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal Pastor Hector Otero added later in the night, ​“I think we can do something for the kids.”

The latter three sites will be run in partnership with the New Haven YMCA Youth Center. First Calvary’s — which has been open and operating for months—will continue to be run by Rev. Boise Kimber and retired former Davis Street School Principal Lola Nathan. All four sites will work with the local children’s mental health clinic, Clifford Beers.

“Church for millennia have served as places of refuge and sanctuary in their spiritual role,” local attorney Ben Trachten (pictured) said in support of the YMCA-led daycare center applications. ​“I think it entirely fitting that they serve as a place of educational sanctuary during this very difficult time.”

New Hope pastor John Cotten agreed. ​“It is the history of our church to provide educational support to the youth of our community,” he said.

City zoning law defines a child daycare center as any premises used for the care of more than 12 children, and meeting state public health standards.

Applicants: Working Parents, Students Need Support

Trachten described in his pitch to the commissioners a near-identical planned setup for the learning hubs slated for Bethel, Iglesia de Dios, and New Hope.

Each would be open to public school students in 1st through 9th grades who have been ​“screened for need.”

Each would be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays.

Each would be capped at no more than 20 kids, and would have three staff per site, and and would follow Covid-specific protocols supervised by Clifford Beers Clinic.

Such a learning hub would make available to these students ​“internet access and remote learning support, meals, and other support services,” Trachten said. ​“The current need far exceeds the available capacity in the community. So, the YMCA Youth Center together with three churches have independently undertaken to provide these sites and maintain them through at least the end of the school year.”

For his Newhallville church’s daycare center application, Kimber explained that 1st Calvary already has a learning hub that serves roughly 18 kids every weekday. The special exception the church received Tuesday allows it to run the hub from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, so long as all noise is ​“enclosed, screened, or otherwise controlled,” per the condition of the approval.

“We want to move to daycare because eventually we’re going to build a daycare building in the back of the church where we can continue to operate and have kids from across the city,” Kimber said. ​“This daycare center is in Newhallville, but I wish you could see the parents drop their kids off each morning. They’re from all over the city: 18 different kids from 18 different schools.”

Darryl Brackeen, a Westville alder who is also the district executive director of the YMCA, said that his organization has proudly served the community in times of crisis for 161 years — including during the Spanish flu of 1918.

He said that the YMCA has provided youth services compliant with state public health guidelines since the start of this pandemic. ​“We are the standard,” he said, ​“and New Haven should be proud that we have done such consistent work while having zero issues regarding compliance.”

The planned learning hubs are privately funded and run, with Clifford Beers serving as the fiscal sponsor.

Supporters: ​“People Are Struggling”

Tuesday night’s public hearing saw neighbors, community organizers, and parents of school-aged children come out overwhelmingly in support of the proposed learning hubs.

“My kids go to the learning hub [at First Calvary], and it’s been a huge lifesaver for us,” said Vista Terrace resident Ann Finateri (pictured above). She said that she and her husband work outside of the home every day, and that their kids are too young to stay home alone. Her parents, meanwhile, are ​“older and have health conditions,” she said, and she worries about them getting Covid.

Fair Haven neighborhood activist and management team co-chair Lee Cruz (pictured) emphasized the need for safe and reliable daycare among working families during this pandemic.

He said that many people, especially those in the service sector, cannot Zoom in to work. They have to show up in person.

“And these people are struggling. A temporary service like this during this time with Covid and the way that it is right now is indispensable for their economic survival,” he said in support of the Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal application.

Fellow Fair Haven resident, Clifford Beers community organizer, and public school parent organizer Sarah Miller agreed. ​“Families of means are able to pay for programs like this, but there are currently very few options available to low-income families,” she said. ​“There is huge demand, and we have a citywide collective that is working to develop and support these learning hubs.”

“I really applaud these churches for coming forward and helping at a time when families are really struggling,” added Clifford Beers staffer Luz Ramos.

And local pastor and trained city planner Christopher Soto (pictured) stressed that Black and Latino communities have suffered disproportionately during the ongoing public health crisis and economic downturn caused by Covid.

“Most cannot work remotely,” he said. ​“There is a demonstrated need in our neighborhoods for a safe space where our children can go and learn in small, safe environments that are well cared for, where internet services can be provided, and where these families may still continue their employment without having to lose income.”

“This is one of the best things that’s happened in New Haven,” said affordable housing advocate Claudette Kidd (pictured). ​“It benefits the children’s learning. It’s a holistic environment. Parents are able to go to work and not lose their jobs. What more could you ask?”

Critics: What About Parking?

The only pushback to any of the daycare center proposals came from East Pearl Street residents critical of how Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal’s proposed new use might exacerbate limited parking and busy car traffic.

“The parking situation has gotten out of control,” East Pearl Street neighbor Eric D’Aquila (pictured) said about the church’s current operations. He said the aera is ​“often overflowing with pedestrians” and vehicles. He said more cars and pedestrians might make the area ​“a lot more dangerous.”

“A daycare center is great,” he said. ​“But please do it somewhere else.”

Fellow East Pearl resident Jill Sparks agreed that ​“parking is a major concern” on the block. She worried about safe drop offs for children. ​“It’s a very tight spot. There’s often very fast traffic.”

In response, the daycare supporters said that cars — not school buses — will be dropping off and picking up kids at the site, and not parking for long periods of time.

“We’re in pandemic mode,” said Newhallville resident Sean Reeves (pictured), who spoke up in support of all four daycare centers. ​“Everyone needs to sacrifice.”

And East Pearl resident Tamanna Rahman (pictured) offered an immediate neighbor’s perspective on why such a daycare center at Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal would be a boon for the block.

“This would be such a wonderful addition to the community,” she said. The church is ​“largely unused” except for Sundays. ​“It would be great to have a family- and child-centered program. And it might also deter some of the less desirable activity” that takes place in the area when church is not in session.

All four applications won unanimous approval from the zoning commissioners.

“It’s desperately needed in this time of pandemic,” BZA Chair Mildred Melendez said before voting on one such application. ​“I commend you for your work.”

Click here to learn more about these new learning hubs, and here to apply to participate.