Before the state was shut down in March of 2020, the four staff members at the Together Community Center (TCC) who work with children from birth to sixth grade were feeling the pinch of not having enough space to meet with students or families. In addition, the four were spread out in the building without easy access to each other.

According to Karla Neff, director of Pequea Valley elementary advocacy at The Factory Ministries, the issues became more problematic when the first shutdown occurred and children who attend Pequea Valley School District (PVSD) schools began to attend classes online. "We weren't having programming at the school, but the need for academic support was rising," said Neff. "Engagement was low for a lot of students, especially at-risk students." In fact, even though PVSD quickly made online learning available, about 25% of students were not able to engage virtually. The need for space where students could be served academically became a significant issue.

Programming to help under-resourced learners was available, but the spaces at TCC where help could be offered were in need of renovation. In April 2020, several entities - PVSD, Community Action Partnership (CAP), the PPL Foundation, and individuals and businesses from the Paradise-area community - joined together to sponsor the remodeling of two classrooms, which would be connected by a doorway and would be called Brave Kids Learning Center. The first room would become offices for the staff members who engage with children from birth to sixth grade. The individual offices would be large enough for meetings with students and families, while offering privacy and confidentiality. The second room, which Neff calls the family room, is larger and conducive to clubs and other activities, including structured activities and meeting time for families utilizing The Factory's family crisis housing.

Sponsorships and community contributions raised $80,000 to remodel the two classrooms. "The family room side was completely (remodeled) by volunteers who are in the trades," said Neff, who noted she had worked with Ivan Umble and other area subcontractors on the project. "It's like a town square spot, where everyone sees the value and wants to be a part of that project. That's what is making the (Brave Kids Learning Center) happen."

Looking forward, Neff is hoping to start a mentorship program that can utilize the family room space after school. "We want to get kids in the building with whatever precautions we need to take," she said. "We needed that space to be able to let our programs grow and do things daily and work with families directly while the rest of the building is being used (for other programs)." Pointing specifically to the online learning that has been an on-and-off phenomenon since the spring of 2020, Neff noted that COVID-19 restrictions were an impetus to completing the center. "It was our response to kids not engaging with online learning. We realized we needed a space here to respond to that need," she shared.

More information about The Factory may be found at https://thefactoryministries.com or by searching for "The Factory Ministries" on Facebook.