“‘Community was a wonderful place for my children. I’m a working mom and I knew my kids were safe here and well cared for. I didn’t need to worry about them. It was their home away from home.”

—Silvia Sandoval, former parent

“‘Community’ is a hidden gem in Highland Park.”

—Lynn Borenstein, social worker

“All three of our kids went to “Community”… We are so fortunate to have a place like this in our community. We are certainly going to miss it. Hopefully one day our grandchildren will come here.”

—Louis Pasquesi,  former “Community” child and parent of 3 former “Community” children

Last spring, I returned to “Community”, my first “home-away-from-home,” to enroll my little Emily in the Orange Room. Two-seater trikes, homemade play dough and familiar faces sent me down memory lane as I toured my old preschool. The feeling I had was beyond nostalgia; it was the overwhelming recollection that this was where I first learned that the world outside my home was safe and loving. I knew right away this was the place for Emily.

Two months into the school year, I unexpectedly returned to work full time. “Community” worked its magic in seamlessly transitioning Emily to the Yellow Room, where she is thriving in a way I never imagined. Every teacher knows Emily – not just her name, but her hugs, her silliness, her curiosity and determination. I feel so fortunate to be able to let Emily make “Community” her own “home-away-from-home.”

—Allison Pugina, former student and parent