EmpowerEd is a nonprofit creative learning community that provides an exceptional educational environment where all are encouraged to be responsible, resilient, compassionate, and connected. With the Lowe’s Hometowns grant, the organization will build new safe and interactive playground structures in the courtyard area.
Charlotte Bilingual Preschool was founded in 1999 to provide Latino children with a free, high-quality bilingual education and today serves 700 Latino children and adults annually through 3 business lines: a Bilingual Preschool, a Workforce Development program and a Family Services program. With the Lowe's Hometowns grant, Charlotte Bilingual Preschool will install new flooring, paint the interior and exterior of our building and install a digital sign at the roadside of our property.
Head Start Inc. provides comprehensive services for young children and their families to achieve school readiness and lifelong success. With the Lowe’s Hometowns grant, we will remove unsafe playground structures, install new play equipment and surfacing, add two greenhouses for year-round gardening, build storage sheds to protect outdoor play and gardening materials, and add two "buddy" benches. These improvements will create a safer, more inclusive, and engaging space where children can learn, grow, and thrive through active outdoor play and hands-on learning experiences.
Through Lowe's Hometowns, Nashville Classical Charter School West’s campus will receive a new playground and enhancements to their outdoor area, including ADA picnic tables, new trees, cement and a mural. This inviting and dynamic space for kindergarten to sixth grade students and their families will be a beautiful space to gather and feel proud of their community.
YouthBuild McLean County helps young people, ages 16 -24 who have not completed high school, develop leadership skills, complete their education and gain job skills. Inspiration for this project came from YouthBuild students who expressed a desire for an outdoor classroom, space to decompress or play basketball. Through Lowe's Hometowns, their outdoor space will be transformed with land grading, a water source, pavilion and signage. A sports court and garden beds will be added along with grass, goose nesting boxes and lights.
The Rapoport Academy Public School’s Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) program will complete a fabrication lab, create an outdoor classroom with raised flower beds and picnic tables, and renovate the school’s food truck all to create an engaging outdoor learning experience focusing on sustainability and entrepreneurship.
Omaha Street School, a private alternative high school where teens get their last chance to earn a high school diploma, is in high demand. In order to expand enrollment from 35 to 50 students, they will repurpose and renovate two classrooms to create a beautiful backdrop for second chances.
The Mortensen Elementary library and educators lounge have not been updated in 23 years. New bookshelves, tables, chairs and couches will creative an inviting area for the students to foster a love for reading. Fresh paint, warm lighting, updated décor and organization in the kitchen area of the lounge will create an inviting area for teachers to relax after hours of teaching
Maybeury Elementary Learning Garden wants to improve children's diets through exposure to fresh produce and nutrition education. In partnership with Fit4Kids, this outdoor learning space would be a place where students can blossom. Raised garden beds, a new fence, shade structures and a pavilion for lessons will be added. Irrigation, fruit trees, trash receptacles and native plants all play a role in the learning that will take place in this beautiful backdrop.
The Jefferson Elementary School’s outdoor space has become completely run down. The elementary school will repaint the blacktop with games and artwork that bring color and fun to the students’ day. In addition they will plant trees, add new playground equipment and murals that showcase the culture of Mount Vernon to lift spirits and make this school feel like a wonderful place to belong.