Bright Spaces Open For Minneapolis Families In Need

MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Today marks the opening of four new Bright Spaces for formerly homeless children at Simpson Housing Services locations in Minneapolis named in honor of Minneapolis native and early education pioneer Jim Greenman.

At a time when one out of every ten public school students in Minneapolis is experiencing homelessness, the need for spaces specifically designed for children in need has never been greater. Consistent with the vision of Jim Greenman and made possible by a partnership between the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children, Simpson Housing Services and Walman Optical, children in transitional housing now have unique spaces to learn and grow.

The author of "Caring Spaces and Learning Places," and instructor at the Harvard University School of Design, Jim knew the value of dynamic environments for children, their teachers and their families – from gentle book nooks in the toddler classrooms, to preschools' dramatic play corners, to the spots on playgrounds dedicated to the exploration of even the youngest infants, and to resources rooms for teachers and families.  Jim was devoted to creating these spaces in Bright Horizons centers and in places serving children in need around the world.  Jim passed away in April of last year after a valiant battle with Multiple Myeloma.

"Jim was dedicated to ensuring that all children, no matter their circumstances, have spaces to call their own, to learn, to be safe and to grow," said Mary Ann Tocio, President and COO of Bright Horizons Family Solutions and Bright Horizons Foundation for Children Board Member. "Given Jim's life-long commitment to early childhood education, children in need and the city of Minneapolis, I know Jim would proud of the Simpson Housing Services Bright Spaces which exemplify his lasting legacy."

The Bright Horizons Foundation for Children, the nonprofit organization of Bright Horizons Family Solutions, the leading provider of employer-sponsored child care, early education, and work/life solutions, started the Bright Spaces program to provide children in homeless shelters and transitional housing with a dedicated, warm, enriching area to play and learn. Each Bright Space is designed specifically for the supportive housing program by early education professionals from Bright Horizons who created the Bright Space to help meet the needs of the children living in the housing.

Staff and volunteers from Bright Horizons Family Solutions child care centers, Walman Optical, and Bright Horizons Foundation for Children, led by Bright Horizons Minneapolis-based Regional Managers Jill Davis King and Carolyn Henning, raised money and created the Bright Space rooms.

"Jill and Carolyn worked closely with the parents in our Family Housing programs to create spaces that are all about their children's growth and future," says Janelle Leppa, Simpson Family Housing Programs Director. "They also brought an incredible level of experience and expertise in designing high quality creative spaces that incorporate the developmental needs of a wide range of ages. Their energy and passion for this work is unmatched."

Bright Spaces Enable Children to Discover the Magic of Childhood

Studies have shown that children of all ages thrive when they have a safe place in which to explore the world around them, filled with books, toys and activities that are developmentally appropriate and provide an opportunity for them to discover the magic of childhood. Children experiencing the stresses of homelessness especially need access to these kinds of child-friendly spaces in order to develop social, cognitive, gross motor and language skills, which are vital to their development and success later in life. A special playroom designed just to meet their needs can become a valuable tool for children and families trying to maintain a sense of normalcy and routine in a very difficult situation.

Unique features of the new Bright Spaces include:

• Listening stations for children to use when parents are participating in intake appointments or meeting with advocates.
• Backpacks filled with activities for children to use at home or outdoors. 
• A variety of play stations including spaces designated for infants to safely play and explore.
• Computers with child size keyboards and mouses.
• Comfortable chairs so parents, tutors and children can read together.
• A dishwasher so toys can be sanitized.
• High-quality, imaginative play centers such as kitchens and dress-up clothes closets.
• A fun and functional space (with a Wii and educational games) for the formerly homeless teen group.

About Bright Horizons Family Solutions and the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children

Bright Horizons Family Solutions is the world's leading provider of employer-sponsored child care, early education and work/life solutions. The company operates more than 600 child care and early education centers across the United States, Europe and Canada. The Bright Horizons Foundation for Children was founded in 1999 to help forward the vision of Bright Horizons Family Solutions to make a difference in the lives of children and families. Bright Spaces is a program of the foundation, creating dedicated play areas in homeless shelters. There are now more than 200 Bright Spaces located in shelters in more than 35 states around the country and Europe, serving thousands of children each year. More information is at www.brighthorizonsfoundation.org.

About Simpson Housing Services

The mission of Simpson Housing Services is to house, support and advocate for people experiencing homelessness.

We know that with close, individual advocacy and support, men, women and families experiencing homelessness achieve housing stability.

We are committed to Housing First: house people quickly, then provide services as needed. Simpson Housing Services provided supportive housing to 162 families with 372 children in 2009. An additional 42 families with 141 children were served in Family Roots Alliance, our partnership with Lutheran Social Services.  

More information is at www.simpsonhousing.org.

SOURCE Bright Horizons Family Solutions