For Immediate Release:  July 19, 2023
Contact: media@colorofchange.org 

Color Of Change Celebrates Columbia University’s Commitments to Preserving the Red Balloon Early Childhood Learning Center

Color Of Change, the Red Balloon Parent Board, and New York community leaders have been spearheading efforts to preserve the affordable and high-quality childcare provided at the Harlem-based Red Balloon Early Childhood Learning Center, a Columbia University-affiliated child-care center that has historically served a racially and socioeconomically diverse student body. 

Last week Columbia released their intentions to invest in the future of Red Balloon and provide for the immediate needs of the community through transformational funding and plans to revamp the property that houses the school. Following this win for West-Harlem parents and community advocates, Color Of Change released the following statement from Kyle Bibby, Senior Director of Corporate Campaigns at Color Of Change:

“Columbia University’s new commitments to retaining and revitalizing the mission and the vision of the Red Balloon Early Childhood Learning Center is a huge victory for the community this center has served for the past 50 years. Earlier this year, as we heard of Columbia’s plans to shut down Red Balloon, Color Of Change began to work with community partners to stand with the families in Harlem that count on this institution for affordable and quality childcare, care that does not exist anywhere else. As we see historic protections for educational accessibility fall across the Country, Color Of Change and our partners will always stand in defense of resources for Black families and Black students, from early childhood education to college admissions.”

“Red Balloon is a community institution that has the unique ability to welcome a socioeconomically diverse community of students, as a result of their financial partnership with Columbia University. The University’s commitments to renewing a more powerful and more prepared future for the childcare center proves that when we gather as a community of advocates, we can make real change. Color Of Change celebrates this decision by Columbia’s leadership and will continue to hold the University and other institutions accountable for their commitments to inclusive and equitable childcare for all families.”

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