Image Courtesy of Detroit Economic Growth Corporation
Agape Love Child Care Center marked a significant milestone with its grand opening as the 170th business supported by Motor City Match, a transformative achievement for founder Sheri Williams. Under a radiant Detroit sky, the ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrated not just the start of a new childcare facility but a beacon of hope and progress for the community. The event drew an impressive assembly, including Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, city dignitaries, and a wave of enthusiastic community supporters, all sharing this pivotal moment’s excitement.
The Agape Love Child Care Center was founded by Detroit resident Sheri Williams and initially operated as an in-home childcare service. It has since evolved and now has a physical location in Detroit’s Morningside neighborhood, providing comprehensive services. This development comes at an opportune moment, as a 2023 U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation report revealed that Michigan’s economy suffered a $2.88 billion blow due to inadequate childcare options. Agape Love is taking proactive steps to bridge this gap and meaningfully impact local families.
“The name (Agape) came from God’s unconditional love that he gave his son, so our motto here is ‘love is our guide, and learning is fun.’ If love is our guide, we’re going to be patient, gentle, kind, and nurturing; we’re going to be all those characteristics of love,” said Williams.
“If they feel loved and cared for, then they’re going to thrive more, listen more, develop more, grow more, and they’re going to have a healthy self-esteem.”
Now proudly stands as a brick-and-mortar facility in Detroit’s Morningside neighborhood, thanks to an $80,000 Motor City Match grant. Partnering with Matrix Early Head Start, the center is poised to expand and hire six new teachers. This milestone is part of Motor City Match’s impressive track record, having awarded $19.1 million in cash grants, with 85% of recipients being minority-owned, 70% women-owned, and 67% Detroit-resident-owned.
The Agape Love Child Care Center can provide care for children aged six weeks to five years old and strongly focuses on promoting literacy and the arts. Williams believes that art is a universal language for children, enabling them to express their thoughts and emotions about the world, especially when verbal expression is challenging. Additionally, she ensures that every child in her facility participates in daily activities to enhance literacy.
Williams states that Agape Love Child Care is the sole facility in the 48224 zip code to receive a five-star rating from Great Start to Quality (GSQ).
The collaboration between the center and Matrix Early Head Start played a pivotal role in the center’s transition from a home-based operation to its current state-of-the-art facility. Thanks to this partnership, Agape Love Child Care Center was able to recruit highly skilled staff, obtain new and cutting-edge educational materials, and establish continuous professional development programs for its employees.
“What Sheri has accomplished here is exactly what we’re aiming for in Detroit. She’s taken her passion for childcare, combined it with the support from programs like Motor City Match and Matrix Early Head Start, and created something truly special for our community,” Duggan said.
“This isn’t just a business – it’s a place where our youngest Detroiters will learn, grow and thrive. That’s the kind of investment in our future that makes our city stronger.”
The childcare provider, located at 16225 E Warren, received an $80,000 grant from Motor City Match, which assisted with construction costs. Agape Love Child Care Center currently has 22 students enrolled and a capacity of 43. Eligible families may access subsidized childcare services based on their financial circumstances. With six staff members, including four Detroiters, Williams wants to increase her staff and hire six new teachers.
Agape Love Child Care Center celebrated its successful launch in the revitalized Morningside neighborhood after being awarded the year’s fourth Motor City Match grant. The center joins an esteemed group of local businesses, including Terri’s Cakes, Morningside Café, and Next Chapter Books, all contributing to the neighborhood’s rejuvenation.
Sean Gray, the vice president of Small Business Services at the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation and overseeing the Motor City Match program, expressed admiration for Sheri’s transition from offering home-based childcare to establishing a physical facility. He emphasized that Sheri’s journey had inspired the creation of a crucial service that provides a caring and supportive space for children in the local community and its surroundings.
“Her establishment underscores the invaluable impact small businesses can have on our neighborhoods,” Gray said.