The Playing Field’s partners in support of families
Our strategic partnerships allow each organization to focus on their area of expertise. With support from the city of Madison and United Way of Dane County our partnerships support families as they work to break barriers and achieve their goals.
The Playing Field: High-Quality Early Care and Education
Plumbers Union Local 75: Career Training Opportunities
The Road Home: Stable and Affordable Housing
With Support from United Way Dane County and the City of Madison
This new partnership will allow us to..
Expand our East Side capacity from 20 children to 100
Increase our ability to train other early educators
Meet a community need for evening care
Offer families support to pursue career training opportunities
Provide a model that others can replicate
Our unique model for early care and education
The World We Imagine features early education that is based on a sound understanding of child development and research-based practices. We imagine child care designed around children instead of child care that demands change from children.
We imagine a world where early childhood teachers are supported and given the tools required to support children impacted by adversity, such as homelessness. It’s a world where emotional attachments provide a path to healing for children affected by trauma.
The World We Imagine is one in which self-regulation is both modeled and taught so that all children can learn to manage emotions, negotiate conflict and understand the perspectives of others. By fostering these skills on the journey to adulthood, today’s children become tomorrow’s world changers.
Breaks barriers to access of high-quality programs
Minimizes disparity in early education opportunities
Cares for children in a setting that reflects the diversity of our community
Combines children from a wide range of backgrounds
Provides trauma-sensitive care
Offers a template for eliminating preschool suspensions and expulsions
Addresses high turnover rates of staff in early education settings
Prioritizes early attachments as the basis for all learning
Protects the right of children to play and emphasizes social-emotional learning
Our Goal
We imagine a world where young children and their families are embraced by a healthy school family that reflects the diversity of our community. It’s where differences are celebrated and moments of conflict are seen as an opportunity for everyone to learn.
Imagine with us a world where children from all racial and socioeconomic backgrounds are intentionally integrated for real-life success, and their adult family members benefit from a two-generational support system.
While children will enjoy The Playing Field’s highest quality of care and education, our unique and innovative partnerships with Plumbers Union Local 75 and The Road Home will provide adult job training and career opportunities along stable, affordable housing in a coordinated effort that strengthens families.
The World We Imagine
The World We Imagine campaign is a $5 million fundraising effort that will stand as a beacon of real hope for families striving to exit a life of poverty. Our vision includes a 15,000 square foot facility that has been custom-designed to accommodate 100 children. Our center will include specially designed spaces to assist children impacted by trauma as well as observation areas that will allow us to share our unique model with other early childcare educators.
Thanks to the generosity of the Plumbers Union Local 75, The Playing Field has a permanent home for its new East Side school. The Union purchased the former Menards store by East Towne Mall. Union leaders set aside 15,000 square feet for The Playing Field that may be occupied for a small monthly maintenance fee, so long as The Playing Field pays for the build-out of the preschool space.
Here’s what our $5 million goal represents:
$3.7 million to fully construct, furnish and equip the 15,000-square-foot indoor space
$300,000 to prep and furnish 10,000 + square feet of outdoor space for age-appropriate playgrounds, including custom-designed sensory equipment
$1 million in designated funding reserves to sustain the program