Naples – Pathways Early Education Center of Immokalee (Pathways) welcomed the Women of the (239) to meet Immokalee’s future leaders. Nearly 30 women drove to the farming community of Immokalee to learn more about the positive impacts of early education for children living in poverty. Established in January 2016, Women of the (239) is a group of 150 women living in Naples. They are dedicated to supporting their members in improving their individual well-being and the well-being of their community.

As the Women of the (239) arrived, they were greeted by Pathways’ voluntary pre-kindergarten students as their tour guides. After visiting the classrooms, playground, and garden, the Women of the (239) sat down for tea and cookies with their tour guides. By empowering the students to give the tours and personally engaging them with diverse groups, the children gain valuable social skills that help them succeed throughout their scholastic career.

“The incredible staff at Pathways arranged a delicious tea party, entertainment, and one-on-one interaction with the children. This visit opened our eyes to the endless possibilities for a bright future for the children who attend Pathways. We are excited to be involved in helping them change the path for the children of Immokalee,” said Barbara Todd, Vice President of Community Outreach for Women of the (239).

Pathways Early Education Center of Immokalee is a nationally accredited early education center, providing extraordinary education and nurturing childcare services for more than 55 years. Pathways’ goal is to provide the children of Immokalee a hands-on, language-rich learning environment with exceptional education opportunities. The center’s students are actively engaged in a developmentally appropriate, nationally recognized curriculum and assessments.

In 2019, the center launched a one-on-one mentoring program where volunteers work directly with children on pre-planned activities. This program helps prepare students for kindergarten and a lifetime of learning. The goal is to ensure all Pathways students surpass their initial developmental delays and become academically and emotionally kindergarten ready. Parents and caregivers are involved throughout their child’s learning for them to become their child’s educational advocate for years to come. For more information, visit www.PathwaysEarlyEducation.org.