At Lola & Tots, we provide a unique blend of services tailored to meet the diverse needs of families in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Ocean Hill, and Prospect Leffert Gardens in Brooklyn, NY. Our offerings include membership-based childcare with co-working benefits, enrichment programming, open play sessions, educational events for families, and after-school classes in public schools.
Our clientele consists of parents and caregivers seeking an alternative to traditional childcare, as well as those who wish to play an active role in their child’s daily experiences. We cater to families who prioritize cultural exploration and diversity, striving to raise global citizens within a nurturing environment.
Central to our philosophy is the belief that community plays a vital role in child-rearing. Our parents value a supportive community space where everyone lends a helping hand, fostering a sense of belonging and connection among families.
Our community has inspired us daily and our aim is simply to inspire it back! Through our space, we are able to introduce families to entrepreneurs within the neighborhood that provide programming with our mission in mind. Although we own and manage the space, we still teach some of the programming ourselves. It allows us to really get to know our community and the people we serve
After graduating from Manhattan College with a B.A. in International Studies, I left the U.S. to teach English to 7th, 8th, and 9th graders in a small rural town in Honduras. When I returned, I served as an Americorps Vista for a year followed by the completion of my MPA in Public and Nonprofit Management and Policy with a specialization in Finance from NYU Wagner. My time in Grad school, as well as my fellowship with Education Pioneers, further fueled my passion for education. From 2013-2016, I worked as a Student Services Manager and Resident Director of Operations for Achievement First Endeavor Elementary, in Brooklyn. While at AF Endeavor, I began to take notice of Kindergarteners and their lack of preparation and social development upon entering school. I quickly realized that I wanted to work towards increasing awareness about the importance and long-term positive results of early childhood education.
After graduating from the State University of New York at Albany with a B.A. in Psychology, I was captivated by the education realm and worked as a pre-K teacher in both Albany and Yonkers, NY. Prior to becoming an Entrepreneur, I dabbled within the areas of Public Relations, Management and Event Planning. My experience at Columbia Business School taught me how important preparation is at any age. Upon having my 1st daughter, I quickly became engrossed by early childhood development and its importance. As Co-Director of Lola and tots, I develop programming and cultivate partnerships that align with the vision of making the world a more accepting and tolerant place through early education and cultural exploration. Since the launch of our business, my daughters have been working with and as a single mother, I strongly believe that it takes a village to raise the next generation of leaders. I aspire to raise children that are proud of their own background while respecting that of others which is why traveling and exploring is so important to us. It serves as inspiration for developing educational programming that nurtures inclusiveness and empathy to allow for well-rounded, sensitive children.
My journey with children has been a lifelong passion, which led me to earn a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Child and Family Studies from Bryn Mawr College (Class of 2023). My dedication to understanding child development began at the age of 14, when I started tutoring children in ELA, math, and science during their after-school programs. This experience was deepened by my work as a private tutor for a child on the autism spectrum, where I learned the profound impact of teaching with extra care and patience.
In college, I honed my skills further, driven by a passion for educating and supporting others through their struggles. I had the incredible opportunity to teach underprivileged, immigrant 3rd graders in Chile for five weeks, an experience that reinforced my commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in education. DEI work is a vital component of my experience as an educator, and I am excited to embed these values in the Lola & Tots space.
My Mexican heritage allows me to enrich children’s understanding of Latin culture through the Spanish language, beliefs, and traditions. I am committed to instilling strong virtues such as courage, compassion, fairness, and self-control in the children at Lola & Tots. I am beyond excited to create fond, long-lasting lessons and memories for the children and families in this safe space.
We are absolutely passionate and love Lola & Tots. Our dream is to grow into a brand that families will recognize as a place of diversity and inclusion for their little ones.
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