Ithaca Welcomes Refugees (IWR) is a volunteer-led initiative, founded in December 2015, as a result of collective community reaction to the global refugee crisis. IWR works to foster a welcoming and fair environment for refugees and immigrants in our region.

Through discussion with the Julie Coulombe at the ESL program, Tompkins Learning Partners, and families participating in IWR programming, IWR leadership became aware of a long-standing barrier to accessing English language learning in Ithaca. In order to attend classes, parents of very young children need affordable childcare in the downtown area. That is where Global Roots Play School enters the picture!

We are an early childhood center that prioritizes providing:

• • High quality and affordable childcare in close proximity to English Language Classes and Tompkins Learning Partners

• • Culturally-sensitive, play-based care where children feel nurtured while experiencing socialization

• School and community support for families

Global Roots Play School values building an interconnected community, and Ithaca families who do not attend ESL classes are welcome to enroll, as space is available.