What is now known as Howe Neighborhood Family Resource Center started out as a small parent resource room at Howe School. This resource area for parents was made possible by a Title I grant in 1996 and the following year 501(c)3 status was awarded to "East Central Neighborhood Family Resource Center". The first executive director was hired and programs offered were limited to playgroups and parent groups. Slowly, momentum grew and more programs were offered including Early Bird and ESL classes.
Realizing that the space at Howe School was limited and having bigger visions, stakeholders began looking for a permanent building. In 2000, 526 S. Monroe Ave (a former AAA) was purchased and remodeled through the hard work and generosity of many in the community. The name was was changed to Howe Neighborhood Family Resource Center.
The Beginning: Here for Howe
A New Home and a New Hope
After the purchase and remodel of the new building in 2000, many new programs were created and began thriving at the resource center. Among these were a community police program, an ESL program expansion, and 4-H and preschool playgroups. A Head Start classroom was created and volunteer dentists began working with students from Howe on preventative care.
By 2004 momentum had grown and many of the programs and services offered at the resource center were thriving. Oral Health Partnership was created, and in 2006, a state of the art, 3-chair dental clinic was added to provide full service dental care to underinsured or uninsured children.
Programs were also expanding at the resource center throughout 2007, 2008, and 2009 to include GED classes in partnership with Literacy Green Bay and NWTC Basic Education. Early literacy programs like Book Wings and Itty Bitty Book Club began and summer programs helped curb summer learning loss for at risk children.
Focus on the Future
We know we have something very special and unique. As we look to the future, we look to expand the number of resource center created programs as well as maintain partnership programs. The resource center has also become part of the Brown County United Way's Community Partnership for Children joining a coalition of other service providers to get all children started off on the right foot from day 1. New programs and exciting new directions have called for new staff members and a full time program coordinator and full time parent educator have been hired. For more information on what is going on currently at Howe Neighborhood Family Resource Center, check out our Programs page. We have come a long way from that small, one room resource center and we are excited about where we will go next!
