More than a decade ago, three Chattanooga business and community activists had a vision to serve the Chattanooga community by positively impacting the lives of children, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or socio-economic background. Their vision became 21stCentury Child Development and Learning Center.
Theodore R. Wheeler, Jr., a businessman and retired assistant chief of the Chattanooga Police Department, business woman Diciree Wheeler, and businessman and ex-law enforcement officer Teddy Wheeler, had all encountered many men and women who struggled tremendously in their daily existence. The Wheelers found that a common tread in the lives of most of these adults who experienced an ongoing challenging existence was an unstable childhood.
It became a mission of the Wheelers to create a center base learning establishment that would nature children and their families in a safe, Christian environment, while enhancing the development of children. As a result of their efforts, 21st Century Child Development and Learning Center was established in 1996. Since then the mission of 21st Century Child Development and Learning Center has been to enhance the spiritual, social, cognitive, and physical development of children in a setting where there are partnerships between 21st Century CDLC, parents, and the community.
In 1999, Angela Wheeler Hayes, who was a Federal Probation Officer, felt compelled to leave her career in corrections to join her family in the charge of impacting the lives of children and their families. In her position as a probation officer, Angela routinely counseled adult offenders who shared stories of their traumatic life changing events. Most often the offenders’ stories detailed early childhood events. In August of 1999, Angela joined 21st Century Child Development and Learning Center eager to serve.
21st Century CDLC continues to impact the lives of children and their families in the Chattanooga community through its program and dedicated staff.
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Theodore Wheeler, Jr
Diceree Wheeler
Embrace the present
Enhance the future
I WANT CHILDREN TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD, BUT NOT JUST BECAUSE THE WORLD IS FASCINATING AND THE HUMAN MIND IS CURIOUS. I WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND IT SO THAT THEY WILL BE POSITIONED TO MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE. KNOWLEDGE IS NOT THE SAME AS MORALITY, BUT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IF WE ARE TO AVOID PAST MISTAKES AND MOVE IN PRODUCTIVE DIRECTIONS. AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT UNDERSTANDING IS TO KNOW WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE CAN DO...HOWARD GARDNER (1999: 180-181)
Our Mission Statement
To enhance the development of the whole child, in an environment where partnerships between 21st Century CDLC, parents, and the community are encouraged.
