CLAYTON EARLY LEARNING

Denver

News: A record crowd of 350 gathered at Infinity Park Events Center earlier this month for A Taste of Clayton, a fundraising dinner where Clayton Early Learning’s president and chief executive officer William Browning shared his excitement for what lies ahead.

“We are dreaming big about our future,” he said, “building even deeper supports for the entire family by activating our campus as a community asset.

Toward that end, plans are underway “To help our families achieve economic and social mobility” by providing on-campus integrated services such as healthcare, dental care, behavioral health, substance abuse, financial planning and literacy, workforce development, access to nutritious food, access to the arts and affordable housing.

Browning attributed much of Clayton’s success to its teachers, all of whom, “Showcase an exceptional level of patience, excellence and commitment, ensuring our classrooms are safe havens where every child feels seen, loved and capable. They are the quiet heroes at Clayton.”

His praise preceded the presentation of the 2024 Charlotte M. Brantley Teacher of the Year Award to Rosine Niyoyishura, who had come to America from the Republic of Burundi in East Africa, where her parents had been teachers.

At Clayton, Niyoyishura takes pride and joy in seeing her students develop and grow while building bonds and relationships that will last a lifetime.

She accepted the award from Christine Benero, president/CEO of Mile High United Way.

Cindy Schulz, chairwoman of the Clayton board of trustees, and her husband, Steve, hosted a group that included Rich Staky, chief financial officer for the Homebuilders Association of Metro Denver, and his wife, Laurie, Hindi and Russ Wilson and Anne and Chris Smith.

Others in attendance were:

• State Sen. Chris Hansen and his wife, Ulcca

• Denver City Councilman Darrell Watson

• Lobbyist Josh Hanfling

• Denver Health chief Donna Lynne

• Clayton trustees Curt Reimann and his wife, Heather; Bert Williams and his wife, Jodi; Linh Young and incoming board chair Tina Martinez and her husband, Jason

• Lisa Roy, executive director of the Colorado Department for Early Childhood

• Meredith Wenskoski, founder, and president of Livable Cities Studio

About the organization: Clayton Early Learning is committed to the belief that healthy early childhood development, combined with support for the whole family, offers one of the most powerful levers to ending inequality. Located on a 20-acre campus at 3801 Martin Luther King Blvd., Clayton Early Learning is Colorado’s only Educare school, a nationally recognized model supporting children from birth to age 5 and their families.

Website: claytonearlylearning.org

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