About Us
MISSION & VISION

OUR HISTORY
Starfish Learning Center opened in February 1997 in the home of Jerry and April Bailey with two computers and one student who needed help with reading. Word of our after-school center spread quickly and by May, just three months later, enrollment had reached 60! Located in the “North of Howard” neighborhood of east Rogers Park in Chicago, Starfish caters to children exposed to gangs, drug activity, and crime on a daily basis. In addition to educational support services, we began to offer positive activities and programs some evenings and weekends to keep the kids off the streets.
Today, Starfish serves about students through homework assistance, a computer lab, a children’s library, games and contests, daily Bible study and prayer, educational outings, summer camp and trips, special events, performing arts workshops, and more.
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Our goal is breaking the cycle of poverty and violence so prevalent in the neighborhood.
OUR CORE VALUES

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

ACADEMIC COMPETENCE

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
Our Team

Susan Croox
Executive Director
Susan has served at Starfish since 2009. She has a passion for showing youth God’s love, and manages the administrative end of things at the center.

Joshua Hartwell
Executive Assistant
Josh has served Starfish since 2016 in various capacities. He has a passion for urban ministry while helping with various administration tasks.

Nathalie Edwards
Program Director

Dorell Wall
Program Coordinator
Dorell has been part of the Starfish family since he was six years old. He knows all the kids and the neighborhood and loves to make a difference in their lives.

Reina Mendez
Program Tutor
Reina has worked as a teacher’s assistant and loves spending time with kids. She is very creative and helps with our arts and crafts program and our spiritual formation program.
Starfish Board of Directors
Dean Morris
President
Director of Operations,
North Park Friendship Center
Rhonda Hartwell
Secretary
Teacher, Instituto Health Science Career Academy
James Gardner
Treasurer
Controller, Nash Brothers Construction Co., Inc.; Certified Public Accountant, James R. Gardner CPA, Inc.
Join our Board of Directors!
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SOCIAL/ EMOTIONAL LEARNING
emotions and relationships that they encounter every day.