Calfee Center

Help Us Transform a Historic Site into a Lifeline for Families—And a Beacon of Quiet Courage

Once a segregated school for African American children, the former Calfee Training School is becoming a multi-use community and cultural center—one that honors its history by serving all children, regardless of race or income.

Thanks to your support, we completed the first phase of our transformation and opened our doors in Fall 2024 with three classrooms serving 33 children aged 6 weeks through 5 years old.

The Harmon Learning Center is named for Lucy and Chauncey Harmon—Pulaski natives and Calfee educators who fought for better opportunities for Black children. That same spirit of advocacy and care lives on today. Guided by Calfee alumni, parents (including those of children with special needs), early childhood experts, and descendants of the original Calfee Training School, this center was built with community at its core. It is not just a childcare facility—it is a place that cares.

With your help today, we will take the next step:

• Open more classrooms to meet growing demand

• Provide direct financial assistance to working families

• And launch Quiet Courage—a museum exhibit that tells the powerful story of Calfee’s past and the people who shaped its legacy

Just like the Harmons, your support can ensure that no child is turned away because of a temporary financial hardship or limited income. And now, it can also help ensure that the history of Calfee—and the quiet courage it took to fight for change—is preserved and shared with generations to come.

Our scholarship model is unique. Families who receive support also participate in Calfee Work Days—hands-on projects that improve the center and help shape their children’s learning environment. This creates a deeper sense of connection and shared responsibility. It’s a system created by parents, and it’s one that works

When you give, you’re not only expanding access to early childhood education—you’re preserving history and helping us build a stronger, more connected, and more equitable future for all.

Any size donation helps. Anyone who makes a cumulative donation of $250 or more will be listed on our Legacy Wall! 

If you aren't sure how much you have donated to the CCCC to date, please contact Executive Director Jill Williams at 540-509-0808 or jill@calfeeccc.org.

***The Harmon Learning Center is only a part of the work of the Calfee Community and Cultural Center. We invite you to learn more about our rehabilitation of the Calfee Training School and our programs at www.CalfeeCCC.org. ***