Through complementary learning the ODC provides a good radical learning environment, where children are recognized and affirmed by genuine loving adults who share our vision. Offer praise that's not based on achievement, but praise that communicates each learner's unassailable right to a unique place in our community. Positive regard of human existence is not an earned status. You don't have to dance a certain way, dress a certain way, talk a certain way, or do anything special to be special. We believe all of God's creation are special.

Employers continue to cite a shortage of workers with knowledge and skills as a barrier to expanding employment. The top three shortcomings of job applicants continue to be poor work habits, lack of communication/interpersonal skills, and lack of critical thinking & problem-solving.

Many of Pontiac's residents are employed in low-paying occupations and most of the jobs in Pontiac are held by non-residents.

 Six of the top 10 jobs currently advertised online in the City of Pontiac require less than an Associate's degree but require some post-secondary training beyond High School and/or some work experience.

The data represents the need for workforce and career development. Through our program,  we connect individuals in age groups 18 through 24 to job readiness skills and advocate for an end to poverty in this age sector.

We believe that everyone should be able to achieve measurable skills. Skills which will allow them to participate in our democracy and feel that they are innately worthy members of our society.

Early Childcare Development Center is responding to the need for quality childcare services in our community. Our aim is to provide families with literacy-based activities and resources to bridge the literacy gap. We understand the number one educator in our children's lives is family. Because of this, we believe in fostering parental involvement in reading practices to increase children's onset literacy skills before the school-age years and through their academic trajectory.

Therefore, access to high-quality childcare and preschool development programs is a must. Learners entering school prepared to learn will succeed academically regardless of income level or a family's ability to pay for early childhood education.

The staff of CDC still believes in the old African proverb "It takes a village to raise a child". Meaning it takes many people (the village) to provide for and interact positively with our children so they can flourish and grow in a safe and healthy environment, to realize their hopes and dreams. 

We also recognize there is a well-established correlation between prior knowledge and reading comprehension: students who have it, get it. Students who don't, don't. The differences are quantifiable as early as age 3 (Hart & Risley, 2003). What preschoolers know before they enter school is strongly related to how easily they learn to read in first grade. 

Upon completion of our pre-school literacy program students should have a (an):

• Enthusiasm towards Learning
• Solid Oral Language Skills
• The Ability to Listen
• The Desire to be Independent
• The Ability to Play Well with Others
• Strong Fine-Motor Skills
• Basic Letter & Number Recognition