Unconditional Love inspires Excellence in Education at Agape Childcare Center

The exterior facade of Agape Love Childcare Center showcases a bright yellow sun. Image courtesy of Jeffrey D. Lewis II

Inspect what you expect – It’s a mantra for many entrepreneurs as they work the various components of their business endeavors. However, the tenor and care exemplified by Sheri Williams, shows that being the owner and operator of a childcare facility, takes on more than the professionalism of running a business, it also takes on prolonged consistency and a depth of heart for working in your calling.

At Agape Love Childcare Center (ALCC), she has high expectations for the children the center educates and cares for as well as for the staff. Through her Masters level early education training and 17 years of work experiences, she has curated a space that provides a variety of age-level readiness experiences for children from 6-weeks to 5 years old, as well as broad opportunities for career development for the hands-on team that works with each child.

Enrollment at Agape Love, which accepts private-pay and DHS, gives families all-access to any of the programs that they qualify for. The Motor City Match recipient says, “We have a partnership with Matrix, so early-Head Start programming is something we can offer to families.”

The strength of growing a well-rounded facility lies in partnerships that can provide funding for families, continuing education for staff, and operational needs, like furniture. According to a 2015 study by the Kresge Foundation entitled The System We Need: A Neighborhood Snapshot of Early Childhood in Detroit, most 4-5 star early childcare facilities require not only great staff, but consistent revenue to operate and they, “combine various funding streams to provide full-year, full-day care and education.” Currently located off Roxbury St in a home converted to meet the regulatory needs for licensed childcare, ALCC is primed for growth. “We definitely need to expand,” says Sheri. “Most of my kids started with me when they were younger and now, they’re getting older and ageout because we didn’t have space.” So, Director Williams has opened the waiting list for children and will expand her staff for the transition on the horizon.

Agape Love Childcare Center’s mission is to, “provide a nurturing, loving, safe, and healthy environment, where children can thrive, blossom and grow to be successful individuals.” Having a desire to provide quality, holistic services to more children and their families, Sheri and her team are in the final stages of a move to the new location of Agape Love Childcare Center to 16225 E Warren at Three Mile. The once church, now an early childcare haven, is receiving its final coats of kid-captivating blue exterior paint, signage, and interior, up-to-code, upgrades. What Sheri saw as a growing need for families prompted the move. “I see a community on the rise. This is the perfect time for us to be in the community because we are building a high-quality, state-of-the-art facility, second to none.”

“We pride ourselves on investing our all. We are the only five star rated facility in 48224.” That rating by Great Start to Quality or GSQ, funded by the Department of Education, both sets and evaluates quality standards in education and early care in the State of Michigan. The current center has met those standards as well as other benchmarks in staff education and training to meet various learning styles.

The journey to growing ALCC hasn’t been a level, straight-lined promenade to a larger facility. Sheri has worked through government guidelines and city regulations. Her grit, comes from growing up in a family of service leaders and educators, and as a mother herself, Sheri, who also co-pastors Saved by Grace Christian Ministry, with her husband, Apostle Dontez D. Williams has taken prayerful paths to success.

When asked about her guiding philosophy, Sheri states, “One thing about Agape Love, it starts with our name. Agape love is from the Bible that talks about God's unconditional love. Here at Agape love, love is our guide. So that means it doesn't just start or stop with the kids. It spills over into our staff. If we have happy staff. We will have happy children. Then that will spill over into the class. Being patient, kind, and respectful. That’s us. That’s the staff. I appreciate them because we're all in this together.” Look for the newest location for Agape Love Childcare Center to open in Spring 2024.

For additional information and waitlist inquiries contact:
Agape Love Childcare Center
Childcare offered Monday - Friday: 6:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sheri Williams, Director
(313) 800-3283
Website: www.agapeloveccc.com
Email: agapeloveccc@yahoo.com