Welcome to Pelham Parkway Child & Family Center

“This is a historic day for Grand Street as we officially become residents of the Bronx for the first time in our 110-year history,” said Grand St. Settlement CEO Robert Cordero. “Our neighbors in the Bronx are experiencing a child care crisis, and Grand Street Settlement is ready to provide the high-quality care that we’re known for. We’re proud to be doing our part to deliver high-quality child care to families throughout New York City.”

This month begins a new chapter in Grand St. Settlement’s storied history. We celebrated the launch of Pelham Parkway Child and Family Center–our first official site in the Bronx. We were honored to be surrounded by the elected officials, partners, and new neighbors who made this endeavor possible. 

Special guests in attendance included recording artist and early childhood education advocate Natalie Merchant, who performed her hit single "Kind & Generous," and Congressman Ritchie Torres, who has been instrumental in supporting our Head Start expansion in The Bronx. 

“It is my honor to stand with Grand Street Settlement as they open their first Head Start center in the Bronx,” said United States Representative Ritchie Torres. “The $55 million federal investment in Head Start will significantly support the important work being done here, providing real assistance to families who need it most. Access to high-quality child care is not a luxury, but a necessity for working families. The opening of the Pelham Parkway Child and Family Center is a major investment in our children, our parents, and our future. I’m proud to welcome Grand Street Settlement to our district and grateful for their commitment to addressing the child care crisis and ensuring every child gets the strong start they deserve.”

Recording artist and early childhood education advocate Natalie Merchant joined our celebration and performed her hit single “Kind & Generous”. Merchant recently partnered with the National Head Start Association to become their artist in residence.

“I’m thrilled to help celebrate the opening of five beautiful new pre-school classrooms at the Pelham Parkway Child and Family Center,” said Natalie Merchant, recording artist and early childhood education advocate. “Early childhood education and care of this quality is too often out of reach for working families. Through building this new facility, Grand Street, in partnership with Head Start, is providing vital support to this community. So many children will learn and laugh and be nurtured inside these walls. The work that has been done here is visionary, like planting trees."

We also presented the inaugural Friendly Heart Award to Congressman Ritchie Torres, recording artist and child care advocate Natalie Merchant, and Pelham Parkway Child & Family Center landlord, Floriand Lulaj. Inspired by our children's book, the Friendly Heart Award is presented to those who go above and beyond in their support in helping us provide high-quality child care in The Bronx. Thank you to our Friendly Heart recipients for embodying The Grand Street Way.

Grand Street’s next Bronx Child and Family Centers will open throughout the year in the Mount Eden, Mott Haven, West Farms, and Crotona Park neighborhoods. These new sites, along with previously established Family Child Care Partnerships, will provide over 450 child care slots for children and over 100 jobs for educators.