Pathways Early Learning Center

06/19/2026

Last night was Wrappy Hour with Bundles of Hope, good food, good music, and a whole lot of diapers getting wrapped alongside people who showed up just to be there for our communities. Bundles of Hope partners with us to provide diapers and wipes for our ELC and for families at Pathways, removing one more thing parents have to worry about while they are navigating hardship and working towards stability. This is what it looks like when a community decides no family should have to choose between diapers and anything else they need. If you would like to donate diapers or wipes, Pathways is a drop off location, we would love for you to stop by!

06/17/2026

Last Saturday the Pathways ELC team spent the day at Jones Valley Teaching Farm in Birmingham for the Farm to Early Childhood Education Summit. The rain stayed away and gave us a beautiful day to learn, laugh, and get our hands in some dirt. Cooking and food already live inside our classrooms, our kids love nothing more than prepping, cutting, cooking, and eating fresh produce themselves. When children take ownership over their food like that, something shifts. They are more willing to try new things. That is something we will never stop chasing for our kids, and we would love nothing more than to one day grow our own food too. Not every idea from the day fit perfectly into our space, but it didn’t stop us from thinking and planning what could. That’s just who we are, always growing, always figuring it out together. If you know an educator who would love this kind of work, send them our way!

05/29/2026

These two right here.

Ms. Earnestine Adams, our Pathways ELC Dietitian, and Ms. Phaedra Davis, our Pathways Dietary Manager — they have been showing up for this community long before the ELC even opened its doors.

Earnestine has spent nearly 50 years in nutrition and early intervention for infants and toddlers. She still shows up like it is her first day. Phaedra runs our kitchen with so much heart that people find reasons to come by just to be in the space she creates.

Together they manage our CACFP nutrition program and make sure food at Pathways ELC is more than just a meal — it connects to how our children learn and explore every single day.

Those brown bag lunches at McWane last week? That was them too. 💛

We are grateful for every single thing they pour into the ELC!

05/28/2026

We took over McWane Science Center last Friday and honestly? It was one of those days that reminds you why this work matters so much. Current families, former families, little ones who started in our infant room now running through exhibits like they own the place.

Watching our children explore, question, and light up — and watching their families right there with them, on the floor, present, following their child’s lead — that is everything. That is the work too.

We laughed a lot. We had real conversations — wins people are celebrating, things families are still working through. And we held all of it together. That is Pathways ELC. Not just a program your child attends but a community that stays with you.

Thank you for trusting us with your babies and your stories. We do not take that lightly. 🌿🤍

05/25/2026

05/21/2026

🍞✨ Dine for a cause!
Join us for a Benefit Night at Panera Bread on Sunday, June 8th from 4–8 PM and help support Pathways! A portion of proceeds from every purchase will come back to us but only if you do your part! 🙌

📍 In-store: Simply mention Pathways at the time of your order.
💻 Online orders: Use the code found on our flyer at checkout.

Whether you’re grabbing a soup, a sandwich, or a sweet treat every bite makes a difference. Share this post, tag a friend, and let’s make this night a huge success!

❤️ Thank you for your support. It truly means the world to us!

05/21/2026

Behind every woman and child at Pathways is a story of strength, resilience, and hope. 💛 Your donation helps provide safe shelter, meals, childcare, and support for families experiencing homelessness right here in our community.

No gift is too small to make a difference. Help us continue changing lives today.

Your donation will help us achieve our mission of empowering women and children on their path out of homelessness. Use the form below to make a credit card or

05/15/2026

Last week in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week our Birmingham community and Pathways showed up for our ELC team in a big way.

Be Kind Birmingham gifted hand selected baskets chosen with our Montessori curriculum in mind. PNC Grow Up Great invested in our classrooms with Lakeshore Learning gift cards and surprised each of our educators with their very own personalized yard sign. Pathways brought Dunkin’ Donuts and some of their favorite snacks for those hard days. And Taco Mama, on behalf of Pathways board member Stephanie Pires, fed our entire Pathways family.

These educators didn’t just show up when the doors opened. They helped get the doors open. And this community made sure they knew it.

This is what it looks like to work at Pathways ELC.
If that’s where you belong — review requirements and apply at pathwayshome.org. We want to hear from you. 💛

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day from Pathways Early Learning Center!

The mothers in our program are some of the strongest people we know. They are showing up for their children every single day through circumstances most of us will never face — and they are doing it with so much love and so much fight.

Today we are asking our community to show up for them.

Pathways is raising funds through a limited Mother’s Day mug sale, handcrafted by women through Prodigal Pottery. Prodigal Pottery employs and empowers women rebuilding their lives after homelessness, domestic abuse, and trafficking. Every mug carries that story. Every dollar raised supports housing, stability, and care for mothers and young children right here in Birmingham.

🧡 How to get yours:
👉 Donate $20 or more at https://pathwayshome.org/donate/
📝 Type MUG in the notes
📞 Call 205-322-6854 ext. 305 to schedule pickup

Mugs are limited. This is a chance to do something that actually matters today!

10/10/2025

Big things are happening at Pathways! 🎉 Join us for the Early Learning Center Open House as we unveil our beautiful new space made possible through partnership and community.

✨ You’re invited! Join us as we celebrate the grand reopening of our newly renovated Early Learning Center a place where little learners grow, heal, and thrive. 💛
📅 November 4 | 🕠 5:30–7:30 PM