Our Mission
Our Mission
To empower families and build resilience through holistic educational programs and support services.
Our Vision
All members of our community will have equitable access to family services that facilitate lifelong success.
Core Values
Excellence
Respect
Lifelong Learning
Joy Integrity
Compassion
Innovation
Inclusion
About Us
Founded in 1975 as the United Methodist Community Outreach Ministry, Learning Empowered has spent 50 years serving families across Pinellas County by providing innovative programs that meet community needs and empower individuals of all ages. Our organization began by identifying critical needs in the community and partnering with local churches and organizations to develop ministries that addressed them, including food pantries, the St. Pete Free Clinic, child care centers, and community support programs.
One of our earliest initiatives was the establishment of the Southeast Asian Preschool, now Children of the World Preschool, to serve refugee families in St. Petersburg, providing early education and family support for children navigating school in a new country. Over the years, our services expanded to include our Citizenship Program with English language instruction, U.S. history and government tutoring, and citizenship preparation for adults, ensuring families have the tools to thrive economically and civically.
In partnership with Pinellas County Schools, libraries, and community centers, Learning Empowered grew to offer accessible educational opportunities throughout the county. In 2012, we opened additional Centers for Early Learning to support children facing life stressors, and launched programs addressing financial literacy, family wellness, and mental health services.
In 2023, with support from the Juvenile Welfare Board and United Way Suncoast, we launched Empowering Babies & Families and Triangles: Partnering for Early Childhood Success, enhancing our ability to provide Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health services, school readiness support, and family resilience programs.
Baby House, our brand new program, provides infants with a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment where they can develop essential social-emotional skills, curiosity, and early learning foundations. By supporting children from their earliest months and engaging parents as active partners, Baby House fosters resilience and prepares young learners for success in preschool and beyond.
Today, Learning Empowered provides comprehensive services across early learning, family wellness, mental health, literacy, citizenship, and community engagement, helping families navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and build brighter futures. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2025, we remain committed to our mission of creating equitable educational experiences and empowering families to thrive in every stage of life.
A Letter from our Executive Director
Learning Empowered has worked diligently through the last year to provide quality services to children and families in our community. During this past year we experienced many highs and lows. Although not always easy, our efforts have made a real difference in the lives of many people. In times when our community was challenged by natural disasters, economic distress, social turmoil, and barriers to meeting basic needs for our citizens, we came together to create solutions to support and strengthen families.
Learning Empowered worked alongside our community to support families affected by the hurricanes that ripped through our county. We offered emergency food, clothing, furniture, household supplies, and children’s goods including diapers, formula, and toys. Most importantly we offered support, compassion, and kindness in the face of unbearable family adversity. Our community partners, funders, and organizational supporters rallied around the needs of the families that lost so much. They gave to our children, our parents, and our staff, we can never thank them enough. Our appreciation for our community has never been more substantial, our hope for the future has never been stronger.
I would like to thank the Learning Empowered Board of Directors for their leadership and direction during the past year. John Johnson, Board President, and our other Board Members have strengthened Learning Empowered, our staff, our programs, and our community. We could not do this important work without them.
Thank you to the Learning Empowered staff and partners for joining us as we empower families and build resilience through holistic educational programs and support services. Our shared goal is to continue to provide equitable opportunities to children and families that facilitate life-long success. Every child and every family deserves to reach their potential with community support. At Learning Empowered, we are working to build hope and resilience for the future.
Sincerely,
Lisa S. Negrini, Ph.D., LCSW, lMH-E
Let's create a better community together.
We're looking for people who want to help children and families succeed for a better tomorrow. Your support matters!
Corporate Sponsorship
Represent a business entity? We’d love to talk with you about how our programs could meet your philanthropic needs.
Volunteering
Once a month to once a day, we can get you into an environment where you’ll thrive and feel a sense of fulfillment.
Make a Donation
Every dollar helps. We welcome structured gifts and can also assist in creating an endowment to help your legacy last.
Part of our mission is to work with other organizations to create an empowering system that will work for the good of the community at large. We’re happy to be partners with and partially funded by:
