Ready To Learn – Learning Neighborhood

Buffalo Toronto Public Media has partnered with EPIC - Every Person Influences Children and Northland Workforce Training Center to develop a Learning Neighborhood in Buffalo, New York, ZIP Code 14211. Our Learning Neighborhood will serve children ages 2-8, along with their families, in this community. 

A Learning Neighborhood is group of partners, including a local PBS station, that are acutely focused on the early learning needs of children and their families. Together, they foster a community-wide culture that promotes a “Learn Together” theme and empowers children and adults to learn anytime, anywhere – at home, in the neighborhood, and within local systems and spaces. BTPM and partners are intentionally coordinating parent, family and educator experiences that provide a comprehensive set of touchpoints for this community to support a child’s learning, encouraging sustained use and extending impact of the Ready to Learn content.

The focus of this initiative is on the community of ZIP Code 14211 because many residents suffer from job loss, high poverty rates, and a lack of public and private financial resources. There are over 5,000 families in this community, almost one quarter of them have children under the age of 6. There are also many elementary schools in this community. BTPM is working with partners to build and strengthen an innovative Learning Neighborhood to deepen family and educator engagement with Ready To Learn resources. 

The primary goals of the program are to enable children to connect their interests and talents to the World of Work and to empower caregivers with knowledge and skills to support their children’s growth and learning. This Learning Neighborhood will help this Buffalo community by providing social-emotional skills that will help children later in life. The content for kids encourages their natural interest in helping at home, listening to others, and offering support to family and friends. Parents and caregivers will be able to explore different future opportunities related to their child’s natural interest in caring for others. The Learning Neighborhood will strengthen understanding of these skills in an intergenerational way by providing opportunities for families to practice skills together. 

Through the Ready To Learn Initiative, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, CPB and PBS are partners in developing high-quality, educational media and resources to advance critical early learning skills for children ages 2-8 to help them succeed in school, work, and life. Learn more about Ready To Learn and find FREE resources for caregivers and educators here. 

The contents of this website were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. The project is funded by a Ready To Learn grant (PR/AWARD No. U295A150003, CFDA No. 84.295A) provided by the Department of Education to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.