OUR HISTORY
Around 2010, while living in New Hampshire, Kent Warner first heard about a program in Harlem that educated parents on how to nurture young children and prepare them for school. Fascinated by the science of early brain development, Ken was especially struck by data that showed babies and toddlers in underserved communities often had less exposure to the kind of enrichment that could make a lifelong difference. After their move back to Westchester, Kent and his wife Mary Alice recognized the need for such a program here. As a retired family counselor, Mary Alice understood the critical importance of a parent as a child’s first and most important teacher, and the idea for 5 Steps to Five was born.
The Warners and their friend Allen Clark knocked on doors, raised funds, and convinced their friends to help create a nonprofit in Port Chester that was to serve as a trusted resource for young immigrant parents wanting to give their child the best start to school and to life. Our program started in 2014 with just seven families, using classroom space graciously offered by the Headstart program on Spring Street.
Today, led by an extraordinary staff and a dedicated board of directors, our organization is thriving. Thanks to the vision and determination of our founders, we have already served hundreds of children and families and become a valued community partner. In 2021 we moved into our beautiful new space at the All Souls Community Center. Since then, we have gradually expanded our programming, offering online and outdoor classes, special weekday workshops, as well as a support group for expecting mothers.
Much work remains to be done. If you are passionate about our mission and would like to learn more, please get in touch!
