BACE CommUNITY Learning Center

BACE is dedicated to building a stronger, more connected community by offering educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities. BACE Community Learning Center (BACE CLC) serves as a hub for fostering community engagement, personal development, and social support. It provides resources, programs, and services designed to meet the diverse needs of individuals and families in the area. Through inclusive programs and partnerships, the center aims to empower individuals, promote social equity, and encourage lifelong learning.

BACE Community Learning Center also serves as a home for educational enrichment, cultural pride, creativity, healing, and connection. Young scholars engage in meaningful learning, relationship building, cultural affirmation, and opportunities that help them know their brilliance. Young people engage in hands-on, project-based experiences that build academic confidence, artistic voice, leadership, problem-solving, and community awareness.

Our work is rooted in the mission of BACE to celebrate Black art, culture, education, liberation, and community. We honor the richness of the Black diaspora while welcoming families who value culturally responsive learning, academic growth, joy, and belonging.

Values:

Cultural pride and historical truth
Excellence in teaching and learning
Safety, belonging, and emotional well-being
Creativity, curiosity, and innovation
Increase access to educational resources
Provide opportunities for skill-building, college, and careers
Family partnership and community connection
Civic engagement, leadership, and liberation

PROGRAMS

Youth Programs

Summer STEAM Program

Ages: 5 to 17
Schedule: Monday through Friday
Hours: 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Location: 3560 Panthersville Rd., Decatur, GA 30034

Our Summer STEAM Program blends science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics with history and culture, Spanish language learning, civic education, financial literacy, social-emotional learning, and creative expression.

Register for our STEAM Summer Program 2026 – Monday, June 1 – Friday, July 31st

Students participate in:

Hands-on STEAM projects
Black history and cultural learning
Spanish vocabulary and conversation practice
Civic education and leadership development
Arts, storytelling, and design
Financial literacy and entrepreneurship
SEL, wellness, and community circles
Outdoor play and movement

This is a full-day, structured youth development program designed with best practices in mind, including active supervision, predictable routines, community-building, movement, project-based learning, and family communication.

Daily Program Flow:

7:30 to 8:00 AM – Arrival and soft start
8:00 to 8:30 AM – Breakfast
8:30 to 9:00 AM – Community circle
9:00 to 10:15 AM – STEAM learning block 1
10:15 to 10:30 AM – Movement and wellness break
10:30 to 11:30 AM – STEAM learning block 2
11:30 AM to 12:00 PM – Outdoor recess
12:00 to 12:45 PM – Lunch
12:45 to 1:15 PM – Quiet reset and reflection
1:15 to 2:15 PM – Enrichment block
2:15 to 2:30 PM – Snack
2:30 to 3:00 PM – Choice time
3:00 to 3:20 PM – Closing circle
3:20 to 3:30 PM – Dismissal transition

Weekly Themes:

Monday: Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship
Tuesday: Science, Technology, and Innovation
Wednesday: Arts, Culture, and Design
Thursday: SEL, CTAE, Life Skills, and Civic Education
Friday: Showcase, Creativity, Community, and Spanish Language Practice

Sign-up Today

Winter Break STEAM Program

Our Winter Break program gives children and youth a safe, structured, and enriching space during school breaks. Programming includes seasonal STEAM activities, literacy, arts, culture, wellness, and community-building.

Spring Break STEAM Program

Our Spring Break program blends project-based learning, outdoor engagement, arts, science, and leadership activities to keep young people engaged, inspired, and growing while school is out.

BACE Family Engagement Program

Our family engagement program is designed to strengthen bonds between families and their communities while fostering a shared appreciation for Black art, culture, and education. This program offers opportunities for families to actively participate in their children’s learning and growth through culturally enriching activities, workshops, and events that celebrate the diversity of the Black diaspora.

Families engage in programs that promote literacy, support academic achievement, and encourage collaborative learning experiences. Activities include parent-child reading sessions, hands-on art and cultural projects, math workshops, and community events that inspire joy and solidarity.

By creating a welcoming and inclusive environment, the BACE Family Engagement Program empowers parents and guardians to take an active role in their children’s education, while also building a stronger sense of community. This program reflects BACE’s mission to uplift families, encourage solidarity, and inspire a shared journey of cultural pride and educational excellence.

BACE Culturally Specific Programs

Our youth program celebrates and educates youth about the richness and diversity of Black art, history, and culture. Through engaging activities, workshops, and events, youth explore the beauty of the Black diaspora and connect with their heritage in meaningful ways.

Programs include celebrations of cultural holidays such as Juneteenth, Kwanzaa & Kwanzakkah, MLK holiday, Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Black August, events, and interactive sessions that highlight the contributions of Black artists, leaders, and innovators. Youth participants will engage in art projects, storytelling, performances, and other creative experiences designed to inspire pride, foster understanding, and encourage unity.

These programs are grounded in BACE’s mission to educate, uplift, and inspire, empowering young people to embrace their identity and connect with their community while learning the historical truths and cultural brilliance that shape our world.

BACE Children’s Book

Sankofa & Ananse is a children’s book about African adinkra symbols represented as the main characters, Sankofa and Ananse.

Embark on a magical, soul-stirring journey through forests, mountains, and oceans alongside Sankofa, a radiant bird of ancestral memory, and Ananse, a wise spider of stories and strategy. Guided by African orishas and goddesses, Asase Yaa, Oshun, Osain, Shango, and Yemaya, this lyrical fable explores the sacred quest for a golden egg said to hold the truth of a people. But what they discover instead is even more powerful: the treasure was within all along.

Rooted in African symbolism and bursting with vibrant imagery, this beautifully illustrated book honors culture, community, and the inner power that lives in every child. Sankofa & Ananse celebrates identity, teamwork, and ancestral wisdom, inviting young readers to look within, remember who they are, and rise in purpose and power. Purchase Book: Sankofa & Ananse

BACE Youth Arts Program

Our arts program is a dynamic initiative that nurtures creativity and self-expression through diverse artistic disciplines. Designed to inspire and empower young people, this program offers hands-on opportunities in dance, creative writing, painting, drawing, photography and other art forms that celebrate the richness of Black art and culture.

Youth participants explore their creative potential in a supportive and inclusive environment, guided by artists and instructors. Whether learning choreography, crafting stories, or creating visual masterpieces, students develop artistic skills, gain confidence, and deepen their understanding of cultural heritage.

Rooted in BACE’s mission to celebrate brilliance and inspire joy, the Youth Arts Program fosters both personal growth and community connection, empowering young artists to express themselves while honoring the beauty and diversity of the Black diaspora.

BACE Youth Diversion Program

Our diversion program for youth is designed to provide young individuals with transformative tools and resources to address challenges, build resilience, and promote positive life choices. This program offers an alternative pathway for youth by focusing on social-emotional learning (SEL), mental health support, anger management, and conflict resolution.

Participants engage in structured interventions such as mentoring circles, therapeutic workshops, and group activities that teach critical skills for managing emotions, resolving conflicts peacefully, and making informed decisions. By integrating creative outlets like art, recreation, and storytelling with evidence-based practices, the program helps youth develop self-confidence, emotional intelligence, and accountability.

Aligned with BACE’s mission to uplift and inspire, the Youth Diversion Program provides a supportive and inclusive space for healing and growth, ensuring participants can reintegrate into their communities as empowered and thriving individuals. This initiative reflects BACE’s commitment to fostering equity, hope, and joy while addressing systemic challenges through culturally responsive solutions.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

BACE Empowerment Circle

The BACE Mentoring Circle is designed to support the social-emotional development of young individuals, providing a safe and nurturing space for growth and self-discovery. This program focuses on building self-confidence, promoting positive behavior management, and teaching effective conflict resolution skills. Through guided discussions, group activities, and mentorship from caring adults, participants develop the tools they need to navigate challenges, build healthy relationships, and thrive emotionally and socially. The circle fosters a sense of belonging and empowers youth to reach their full potential in a supportive community.

SIGN UP

If you and your child(ren) are interested in participating in the BACE Community Learning Center, please complete the following forms:

Volunteer and Partner With Us

BACE welcomes volunteers, artists, educators, mentors, and community partners who believe in the power of Black art, culture, education, and youth development. Donate, partner with us, bring a workshop, and do what you can to support our youth scholars.

BACE Volunteer Form

Donate and Support

Your support helps us provide culturally grounded, high-quality programming for children, youth, and families.

Donations support:

Youth supplies and project materials
Program operations
Scholarships and accessibility
Arts and STEAM enrichment
Community events and family programming

MAKE A DONATION

Sponsor a Child for the 8-Week Summer STEAM Program

A full scholarship for one child covers the complete 8-week Summer STEAM experience.

Scholarship Cost Per Child:
$250 per week x 8 weeks = $2,000

This support helps give a child access to:

Full-day summer learning and enrichment
STEAM instruction and project-based learning
Black history and cultural learning
Spanish language learning and civic education
Arts, wellness, and leadership development
Meals, snacks, and a safe, affirming environment

Sponsor One Child or Give a Partial Scholarship

Fund the Entire Summer STEAM Program

Donors, sponsors, foundations, and community partners may also choose to help fund the full Summer STEAM Program.

Program Capacity: 30 youth
Program Length: 8 weeks
Base Tuition Value: $250 per week per child

Estimated Full Program Scholarship Value:
30 youth x $250 per week x 8 weeks = $60,000

A full-program investment helps ensure young people have access to a safe, structured, joyful, and high-quality summer learning experience rooted in education, culture, creativity, and community.

Become a Sponsor – Fund the Full Summer Program

Help Fund or Donate In-kind – Supplies, Materials, Food, and Snacks

Donors can also support the day-to-day needs that make the program possible.

Support in this area helps provide:

STEAM supplies and hands-on project materials
Art materials and creative resources
Books, journals, and learning tools
Breakfast support, lunch support, snacks, and water
Outdoor play and wellness equipment
Incentives, family events, and showcase materials

This option is especially meaningful for donors who want to make a direct and visible impact on the daily experience of children and youth.

Fund Supplies and Materials
Support Meals and Snacks
Give Where Needed Most

Giving Levels

$50 supports snacks and basic supplies
$100 supports art and STEAM materials
$250 supports one week for one child
$500 supports two weeks for one child
$1,000 supports one month of programming for one child
$2,000 sponsors one child for the full 8-week program
$5,000+ helps expand access, staffing, materials, and family support

GIVE TODAY

Why Give to BACE

Your donation helps create a summer where children are safe, seen, challenged, affirmed, and inspired. It helps families access meaningful programming. It helps young people build knowledge, confidence, creativity, voice, and community.

Please help us improve the facility and offer more programming. Donate to our Capital Campaign and General Operating Fund.

General Donation

Please donate to support our ongoing operational expenses and capital needs.

Donate