Coming Fall 2026
A historic mission. A future we build together.
Nora Stewart is preparing for its next chapter with a future centered on children, families, and Columbia. This is where history becomes action.
For more than 90 years, Nora Stewart has been part of Columbia’s Black history and early childhood legacy.
Founded by a community that believed children deserved care, access, and possibility, Nora Stewart’s story is still being written.
Honoring our past. Building what comes next.
Stay Updated
Be first to know about reopening updates and future childcare information.
→ 02 / Hands + SkillsVolunteer
Give time, lend a skill, or help prepare the space for what comes next.
→ 03 / GivingSupport
Fund, sponsor, or offer materials that help move the work forward.
→ 04 / StoryShare
Help preserve memories, photos, names, and history connected to Nora Stewart.
→Love Your Block 2026
Before Nora Stewart welcomes families back, the outside of the center should reflect the dignity of the history inside and the future we are preparing for children and families.
One project. Many ways to show up!
This is a practical, visible way for the community to help Nora Stewart prepare for what comes next. People can give time, materials, skills, sponsorship, or simple hands-on support.
Love Your Block 2026 is Nora Stewart’s community beautification project. It is a hands-on way to refresh the outside of the center so the property reflects the dignity of its history and the excitement of what is next.
The event helps prepare Nora Stewart for community reintroduction and reopening momentum. It is about creating a cleaner, more welcoming, more hopeful first impression for families, neighbors, and supporters.
Volunteers may help with cleanup, planting, light landscaping, organizing, painting touch-ups, signage prep, setup help, beautification, and other practical refresh tasks that make the space feel cared for.
Yes. Donations of mulch, plants, planters, gloves, contractor bags, refreshments, cleaning supplies, tools, printing help, and other project materials are welcome and useful.
Yes. Families, teams, churches, civic groups, businesses, student groups, and local organizations can participate together or sponsor a visible part of the project.
Looking for childcare for Fall 2026?
Enrollment updates are coming! If you have been asking when Nora Stewart will reopen or how to enroll or re-enroll your child, this is the place to start.
Join the Interest List
- Tell us about your family’s childcare needs.
- Receive enrollment and reopening updates.
- Help us understand where the need is strongest.
1933
A community takes rootNora Stewart’s story begins in Columbia during segregation.
90+
Years of historyGenerations of children, families, neighbors, and community members are connected to this place.
2026
A new chapterNora Stewart prepares for reopening and community reintroduction.
Future
Built togetherEarly learning, family support, and community partnership move the legacy forward.
Where we’ve been
A Columbia story about access, children, Black history, and community responsibility.
Nora Stewart’s story began during segregation, when access to early childhood care and education was not equally available to every child.
The center became part of Columbia’s Black history by helping create care, learning, and possibility for children and families.
Nora Stewart’s legacy belongs to families, educators, volunteers, neighbors, and community members who helped carry the mission forward.
Where we’re going
A future centered on early learning, family support, community partnership, and sustainable reopening.
Preparing safe, nurturing, developmentally meaningful care for young children, with a clear focus on readiness, belonging, and strong beginnings.
Creating practical communication, connection, and support for families as the center prepares for its next era.
Building relationships with volunteers, businesses, churches, civic groups, donors, and neighbors who want this legacy to continue.
Historic Mission. Bold Vision.
Every gift helps carry the story forward.
Invest in early childhood excellence.
A gift to Nora Stewart supports more than a program. It helps prepare a historic early learning center for its next era of service to children, families, and community. Your support helps move Nora Stewart from legacy to lasting impact.
Give Money
Make a financial gift toward reopening preparation, Love Your Block project needs, future programming, and practical costs.
→Give Materials
Help provide supplies, tools, outdoor materials, printing, refreshments, cleaning supplies, or project-specific items.
→Give Expertise
Offer professional support, volunteer teams, photography, outreach, repair help, planning support, or business connections.
→Sponsor / Partner
Connect your church, business, civic group, or organization to a visible part of Nora Stewart’s next chapter.
→Prefer to give offline?
Donate by check: Please make checks payable to Nora Stewart Early Learning Center and mail to:
505 E. Ash Street
Columbia, MO 65202
Please write the purpose of the gift in the memo line if applicable.
Questions or other gifts?
For sponsorships, partnership conversations, in-kind gifts, or questions about donation options, contact us directly.
Email: info@norastewart.com
Phone: (573) 449-5981
Nora Stewart Early Learning Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so your contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Please consult your tax advisor.
Were you part of Nora Stewart’s story?
Submit a photo to be featured!
We are collecting memories, photos, programs, flyers, newspaper clippings, names, and stories connected to Nora Stewart. Former families, staff, volunteers, neighbors, partners, and supporters are invited to help preserve the story.
Share a Memory or PhotoBe part of the next chapter.
We invite you to be part of this next chapter. We promise you’ll be glad you did! Sign up to be first to get updates about our reopening, childcare enrollment, community projects, and the exciting things we have planned for Nora Stewart. Don’t worry. We believe in intentional communication and are 100% against inbox spam.
