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Tag: Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center

News

March 19, 2026

Homewood Hub Formula Bank Fed Nearly 250 Babies in 2025

The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center fed 250 babies and distributed more than 800 cans or bottles of formula in 2025, according to a year in review for the formula bank.

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The Greater Pittsburgh Infant Formula Bank, which is managed by Beverly’s PGH, launched its network in June 2022 and has seven public bank locations and a mobile unit. 

At the Homewood Hub formula bank site, a total of 250 individual babies were fed during 745 visits for infant formula support in 2025. A total of 834 formula cans and bottles were distributed. The site had a 4% staff error rate, which is calculated based on the number of cans or bottles of formula missing from the site without a checkout attached.

There was a 48% increase in checkouts at the Homewood site between 2024 and 2025.

Other statistics for the formula bank include:

  • 64% WIC enrollment rate for bank users
  • 28% preterm birth rate for babies fed (born before 37 weeks)
  • 5% rate of babies that are breastfed and using formula for supplementation 

The sites in the Greater Pittsburgh Infant Formula Bank’s network include: Hilltop, McKeesport, Highlands, Homewood, Monessen, ELRC Region 5, and the Babies in the Burgh Mobile Unit, and Beverly’s HQ.

Read the entire report.

News

March 18, 2026

Homewood Hub’s Remake Learning Days Event to Feature Kamin Science Center Planetarium

The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center and the YMCA will present the Kamin Science Center’s new Mobile Planetarium as part of Remake Learning Days in May.

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Attendees at the event will be able to take a journey through the stars in an inflatable, immersive planetarium experience. They will also be able to take part in a constellation craft.

There will be several shows between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the YMCA Homewood Brushton Branch, located at 7140 Bennett Street, on Friday, May 15.

The event, which runs from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., also includes food and games between planetarium shows.

Those interested in attending can register online.

Remake Learning Days

Remake Learning Days, which is currently accepting submissions for events, is celebrating its 10th year in 2026. The innovative, national learning festival for youth and families includes thousands of hands-on learning events for children of all ages at libraries, schools, tech centers, parks, museums, play spaces, community centers, and more. 

The festival’s activities are generally aimed at children between the ages of 2 and 17 as well as adults. Activities from previous years include building a robot, coding an art spinner, directing a film, doing scientific work, exploring the outdoors, making music, and printing inventions with a 3-D printer.

This year’s Remake Learning Days festival will run from May 21 to 23 in western Pennsylvania. The list of events, which has not yet been unveiled, is typically released in April.

News

March 17, 2026

How Providers Can Celebrate the Month of the Young Child

Trying Together celebrates the Month of the Young Child (MOYC) every April in conjunction with the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) yearly observance of the Week of the Young Child. 

This year, the Week of the Young Child will be observed April 11 through 17.

There are several events taking place in Southwestern Pennsylvania during both the Month of the Young Child and Week of the Young Child.

Month of the Young Child

On Thursday, April 9, Carlow University and Westmoreland County Community College will host the 2026 Early Childhood Educator Student Affiliate Dinner on WCCC’s campus. This year’s theme is “Every Person, Every Path, One Passion,” which celebrates the work of educators to build inclusive education spaces for all learners. Tickets for the event can be purchased online.

Trying Together will hold its annual event to honor the Month of the Young Child and the work of early childhood educators – Celebrating Together – on Thursday, April 30 at Rivers Casino. The event will include a VIP Reception and the 30th Annual Celebration of Early Childhood Educators Dinner. Those interested in attending can purchase tickets online.

NAEYC’s Week of the Young Child

To celebrate the Week of the Young Child, NAEYC has set themes for each day between April 11 and 17. The week’s themed days include Kick-Off Saturday, Music Monday, Tasty Tuesday, Work Together Wednesday, Artsy Thursday, and Family Friday. NAEYC has provided a number of suggested activities for providers during the Week of the Young Child. The full list is available on NAEYC’s website. Some of the activities include:

  • Kick-Off Saturday: Share a video, blog, or social media post about why you celebrate Week of the Young Child, host a virtual event to share your proclamation, and create a plan for the week (for example, a playlist for Music Monday or restocking art supplies for Artsy Thursday).
  • Music Monday: Join the chorus for change by working with state affiliates to secure proclamations honoring early childhood educators.
  • Tasty Tuesday: Engage families by exploring culturally meaningful foods, sharing stories or recipes, and creating a community recipe book illustrated by children.
  • Work Together Wednesday: Help promote teamwork among children to develop their social and early literacy skills, or connect with elected officials.
  • Artsy Thursday: Find ways to display your classroom’s art projects for the community to see – for example, set up a gallery at a local business or public library.
  • Family Friday: Connect families with NAEYC, your local affiliate, and advocacy opportunities. Share resources that help families support learning and engage with policymakers.

Two great resources to celebrate the Week of the Young Child are NAEYC’s page, which lists a number of activities and provides information on the week’s history, and Discovery Building Sets’ 80 Ways to Celebrate NAEYC’s Week of the Young Child.

The Homewood Early Learning Hub and Family Center’s Week of the Young Child

The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center, located at 7219 Kelly Street, has scheduled events each day of the Week of the Young Child that mostly correspond with NAEYC’s themes.

For Musical Monday, families are invited to an open house that features musical activities courtesy of Playnotes Pittsburgh, food, refreshments, and other activities. On Tasty Tuesday, visitors can listen to a dinosaur-themed Storytime at the Hub event that includes food, while the Hub will team up with the Holy Cross Homewood & Reading is Fundamental Storymobile for a joint storytime and activity on Work Together Wednesday.

Then, on Family Collage Thursday, the Hub staff will help visitors to create a special collage featuring artistic creations and family photos. Visitors should bring printed photos of their families for the activity. The finished collage will be displayed in the center.

Finally, on Family Fun Night Friday, visitors will be able to take part in an evening full of activities, food, and line dancing featuring special guest Attack Theatre. More information about the Hub’s Week of the Young Child events is available online. 

Indiana County’s Week of the Young Child

The Week of the Young Child will kick off in Indiana County at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 11 with a proclamation at the Indiana County Courthouse. This will be followed by a walk to the Indiana Free Library.

Children’s activities at the library will include storytime at 10:30 a.m., crafts in the library’s Community Room from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and a STEAM Play Day from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information on the event, check out this flyer from the Children’s Advisory Commission of Indiana County.

News

March 4, 2026

Homewood Hub to Host Ancestral Wellness Series This Spring

The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center will host a three-part series this spring that will cover everything from ancestral food traditions and nature-based healing to lifestyle transformation.

Stronger Together: DAWA Ancestral Wellness Series will include sessions from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the following Fridays – April 10, May 8, and June 12. The hands-on workshops are aimed at Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center caregivers.

Session 1

On April 10, Remembering Our Roots: Ancestral Foodways will enable participants to explore ancestral food traditions and how disconnection from traditional ways of eating has affect community health.

Activities include group memory sharing of foods, remedies, and rituals from childhood; an introduction to ancestral wellness principles, beginning guided DAWA wellness journals, and creating an herbal infusion (tincture or oxymel) to take home at the end of the series.

Session 2

The May 8 session, Listening to the Body and Nature as Medicine, blends organ wellness and nature-based healing, teaching participants how to listen to their bodies while reconnecting with the earth.

Topics will include understanding body signals and signs of imbalance, organ wellness, simple seasonal ancestral cleansing practices, and grounding, sunlight, fresh air, and basic plant medicine.

Activities during this session include body-awareness practices, creating an organ-support herbal blend, and planting seeds to take home and nurture. The session will also include time for journal reflection.

Session 3

On June 12, Creating Our New Life: Vision and Commitment will enable participants to complete their herbal infusion from the first week and engage in a session focused on identity, affirmations, and lifestyle transformation.

Activities during this session include straining and bottling herbal infusion, a DIY herbal tea station, affirmation board creation, and a final sharing circle during which participants will present their personal wellness commitments.

Each family attending all three sessions will receive a $50 gift card.

News

Stronger Together: DAWA Ancestral Wellness Series

The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center is hosting a three-part series monthly for caregivers that will cover everything from ancestral food traditions and nature-based healing to lifestyle transformation. Families that attend all three sessions will receive a $50 gift card.

The Stronger Together: DAWA Ancestral Wellness Series will be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the following Fridays – April 10, May 8, and June 12 at the Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center.

Session 1

The April 10 session, Remembering Our Roots: Ancestral Foodways, will enable participants to explore ancestral food traditions and how disconnection from traditional ways of eating has affect community health.

Activities include group memory sharing of foods, remedies, and rituals from childhood; an introduction to ancestral wellness principles, beginning guided DAWA wellness journals, and creating an herbal infusion (tincture or oxymel) to take home at the end of the series.

Session 2

The May 8 session, Listening to the Body and Nature as Medicine, blends organ wellness and nature-based healing, teaching participants how to listen to their bodies while reconnecting with the earth.

Topics will include understanding body signals and signs of imbalance, organ wellness, simple seasonal ancestral cleansing practices, and grounding, sunlight, fresh air, and basic plant medicine.

Activities during this session include body-awareness practices, creating an organ-support herbal blend, and planting seeds to take home and nurture. The session will also include time for journal reflection.

Session 3

The June 12 session, Creating Our New Life: Vision and Commitment, will enable participants to complete their herbal infusion from the first week and engage in a session focused on identity, affirmations, and lifestyle transformation.

Activities during this session include straining and bottling herbal infusion, a DIY herbal tea station, affirmation board creation, and a final sharing circle during which participants will present their personal wellness commitments.

 

News

Stronger Together: DAWA Ancestral Wellness Series

The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center is hosting a three-part series monthly for caregivers that will cover everything from ancestral food traditions and nature-based healing to lifestyle transformation. Families that attend all three sessions will receive a $50 gift card.

The Stronger Together: DAWA Ancestral Wellness Series will be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the following Fridays – April 10, May 8, and June 12 at the Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center.

Session 1

The April 10 session, Remembering Our Roots: Ancestral Foodways, will enable participants to explore ancestral food traditions and how disconnection from traditional ways of eating has affect community health.

Activities include group memory sharing of foods, remedies, and rituals from childhood; an introduction to ancestral wellness principles, beginning guided DAWA wellness journals, and creating an herbal infusion (tincture or oxymel) to take home at the end of the series.

Session 2

The May 8 session, Listening to the Body and Nature as Medicine, blends organ wellness and nature-based healing, teaching participants how to listen to their bodies while reconnecting with the earth.

Topics will include understanding body signals and signs of imbalance, organ wellness, simple seasonal ancestral cleansing practices, and grounding, sunlight, fresh air, and basic plant medicine.

Activities during this session include body-awareness practices, creating an organ-support herbal blend, and planting seeds to take home and nurture. The session will also include time for journal reflection.

Session 3

The June 12 session, Creating Our New Life: Vision and Commitment, will enable participants to complete their herbal infusion from the first week and engage in a session focused on identity, affirmations, and lifestyle transformation.

Activities during this session include straining and bottling herbal infusion, a DIY herbal tea station, affirmation board creation, and a final sharing circle during which participants will present their personal wellness commitments.

 

News

Stronger Together: DAWA Ancestral Wellness Series

The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center is hosting a three-part series monthly for caregivers that will cover everything from ancestral food traditions and nature-based healing to lifestyle transformation. Families that attend all three sessions will receive a $50 gift card.

The Stronger Together: DAWA Ancestral Wellness Series will be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the following Fridays – April 10, May 8, and June 12 at the Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center.

Session 1

The April 10 session, Remembering Our Roots: Ancestral Foodways, will enable participants to explore ancestral food traditions and how disconnection from traditional ways of eating has affect community health.

Activities include group memory sharing of foods, remedies, and rituals from childhood; an introduction to ancestral wellness principles, beginning guided DAWA wellness journals, and creating an herbal infusion (tincture or oxymel) to take home at the end of the series.

Session 2

The May 8 session, Listening to the Body and Nature as Medicine, blends organ wellness and nature-based healing, teaching participants how to listen to their bodies while reconnecting with the earth.

Topics will include understanding body signals and signs of imbalance, organ wellness, simple seasonal ancestral cleansing practices, and grounding, sunlight, fresh air, and basic plant medicine.

Activities during this session include body-awareness practices, creating an organ-support herbal blend, and planting seeds to take home and nurture. The session will also include time for journal reflection.

Session 3

The June 12 session, Creating Our New Life: Vision and Commitment, will enable participants to complete their herbal infusion from the first week and engage in a session focused on identity, affirmations, and lifestyle transformation.

Activities during this session include straining and bottling herbal infusion, a DIY herbal tea station, affirmation board creation, and a final sharing circle during which participants will present their personal wellness commitments.

 

News

March 2, 2026

Remake Learning Days with Kamin Science Center

Join the Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center in partnership with the YMCA for a presentation of the Kamin Science Center’s new Mobile Planetarium.
Delight in the magic of the night sky with Kamin Science Center. Take a journey through the stars in an inflatable, immersive planetarium experience. Get hands-on with a constellation craft and bring the magic home with you. There will be several shows between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Also, enjoy additional activities between planetarium shows, including food and games.
The event takes place at the YMCA Homewood Brushton Branch, located at 7140 Bennett Street, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 15.
Registration is available online.

News

COSTUME/DISFRACES Family Event

Join Buzzword at the Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center (7219 Kelly Street) as we explore our latest buzzword, COSTUME/DISFRACES, during this family-friendly event featuring early literacy, science, art, music, and more. Families will be served refreshments.

During this event, children ages birth to five and their caregivers will engage with each other to create meaningful moments with our friends from the Kamin Science Center and ACH Clear pathways.

Buzzword is collaborating with the Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center.

Registration for the event is open.

News

February 4, 2026

Winter Wellness & Family Connections Event

Jeremiah’s Place, the Church of the Holy Cross Episcopal, and Trying Together will host a Winter Wellness and Family Connections Event on Wednesday, February 18.

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The event is a welcoming gathering for families with young children that combines practical winter supports, family-friendly activities, and space for connection and listening.

It will include light snacks, children’s activities, winter wellness, comfort giveaways, and opportunities to support families in tangible ways and to listen to parents’ hopes, needs, and concerns.

The event will run from noon to 1 p.m. – during drop-in play hours – on February 18 at the Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center, located at 7219 Kelly Street in Pittsburgh.