Our name: NorthStar
Our name refers to a powerful symbol of freedom in our national and local heritage. Following the North Star on their dangerous journey northward, many escaped slaves sought refuge in the New Bedford area. The famous ex-slave and abolitionist Frederick Douglass lived his first years as a free man in New Bedford. In 1847, he launched a newspaper called North Star.
Our history and mission
Born from local community action during the civil rights movement, NorthStar Learning Centers remains grounded in our original vision to provide individualized, strength-based, family-focused programs that "help children, youth, and families realize their strengths and dreams." Founded in 1974, we have grown from one neighborhood-based preschool center to a constellation of programs that serve New Bedford area children from birth to adulthood. In all our programs, we are committed to serving the underserved and reaching the " hard-to-reach."
We are the people we serve
NorthStar is a state-certified minority non-profit organization. We are a leader in hiring, promoting, and retaining staff who represent Greater New Bedford’s different cultural communities. Our staff diversity and fluency in the languages spoken in our community send a strong message to the people we serve that they can achieve success in our programs.
Creating opportunity for all
In addition to providing community-based programs, we work with families, government agencies, and other organizations to remove historic barriers to educational and economic opportunity, to increase our society’s investment in children, and to open pathways for all children and families to achieve a better life.