These South L.A. women built a child-care haven on their block. It's a lifeline for families

"When the seven-beat rhythm of "shave and a haircut, two bits" resounds in the mornings on a car horn through this South L.A. neighborhood, Jackie Jackson or Guadalupe Andrade is likely behind the wheel, child-care providers who live on a one-block stretch of 115th Street. The cheerful honk is a familiar greeting among parents, community members and these local child-care workers on their pick-up routes. At day's end, the children will be dropped off at their doorstep, an invaluable service to working parents."

"They identified the pain points of parents and focus on addressing those needs - offering door-to-door transportation, tailoring support services to specific family concerns and keeping costs down by sharing resources. They often help families with food and have taken on a civic activist role when needed. The day-care providers of 115th Street call themselves "the learning village" and swap furniture and toys, send photos of activities they've developed and advise each other on anything from selecting kid-friendly cups to dealing with difficult behavior. Together, they serve 60 children."

A tight-knit group of child-care providers on a one-block stretch of 115th Street in South L.A. share resources, swap furniture and toys, and coordinate activities to support local families. Jackie Jackson, Guadalupe Andrade and three other providers offer door-to-door transportation, tailor services to family needs, and help with food and other supports. The providers call themselves "the learning village," serve 60 children, and advise one another on behavior, supplies and business practices. The group’s cooperative approach helps lower costs and sustain child-care homes amid industry challenges such as high operating costs, staff shortages and competition from transitional kindergarten.

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