The Midlands Latino Community Development Corporation (MLCDC) is excited to announce Maria Elena Castro as the lead for the childcare educational program and director of the new childcare development program.
Maria Elena developed the MLCDC’s children program 11 years ago. She eventually left MLCDC to start one of the best childcares in South Omaha, Solesitos Childcare Center (Little Sun Childcare). She is now returning to MLCDC to expand the childcare program in the state of Nebraska and Iowa, in areas where there is a great need for early childcare centers.
Through its children’s program, MLCDC has provided orientation, training, technical assistance, and coaching services since 2008 to help low-income minorities own and manage home-based childcare and childcare centers in Nebraska and Iowa. MLCDC has expanded the childcare program to the refugee and asylees communities in Omaha, Lincoln, and Bellevue. MLCDC also received a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services to create a new Refugee Family Childcare Micro-Enterprise Development Program.
Maria Elena is from Peru and has a bachelor’s in architecture and Interior design from Lima Peru. In Nebraska, she has received a comprehensive education in early childhood education from the Nebraska Health and Human Services, License Department, Nebraska Early Learning Connection, Management Training Program, Nebraska Department of Education, Metro Community College, MLCDC, and Buffett Early Childhood Institute.