Welcome!
We are delighted that you have decided to inquire about our system of early childhood development, education and care homes!
Our corporation was founded by Mrs. Nicole St.Ann-Ahmad when she was just a student at Norfolk State University. She took an entrepreneurship class where she was given an assignment to create a business plan. Her idea was provoked through her personal struggles of finding someone who could help care for her children while training as an army cadet. Mrs. St. Ann-Ahmad's teacher thought her business plan was so good she encouraged her to enter her plan into NSU's school of business 2011 annual Hodge Business Plan Competition. She went on to winning the 2011 Hodge Business Plan Competition, but it wasn't long before more challenges ensued.
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In 2019 Mrs. St. Ann-Ahmad was serving as a center director and was laid off due to the pandemic. She quickly realized that job security is conditional. With dreams of one day operating a childcare center she quickly decided against it due to the pandemic and the start-up cost that comes with opening a childcare center. While homeschooling her children she went back to her award winning idea and researched the former DSS childcare website for childcare licenses that could support her business plan from 2011. She then found the licensing requirements to operate a family day system.
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Mrs. St. Ann-Ahmad was on a mission to automate access to entry for educators that want to max out their skillset by becoming entrepreneurs. When she conducted interviews, Mrs. St. Ann-Ahmad would ask potential teachers and leaders, “If you could own a business what would it be”? Almost every educator she interviewed stated that they dreamed of opening a childcare center, so she asked, “Why not start now”? Throughout her interviews she was given answers such as limited to no resources to get started, afraid of going into debt, low credit score for a loan, wasn’t good at paperwork or just needed someone to simply help them one-on-one; however, they had the skillset of providing childcare where each individual child received developmentally appropriate opportunities for physical, emotional, social, intellectual growth and academic success. On behalf of all employees, she felt that it was her duty to provide workforce development opportunities beginning in Hampton Roads, Virginia which is where it all began.
As of June 2024, U-LAUNCH: Childhood Development Homes program has been recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501 (c)(3) described in IRC Sections 509 (a)(1) and 170 (b)(1)(A)(vi). Donors can deduct contributions they make to U-LAUNCH: Childhood Development Homes as provided in IRC Section 170. U-LAUNCH: Childhood Development Homes is qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, legacies, devises, transfers, or gifts under IRC Sections 2055, 2106, and 2522.
Our Mission
Referring families with Quality, Local, Home-Based Providers
Our Vision
Systematically Uniting Virginians to U-LAUNCH: IT
Our Core Values
Professionalism
Conduct business with a focus on promoting our reputation for excellence as a system specializing in workforce development home-based programs. We are respectful of the rights, opinions and responsibilities of our home-based providers to include our Program Specialists & Administrator Specialist, customers, and our partners in the workforce development home-based community. As professionals, we maintain confidentiality, demonstrate dependability, portray ourselves and our programs in a positive professional manner, and speak constructively of Program Specialists & Administrator Specialist, Childhood Develpment Home Associates, our customers and the company.
Integrity
We adhere to ethical values and principles that are in alignment with licensing standards, our standard operating procedures and professional codes of conduct. We strive to be fair and consistent in all that we do. Our conversations contain honesty, including those times when the messages are difficult to share.
Respect
We demonstrate tolerance and understanding of the thoughts, beliefs and practices of others in our workplace and in the community. We view the discussion of new ideas and diversity as opportunities to strengthen the quality of services that we offer to our partners and customers. We are committed to communicating messages with courtesy and professionalism.
Community and Clients
Our customers, partners, specialists, home-based providers and the people that support them, are all part of U-LAUNCH: IT. We fulfill our civic duties by serving as a responsible business and by supporting home-based programs that benefit the communities where we live and do business. We encourage participation in activities which give back to our communities.
Growth
We constantly strive to grow and develop as individuals and as an organization. We recognize the benefit of professional development and implementing best practices to offer quality workforce development home-based programs. We are committed to continuously improving our workforce development home-based programs and services through innovation and the investments in people and our home-based providers.
Teamwork
We firmly believe that teamwork is the most effective method to provide best business practice to our customers and home-based providers. We step-in and help out each other, even without being asked to do so. We work through challenges and conflicts professionally and collaboratively. We share information and resources with others within our workforce development home-based system.
Board of Directors
U-LAUNCH: IT Workforce Development Home-Based Programs is governed by a Board of Directors:
President
Herbert L. Potts
Vice President
TBA
Secretary
Deborah Jefferson
Treasurer
Linda Pearson, CPA
U-LAUNCH: IT Board of Directors meets quarterly. If you are interested in becoming a member at large contact:
Mrs. Nicole Ahmad, Director of Operations
