The center was founded by Mateo and Francisca O'Farrill, who immigrated to the United States from Havana, Cuba, in the 1960s after fleeing communism. Francisca became one of the original Cuban educators selected to work for Head Start at the first center established for Hispanic children. Over the next 23 years, she served as a lead teacher and center director at several locations, while Mateo worked as a Curriculum Specialist for the Head Start Program in Miami.
Following their retirement, Mateo and Francisca fulfilled their dream of opening their own childcare center. Within the first two years of operation, the center earned the prestigious Gold Seal Accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
In addition to their dedication to education, Mateo and Francisca were deeply involved in the arts. They performed with the Miami Beach Philharmonic and shared the stage with renowned musicians such as Armando Manzanero and René Touzet. In 1995, Francisca performed "Cecilia Valdés" at the National Head Start Convention in Washington, D.C., in the presence of President Bill Clinton and several U.S. Senators.
In recognition of her lifelong contributions to education and the arts, a section of Southwest 67th Avenue, between SW 16th Street and SW 24th Street, was officially named in Francisca's honor in July 2008.
Today, the agency provides a comprehensive range of services designed to support children and families. These services include pre-kindergarten literacy programs that promote school readiness for children entering kindergarten, as well as year-round literacy, fitness, social skills, enrichment, and academic reinforcement programs for school-age children. These initiatives help students achieve excellence on the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) Progress Monitoring assessments (PM1–PM3).
The agency also assists low-income families in achieving stability and self-sufficiency through its Head Start and Early Head Start programs. All participants served meet federal low-income eligibility guidelines, and all services are provided free of charge. In addition, at least 10 percent of the children served annually have a diagnosed disability, ensuring that inclusive, high-quality educational opportunities are available to all children.
To serve our multicultural community by creating a dynamic, high-quality learning environment that offers a variety of developmentally appropriate activities for children. We foster intellectual, emotional, social, and physical growth while inspiring children to become lifelong learners. We also partner with parents—the first and most important educators in a child's life—to strengthen the foundation for learning and promote family dignity, empowerment, and self-worth.
Vision Statement
To be the organization that best understands, supports, and advocates for low-income children and families in our community.
Organization name
O'Farrill Learning Center
Tax id (EIN)
65-0703763
Mission Category
Education & Youth
Program Site Locations
Homestead, South Miami, West Miami
Annual Operating Budget
$1,000,000 - $2,499,999
Primary Population Served
Black/African American/African, Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx, Youth & Children
Address
6741 SW 24 Street Suite 31