COVID-19 Response Press Room Contact Donate DONATE TAKE ACTION DONATE We transform spaces into modern learning environments so students and communities can learn and grow. Over the past 24 years, Heart of America has provided high-quality resources and transformed spaces in under-resourced schools into modern learning environments so that students and communities can learn and grow. We have served more than two million students and community members by distributing more than 4 million books, infusing $4 million in technology, and transforming more than 700 school and community libraries, cafeterias, gymnasiums, college and career centers, tech labs, and many more educational spaces across North America. Our Work Our work includes: Resource Drives and Distributions Opportunity for sponsors and supporting donors to select a community to support and engage employees to provide resources such as books and technology to an under-resourced school. Learning Environment Transformations Include spaces large and small with a critical look at how a room or an area is currently used and how a new design, infusion of additional resources such as technology and books, and new furniture and decor can create a modern learning environment for the whole school community We learn the need, assess the challenges, and work with thoughtful partners to transform each space, often in just one day! Health and Wellness including athletic spaces, cafeterias, wellness rooms Libraries and Literacy including libraries, classrooms, learning labs Tech and STEM including STEM labs, tech labs, vo-tech suites Much of this work is accomplished through partners such as trusted contractors or vendors and with the support of volunteers in each location to complete the transformation. The Need The quality of an educational environment has a dramatic impact on a child's development. While the importance of many developmental factors, such as health, housing and parenting are widely recognized, the importance of a child’s educational environment is becoming more apparent. After parents and teachers, the physical environment is considered a child’s “third teacher.” Our Model Space that matters: the Heart of America team is expert in how to design vibrant learning spaces. How? By orchestrating a true community effort incorporating the following six steps: LISTEN : Listen to the stakeholders who use, work in and manage the learning spaces to understand how and why they use it; ask what would elevate their learning, what would make their jobs easier? INVENTORY : Catalogue current inventory of furniture, technology, art, materials; who are the users (demographics, languages, occupations, etc.) and who is missing from this space? OBSERVE : Watch traffic flow, note the types of activities that take place in the library. Where are the active or quiet places? Is the space conducive for multiple types of learning styles, both solo and group? DREAM : Think and design BIG with facility stakeholders and community members, re-imagine new learning environments, create an equipment and resource wish-list, and brainstorm and sketch out an ideal space for all users. BUILD : Engage local funders, donors, sponsors, partners who live, work and grow in the community; utilize local trades, artists, designers to build the dream. NOURISH : Continue to update resources and assess the progress of the space with community stakeholders and engage school partners. Heart of America Leadership Team Jill Heath President and CEO Shelly Lucas Vice President, Program Delivery Chavon Carroll Vice President, Development and External Affairs Kate Sorestad Vice President, Operations Pam Bryden Vice President, Human Resources and Administration Hetal Patel Vice President, Finance Founders Angie Halamandaris Founder Bill Halamandaris Founder Board of Directors Marcia L. Bullard Chairwoman Kelly J. Bozarth CEO Futures in Education Howard Byck Senior Vice President, Corporate Alliances American Cancer Society Mary Christ-Erwin President, MCE Food & Agriculture Consulting Karen Duncan Education and Athletics Professional Jill Heath President & CEO Steven M. Kaufman Partner Hogan Lovells US LLP Terry McDonough CEO Generation Code Scott Nelson Founder and Principal SAN Prop Advisors Eric Daniel Schweikert Sr. Expert McKinsey & Co. Other: Kevin C. Clayton (HOA Counsel) Hogan Lovells US LLP Heart of America 655 15th Street NW, Suite 800 Washington DC 20005 202-347-6278 EIN 52-2034127