In 2015, Tracy Jefferson embarked on a transformative journey by founding Dream Builders Learning Center, a licensed childcare center in Georgia. Her business was established with a profound purpose: to foster academic success and inspire dreams in children. Tracy’s vision centered around creating safe havens for children in low-income areas, initially beginning with just two kids in a single center. Fast-forward to today, and the impact of Dream Builders has grown exponentially, touching the lives of hundreds of families across the state.
The Importance of Affordable Childcare
One of the significant challenges faced by working parents, especially those with young children, is the financial burden of childcare. In recent years, statistics showed that families spend an average of $13,000 annually on childcare. Childcare assistance programs are government-funded initiatives designed to help low-income or working families cover the costs of childcare services. Despite this, the underfunded childcare assistance system means that only one in seven eligible children currently receives any form of support. The need for reliable, affordable childcare is not only essential for the financial stability of working families but also plays a critical role in a country’s economic growth and child development by helping close the achievement gap.
The Unique Impact of Dream Builders
Dream Builders stands out for its unwavering commitment to providing a safe and nurturing environment for children. For many of the kids it serves, a Dream Builders center becomes their sanctuary, where they build trusting relationships and receive nutritious meals — often their only meal of the day. Tracy’s dedication to making a meaningful difference led her to collaborate with housing developers and businesses to establish Dream Builders centers in low-income communities, where the need is most acute.
Bpeace: A Catalyst for Growth
As Dream Builders continued to expand its reach and live up to its motto of “helping the entire family dream,” it became clear that support was needed to further its mission. This is when Dream Builders entered the Bpeace Jobs Maximizer program, an initiative developed in collaboration with the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) and powered by the Truist Foundation. The program connects minority-owned businesses with experienced business volunteers, aiming to accelerate growth and create more job opportunities.
In a pivotal move, Tracy was paired with expert Adam Carroll, a Strategy Insights & Planning Consultant at ZS. Together they created a compelling deck that will help Tracy pitch her business to potential corporate partners in her communities and open more Dream Builders Learning Center locations in Georgia. This strategic step also enabled Dream Builders to reach a second target audience in Georgia: low-and moderate – income housing communities.
The Bpeace relationship has been a game changer for Dream Builders. In 2022, revenue and profits doubled compared to the previous year. Additionally, the company created one new job in 2022 and another in 2023, bringing its employee total to eight. These achievements signify not only business success but also highlight Bpeace’s profound impact on job creation and the growth of minority-owned businesses.
Tracy expresses her gratitude, saying, “Bpeace and the ZS experts showed up in our life at the perfect time to help us pull all those strings together. They helped me step outside of my own business and look at every aspect of it through a new window.”
A Bright Future for Georgia Childcare
Dream Builders’ journey commenced with just two children in a single center, and now, after working with Bpeace, the company proudly serves hundreds of children and families across Georgia, with centers in Liberty and Turner counties . The remarkable growth of Dream Builders exemplifies the power of dedication and visionary leadership.
Today, Dream Builders centers are thriving in all three locations across Georgia, and the company is preparing to open a fourth center in Folkston, where a lease has already been signed. But the journey doesn’t stop there. Tracy’s forward-thinking approach has led Dream Builders to acquire land to build its own, state-of-the-art daycare center by mid-2024, catering to the specific needs of the local community.
With its steadfast commitment to providing quality childcare in Georgia, Dream Builders has not only achieved remarkable success but also exemplifies Bpeace’s unique approach to supporting minority-owned businesses. The Dream Builders story demonstrates how vision, dedication and the right support can make dreams come true for businesses, families and children alike.
Dream Builders: https://dreambuilderschildcare.com/
