What are the opening hours?

Monday 8am - 5pm Tuesday 8am - 5pm Wednesday 8am - 5pm Thursday 8am - 5pm Friday 8am - 5pm

Smart Start of Mecklenburg County

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Smart Start of Mecklenburg County

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We mobilize resources, forge partnerships, and support families to improve early childhood health, education and development.

The Mecklenburg Partnership for Children, better known as Smart Start of Mecklenburg County, is a private, nonprofit partnership that funds local programs for children ages birth to five and their families.

11/04/2026

🗨️ "I stay involved because this is my community, these are our kids and families, and I want to use whatever experience, voice, and connections I have to help make things better for them," Jaime Rechkemmer. Learn more about Jaime 📲

11/03/2026

Giving Tuesday is one month away! Smart Start of Mecklenburg County (SSMC) is grateful for the support of our generous donors. A gift to SSMC provides us the opportunity to be more agile with our funding in order to meet the ongoing and evolving needs of Mecklenburg County's youngest residents and their families. Help us meet families where they are by giving a gift on Giving Tuesday, Dec. 1. https://www.smartstartofmeck.org/donate/

11/02/2026

Big love can live in little moments.
🫂 A hug.
😀 A smile.
🗨️ A calm voice.
🕰️ A few minutes of your full attention.

Children feel secure when they know they are loved and supported.

And parents need care, too. When things feel overwhelming, pause, breathe, and give yourself grace.

Connected Families Challenge:
Take one quiet minute together today. Hug, breathe, and reconnect.

10/30/2026

Smart Start of Mecklenburg County, who we are! Mike Blackwelder joined SSMC as a consultant and hasn't left. As CEO, Mike works with everyone and enjoys the advocacy work he gets to do to ensure all children in Meck Co. turn five ready to thrive.

10/28/2026

👊 Meet one of our newest Executive Board additions, Robert Pinka! Swipe to learn about some of his childhood favorites and more!

What drew him to early childhood and advocacy work? ⤵️
🗨️ "During my graduate studies at UNC Charlotte, I spent a great deal of time with sociologists. The overwhelming majority of the research points to the same conclusion: early childhood education shapes an individual’s outcomes for the rest of their life. While countless factors contribute to those outcomes, it is abundantly clear that structured socialization and early literacy directly affect our capacity to learn, build healthy relationships, and navigate the world with confidence. I was drawn to early childhood advocacy because it offers an opportunity to make a meaningful difference at the stage when support can have the greatest and most lasting impact—not only for individual children, but also for families and entire communities."

10/27/2026

Connection happens in everyday moments.
🗨️ Talk about what you’re doing.
🎤 Sing a favorite song.
👉 Point to the things your child notices.

These simple interactions help turn everyday routines into opportunities to connect, communicate, and learn together.

Today’s Connected Families Challenge: During your next walk, meal, or car ride, point to 3️⃣ things and talk about them with your child. Small moments. Strong connections.

10/26/2026

𝑼𝒑𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑺𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑴𝒆𝒄𝒌𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒈 𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒚
🍽️ Lunch & Learn: Growing Together
🫶 Giving Tuesday
👶 NC Child State of the Child Data Card Release

💻 More info: https://www.smartstartofmeck.org/events/

10/22/2026

From signing up for monthly books from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library at the hospital when you left with your newborn to seeing them dressed proudly in their cap and gown at MECK Pre-K graduation five years later, Smart Start of Mecklenburg County programs has been there! If you have a to share, we'd love to hear it! ✍️ https://ow.ly/v1Vj50ZZth4

10/21/2026

👋 Meet Smart Start of Mecklenburg County Board Member Kelly King! Kelly is in her fourth year with the organization and is our current Board Chair. 📲 Swipe to learn more about Kelly and what our mission means to her.

10/20/2026

📣 Our friend Bridgett Potts with the Alliance Center for Education gives us her biggest cheerleader growing up. Who was yours?!

Address

601 E 5th Street
Charlotte, NC
28202

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

+17043776588

Website

http://www.smartstartofmeck.org/

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