About CLCI

The Community Learning Center Institute (CLCI) was established in 2009 with a singular mission: to strengthen children, families, and communities by reimagining public schools as hubs of opportunity, support, and connection. Rooted in the nationally recognized Community Learning Center (CLC) model within Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS), CLCI was created as a nimble, independent nonprofit partner dedicated to deepening and expanding the CLC strategy.

The concept of Community Learning Centers in Cincinnati originated in the early 2000s through innovative leadership and became a central component of CPS’s Facilities Master Plan - a multi-year, voter-approved initiative to rebuild or renovate every school building in the district as a CLC. As new school buildings were designed, the district and its partners made a visionary decision: to work hand-in-hand with communities to ensure schools served as more than academic institutions. The goal was to transform them into neighborhood hubs, serving not only students, but also families and the broader community.

Following a broad and inclusive engagement process, the CPS Board formally adopted the CLC model. This approach emphasized collaborative leadership, site based governance, shared-use school buildings, and strategic, financially self-sustaining partnerships with public and private organizations. These partnerships supported a range of services - including enrichment, health care, the arts, adult education, early childhood programs, college and career access, and family and neighborhood advancement - all under one roof.

By 2009, with the Community Learning Center model gaining significant momentum, CLCI was founded by Darlene Kamine, who served as Executive Director of CLCI from 2009-2024, to fill a critical gap. While CPS embraced the CLC vision, there was a growing need for a dedicated external organization to help develop and support high-functioning Community Learning Centers. CLCI was established to fulfill that role and has continued to serve as a key driver in sustaining and advancing the CLC model throughout Cincinnati.

The Community Learning Center Institute (CLCI) is a national leader in transforming public school facilities into hubs of educational, recreational, cultural, health, and civic partnerships. These partnerships optimize the conditions for learning and serve as catalysts for community revitalization.

1. Schools will serve as the center of their communities, responsive to the unique vision and needs of each school and its surrounding neighborhood.
   
   

2. Community vision and needs will be identified through ongoing engagement, ensuring continuous input from residents, families, and stakeholders.
   
   

3. Each school’s Local School Decision-Making Committee will oversee the selection of partners that enhance opportunities for student success and community well-being.
   
   

4. Schools and their partners will collaborate to establish shared goals and measure shared outcomes, fostering alignment and accountability.
   
   

5. All partners are expected to be financially self-sustaining, ensuring long-term viability without placing additional financial burdens on the school.

CLCI was founded on five core principles that continue to guide our work: