About Lean on Us Unity

Welcome to Lean On Us Unity Child Care Center (LOUUCC)  — Prince George’s County’s first Reggio Emilia-inspired early learning center dedicated to nurturing the whole child through creativity, exploration, and intentional care. 

LOUUCC was founded in spring 2019 as the natural extension of a broader mission started by Lean On Us Unity House of Faith (LOUU-HOF). While our center now serves children ages 6 weeks to 12 years, our roots are deeply tied to a commitment to support vulnerable families—especially young mothers—through education, empowerment, and community-based care. 

Our Origins 

Lean On Us Unity House of Faith began in the summer of 2012 with a vision: to create transitional housing for pregnant teens in the foster care system. In collaboration with Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) in Washington, DC, and the Department of Social Services (DSS) in Northern Virginia, this vision aimed to provide not only shelter but holistic support to guide young women into confident motherhood. 

By winter 2013, this mission evolved into LOUU-House of Faith, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization created to expand services beyond the foster care system and meet the growing needs of pregnant teens and young adult mothers across the Washington, DC metro area. 

Over the past decade, LOUU-HOF has made impactful strides, offering transitional support, life skills training, and programs that promote self-sufficiency for young mothers and their children. 

LOUUCC: Where Purpose Meets Possibility 

Recognizing the need for high-quality, affordable early childhood education, LOUUCC opened its doors in 2019 to serve as a safe, nurturing environment where children can thrive—especially those of young mothers working toward stability and independence. 

As Prince George’s County’s first Reggio Emilia center, LOUUCC places children at the heart of the learning process. Our classrooms are designed to encourage discovery, independence, and expression. Through hands-on exploration, collaborative play, and meaningful relationships with caring educators, we support the academic, emotional, and social development of each child in our care. 

LOUUCC is more than a childcare center—it is a cornerstone of the Lean On Us Unity mission, rooted in the belief that supporting families is essential to building stronger, brighter futures for children. 

Our Story 

In 2012, Priscilla Ofosu and Dianeda Short—two dental professionals and former young mothers themselves—co-founded Lean On Us Unity with a mission to uplift and support single mothers facing the same challenges they once overcame. A casual lunch between colleagues turned into a calling: to create an organization that would offer housing, education, and life skills to pregnant teens and young adult women navigating motherhood alone. 

Initially focused on transitional housing, the organization formed partnerships with local churches, support agencies, and alternative schools across Northern Virginia and Washington, DC. As the need grew, so did the mission—giving rise to LOUU-House of Faith, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to helping young mothers build independent lives. 

Through prayer, planning, and purpose, Priscilla and Dianeda transformed their shared vision into a life-changing organization that continues to evolve to meet the needs of the community.