VISION
Active, imaginative play is the key to unlocking a child’s natural creativity, curiosity, confidence and joy, which will help them grow into compassionate and insightful lifelong learners.
MISSION
Our mission is to provide a fun, safe, inclusive and inspiring neighborhood space for all children to play, learn and grow with their families.
WHY PLAY?
There is extensive research showing that interactive free play helps young children develop their physical, intellectual and social skills. We believe that access to play is a social justice issue, and that all families deserve safe, affordable spaces to learn and grow with their kids. Parents and caregivers thrive when they feel connected to resources and community, and supporting adults in a child’s life helps them
HOW IS THIS FUNDED?
Juniper Corner is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and our startup and ongoing operating costs have been funded through a combination of private philanthropy, grants, and partnerships with local businesses.
Once we open in our own space, we will have a variety of income streams: monthly memberships, drop-in admission fees, birthday party space rentals and snack sales, along with ongoing grant funding and sponsorships. As we are deeply committed to affordability and never want cost to be a barrier for families, all our prices will be sliding scale, offering a range of tiers according to what families can pay.
To make a tax-deductible donation, please click visit our “Help Out” page. To learn more about becoming a sponsor, please email eve@junipercorner.org.
WHY THE NAME?
Juniper is a resilient, adaptable plant that is native to Northern California. It has grown on this land for centuries, both wild and cultivated, and continues to thrive as a part of San Leandro’s urban ecology today.
Corner captures the cozy, little kid scale of the space, like a corner reading nook or a secret clubhouse. Corner also references a place where the community comes together, like a corner store or a neighborhood cafe.