We’re excited to introduce you to the Executive Director of Little Ones Learning Center, Wande Okunoren-Meadows. She’s also the the Executive Director of Hand, Heart and Soul Project, which brings food access and education to early care programs in Clayton County.

Wande has her hands in almost everything when it comes to increasing access to healthy foods in the communities that need it most. She is recognized as a fearless leader for kids in Atlanta and beyond.

Little Ones Learning Center is a top rated Quality Rated Center and NAEYC accredited center.

Read our interview with Wande below to learn about how she creates engaging childcare and what success means to her.

SB: Tell us about yourself! Who are you? What do you do?

WOM: I am an early childhood advocate with over 26 years of experience leading and championing community based programming. I've found that families and staff had significant barriers to accessing healthy food and often lacked a voice in the local programs made to serve communities. In 2018, I developed two pivotal programs: the Little Lion’s Farm Stand to provide fresh and local produce and eggs for the community, and with my mother, co-founded the nonprofit, Hand Heart and Soul Project, to serve as a community convener and services provider.

I am frequently invited to inform early care and equity driven initiatives. I was honored to advise the Democratic National Planning Committee’s COVID-19 health crisis platform in a conversation moderated by Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, appointed to Georgia Governor Nathan Deal’s first Early Education Subcommittee, and testified before a Georgia House Study Committee on Children’s Mental Health. I proudly wear the title of "good troublemaker", as a 2021 Center for Civic Innovation Fellow. Let's just say I enjoy contributing to a host of impact organizations where ambassadorship opportunities are abundant.

SB: What impact has Small Bites Adventure Club had on the kids in your life?

WOM: One of the very first kits, our kids learned how to use a lettuce knife. How empowering it is to go from depending on an adult to cut an item, to a child learning how to use a safe veggie knife. From the “Meet the Farmer Cards” to the "I tried it stickers," our kids really look forward to the kits. They were especially wonderful during the pandemic. The kits were the perfect remedy to incorporate parental engagement at a time where young children were seemingly being presented with more screen time.

SB: Tell us about a time when Small Bites changed the way you or someone you know looks at food.

WOM: I think in general, all the kids AND staff look at the concept of "healthy food" differently and Small Bites is one of the tools that aides in the process. The Taste Test Boxes offer real produce and kids are able to see that "healthy food" does taste good and that they can be part of the process to make it. From the salsa to cucumbers and rowdy ranch to sweet potatoes and dip, all of these were thumbs up and getting to know their farmers through the activities made them more in tune.

SB: What's your favorite food memory from childhood?

WOM: Preparing and cooking the food with my mom in the kitchen. She always taught us it was the worst thing to run out of food for guests. We made sure to cook big pots of food that lasted for days, a tradition that my kids are not fond of. They eat the same meal for dayssssssss. :-)

SB: What's your secret to success?

WOM: Success to what? At this point, I consider success balance and I have yet to achieve that. I'll let you know how that's going in a year. This is hard when I have my eyes on so many things and I have a magnanimous vision. But one thing is clearer than ever before. I do understand the value and importance of rest and that is tied to a healthy mind, body and spirit. In that sense, that is a milestone achievement for me that was not present a year ago.

Do you live in Clayton County? Learn more about Little Ones Learning Center at their website here or visit their Instagram profile @littleonesfp.