New Center for Kids and Parents Breaks Ground in Sulphur Springs

Layla Chami dreamed of helping mothers and children as an obstetrician. Three years ago today, she lost her battle with leukemia at the age of 16. Today, the Tampa community came together to make that dream come true in her name. Her parents, YMCA staff and city officials broke ground for Layla's House, a new neighborhood center for parents and young children in Sulphur Springs.

Tricia Eisner, of Layla's House, said that Layla was “blessed with a compassionate heart” and that the center would be “as warm and welcoming as Layla was herself.”

The new center will be built at the corner of 15th Street and Eskimo Avenue and will offer parent support groups, parent-child literacy programs, safety classes and child development workshops. According to Liz Kennedy, of Baby Bungalow, such services are sorely needed in the neighborhood. She said there are 600 children under 5 years of age in Sulphur Springs, and “only 17 percent were ready to enter kindergarten a year ago.”

Tom Looby, President and CEO of the Tampa Y, echoed that sentiment, saying that too many children were entering kindergarten without the necessary skills.

“Some of these students have never held a pencil or crayon,” said Looby.

That's something Layla's House is intended to change.

Kennedy said that Layla's House will be the sixth location for the Baby Bungalow project, and “it will be the model program.” The project provides services to parents and children from pregnancy up to kindergarten. Kennedy lauded programs such as “Baby Boot Camp,” which teaches fathers parenting skills. She said her own grandchildren had benefited from Baby Bungalow services.

Kennedy said that Layla's House will be “a place for babies, young children and parents to come together.”

Layla's House is a project of the YMCA and is being built on land donated by the City of Tampa. The city also awarded a community development block grant for the project. Mayor Bob Buckhorn and City Council members Yvonne Yolie Capin and Lisa Montelione were present at the groundbreaking ceremony.

“This is a neighborhood of promise, and this is a city of hope,” said Buckhorn, before digging in with his ceremonial shovel.

Actual construction of the center will begin tomorrow, July 19, and is expected to be complete by early 2012.

Looby said that the services provided at Layla's House would enrich the community.

“It will be a warm and friendly place,” he said.

To volunteer or donate to Layla's House, contact the Tampa Y.