Lume Classroom Drawing

The power to change society lies in changing the way young children are taught

The LUME Institute promotes innovative thinking, encourages personal exploration and offers a science-based, inside-out approach to understanding how children learn and grow.


Exciting News: UCCC, LUME and Youth in Need to Merge

University City Children’s Center and the LUME Institute have announced a merger with Youth In Need (YIN). Both organizations' boards of directors unanimously voted in favor of UCCC and LUME joining YIN's Early Learning Programs. Youth In Need and UCCC/LUME have been partners for almost 15 years. Collectively, we have served St. Louis for more than 100 years. Our commitment to our families, teachers and staff is to make this transition as seamless as possible so we can continue our focus on serving families in the St. Louis region together.

“Youth In Need has been a trusted partner of University City Children’s Center since 2010,” said former Executive Director of UCCC and founder of LUME Institute, Steve Zwolak, who shared his support of this merger. "I worked closely with their leadership, including Pat and Melissa, and have always been impressed with their team. They share UCCC’s philosophical values of serving children and families with great empathy and supporting teachers with training in emotionally responsive practices. This partnership will help everyone hold the souls of children and serve families across our region.”

What happens early in life lasts a lifetime

Every moment in a young learner’s life is an opportunity to build an emotional and social foundation that lasts a lifetime.

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Childhood development establishes a foundation of trust, the development of empathy, a demonstration of compassion, an outpouring of love, and the exuberances of joy.

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