ujima Childcare Cooperative
are providing community-led education that activates the young learner into collective action, through project-based learning, cooperative practices and Black libratory care.
The Ujima Childcare Cooperative is held by organizers, educators, artists, and environmentalists who share their wealth of knowledge, to families of all structures, that centers a child’s development and prepares them to be change-makers.
Group childcare
Childcare available for festivals, convenings, conferences, and work meetings.
Seasonal
Events
Themed childcare aligned with seasonal holidays.
In - Home care
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A detailed database for members to share their needs and are matched with the caregiver that best fits.
Camps
Week long programming for Winter break, Mardi Gras Break and Summer Break for 4 to 12 year olds, Parent and child classes will be in collaboration for children longer than 4
kids night out
Monthly care opportunities for a variety of ages with a flat cost of $25 per child.
We envision a third place where children, families, and educators learn and grow together through curiosity, truth, and collective care.
Guided by the principle of Ujima, Collective Work and Responsibility we are building innovators, change makers and world builders of tomorrow.
Ujima is the catalyst for affordable, alternative education in New Orleans. That looks like being well equipped at being a good humanitarian and protector of our planet.
For other general inquiries email us at:
Kaya Jones is a mother, educator, and environmentalist best known for her deep commitment to environmental education—most clearly reflected in her work leading gardening and farming projects in New Orleans. As a native of Florida and daughter of the Gulf South, Kaya grew up among the pine forests of North Florida and the coastal ecosystems of the Gulf, environments that sparked her lifelong curiosity about plants and the interconnected systems we all depend upon. For over a decade, she has worked as a farm educator, sharing her knowledge across regions from Alabama to Alaska. Through these experiences, Kaya has developed a holistic approach to teaching that blends land-based learning, community care, and liberatory education.
A proud graduate of BLCA, Kaya was inspired to create a childcare cooperative that centers both children and the environment while being rooted in community. This vision gave life to the Ujima Childcare Cooperative, a space where cooperation, imagination, and collective responsibility come together. At Ujima, Kaya uses her nature-based learning experiences and cooperative principles to shape a “third place” for children—one that centers autonomy, agency, and joy. She believes childcare should not only nurture young minds but also strengthen families and build collective power.
Samille is an Artist and new world builder that has many interests and works somewhere between art, land, education and liberation.
She is a believer in alternative education and is dedicated to raising free people.
With many years under her belt as a theatre artist and drama teacher she brings an artistic approach to our cooperative.
Constantly thinking outside the box, role playing, shape shifting and igniting sparks. She also community centered and worldly curious.
Ujima is a seed that can spark change! She is excited to see it flourish. I do it all for Harper!