The Coopers have served Charlottesville’s 10th and Page neighborhood as co-pastors of Pilgrim Baptist Church for over a decade. Their recent focus on opening our community’s first Black-owned Montessori program has led to significant collaboration with the team at United Way of Greater Charlottesville over the past year.
How did you arrive at the goal of opening an early learning center at your church?
Caring for our community’s children has always been a passion for our family, and a key part of our work as a parish. We believe that the most significant way we can make a difference in a child’s life is by giving them access to quality, affordable education at a young age. This is lacking in some of our communities, and we want to fill that gap.
Why is it so important to provide those opportunities in 10th and Page?
This neighborhood is full of family folk. We understand and see that changes are happening. And for the large part, attitudes toward that change are positive. However, we also believe that our church should reflect our community – and that includes addressing its needs. Providing educational opportunities right here in 10th and Page, walking distance from people’s homes, gives us all something to be proud of.
How would you describe your collaborations with United Way?
We have been donating to United Way for 28 years. Experiencing the impact they are making in a personal way now, I can appreciate it even more. This program is going to change lives. We are going to give children the foundation they need to succeed in school and in life. With a Montessori education, we are planting the seeds for leadership, personal responsibility, and the ability for these children to tell their stories in an authentic way.
What’s next for you all and Pilgrim Baptist Church?
When we walk around the neighborhood, the first thing parents ask us is, “When do y’all open?”. People are on the edge of their seats – and it’s incredible to know that they are just as excited as we are. We’ve learned so much over the past year…our biggest takeaways have been that relationships move mountains, and to never be afraid to reach out. If not for partners like United Way, we wouldn’t be where we are today.