Path to Abundant Learning

This week,Abundant Learning founder Liz Craynon-Frank shares a few thoughts about how Abundant Learning came about:

The Abundant Learning center is literally a dream come true. It was just an idea that kept coming back over and over again. With patience,tenacity,trust and good intentions Abundant Learning is becoming a fulfillment of my desire to create a community minded learning center for children and adults.

In 2007,right when I was graduating from grad school,I left a very structured corporate job at Lindamood Bell Learning Processes after 9 years to start a private practice. Lindamood Bell taught me so much about literacy,learning,learning disabilities,diagnostics,motivation,and educational research. It was a very intense continuous training that was priceless. I am grateful to Lindamood Bell for propelling me fully into a field and career that truly makes me happy. I am very lucky to tutor young people.

I moved to Dumbo,Brooklyn several years ago and opened a small tutoring practice. Retail space being what it is in the neighborhood;I found it very easy to attain a small office at a great price by subletting. However,subletting lends itself to a transitional existence. After losing my space twice in two years,I decided that perhaps I should sign a multi year lease and lay down roots. My husband,who also works in Dumbo,made the decision easier. We weren’t going anywhere for a long time. Additionally,for about a year I have been daydreaming and imagining about the “Dumbo Community Center”. This is a place where the growing number of families in the neighborhood will go to learn about learning. Families will be able to connect with professionals for questions about learning styles,solutions,and enrichment. So,what should I do? Where will I want my kids to be?

When I saw the great space in 68 Jay directly across from Dumbo Gymnastics and the Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club,I knew I had to take it and move forward. The path from an idea to a physical entity has been challenging,educational,exhilarating,and affirming. We have grown from my practice to my practice plus lectures,clubs,test prep and soon summer programs. It feels great to be on this path where I continue to learn about the field of learning and about myself. One day Abundant Learning will be in a much larger space,on the ground level,serving the community with expert advice,and instruction. Until then we will work in our cozy space,cultivating ourselves and sharing with our students.

-Liz