60 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES WHY FLOC'S MISSION MATTERS MORE THAN EVER

For Love of Children (FLOC) is celebrating a milestone that speaks to the power of community, commitment, and compassion — 60 years of service to Washington, D.C.’s youth. Since 1965, FLOC has stood on the frontlines of educational equity, creating safe, inspiring spaces for children to learn, grow, and dream.

We’ve come a long way since our founding during the civil rights movement. The late Gordon Cosby was instrumental in the founding of FLOC. He was FLOC‘s first Board President and a beloved mentor of the late Fred Taylor, FLOC Executive Director Emeritus and many other FLOC contributors. When Reverend Gordon Cosby came back from the march in Selma, Alabama , in 1965, he asked his congregation the difficult question: “What will be our Selma?” In FLOC’s beginnings, they gathered support of their churches and the community to shut down Junior Village, a warehouse for 900 abandoned children. FLOC and its partners arranged viable schooling and living alternatives for these children, and shut Junior Village down in 1973.

From shutting down Junior Village to building tutoring programs that directly combat literacy gaps, FLOC’s work has never been about charity — it’s about justice. We believe every child, regardless of their zip code, deserves the individualized support and mentorship they need to thrive.

To date, FLOC has served over 12,000 students over the past 60 years. Today we serve over 250 students annually through academic tutoring, college and career readiness programs, and hands-on leadership development opportunities. One student at a time, we’re closing the opportunity gap by providing consistent, one-on-one attention — the kind of attention students like Tee, one of four children raised by a single mom, may not always receive in the classroom.

Tee’s story isn’t unique — but his transformation is extraordinary. Labeled a “problem child” because of his behavior, what he really needed was someone to listen. With the support of his FLOC tutor and the space to be seen, Tee began to shine — becoming more engaged, more confident, and more curious. His story is one of hundreds that reflect the power of what we do.

As we “Fly with FLOC” into this next chapter, we are focused on growing our impact. Our new permanent headquarters — two townhomes in Southeast D.C. — will be a hub of opportunity, education, and empowerment. With 70% of our capital campaign goal raised, we’re working hard to close the gap and begin renovations in summer 2025.

You are a part of this legacy. Whether you’ve volunteered, donated, partnered with us, or cheered us on, thank you. We hope you’ll join us at our 60th Anniversary Gala on November 12, 2025, as we honor our past and invest in our future.

Here’s to 60 years — and the many more to come.

LaToya Clark

Executive Director

For Love of Children

Stay Connected

📍 Learn more at FLOCs60thAnniversary.com

📚 Donate or volunteer at www.floc.org

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