A Partnership Between A Chance to Learn and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
There are an exceptional few individuals who tirelessly work to uplift others and drive meaningful change in their communities. LaToyia Dennis, CEO and Co-Founder of A Chance to Learn, has spent over 13 years being exceptional. She strengthens her community and others with focused efforts on “children and their grownups.”
A Chance to Learn provides services in three primary areas: early education, parent engagement, and maternal health. It began when LaToyia noticed children struggling with school. “At A Chance to Learn, we offer programs to ensure that children enter kindergarten ready. “ Her outreach was noticed by the Dallas Independent School District, which invited her to expand her programs into 11 schools.
These early efforts opened the door to more opportunities and connections, including the collaboration between A Chance to Learn and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and initiatives including My Baby for Me and Maternal Outcomes Matter Tours. The tours, designed to address maternal health disparities, resonated deeply with LaToyia, who nearly lost her life twice during pregnancy and now advocates passionately for mothers everywhere.
The Foundation of Partnership
While many grants focus on short-term results, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has taken a different approach. They understand that behavioral and societal transformation takes time, and their commitment reflects this.
“Outcomes take time,” LaToyia shares passionately. “They’ve [The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints] has been our largest, most consistent supporter because they genuinely believe in lasting change.”
Looking Ahead
With plans for new offices, expansions into more cities, and bigger dreams for low-income families, this partnership continues to grow. And thanks to the Church’s geographically-focused support system, A Chance to Learn will be connected to resources and volunteers no matter where they go.
The MyBaby4Me program is an initiative of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in collaboration with A Chance To Learn, a national nonprofit organization, that addresses infant and maternal mortality rates that are significantly elevated in a specific geographic area. Upcoming Event April 28th, Charlotte, NC.
The MOMS Tour (Maternal Outcomes Matter Showers) is a two-year Community Baby Shower Tour that will target 50 cities, reaching up to 25,000 expectant mothers in communities with high maternal and morbidity rates. This unprecedented and groundbreaking initiative represents a partnership between The Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, The What to Expect Project, in collaboration with A Chance to Learn, CocoLife.Black, and Mom Congress.
A Testament of Faith and Service
LaToyia’s powerful testimony of survival, resilience, and faith inspires everyone she meets. Facing near-death experiences, she called upon her faith to survive and now serves as living proof that miracles happen every day.
Her partnership with the Church isn’t merely professional—it’s spiritual. Elder Clayton read Doctrine and Covenants 84:88: “And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.”
“This is happening with the volunteers serving…” he said. “These missionaries are doing what Christ would do.” Dr. Michael V. Beheshti, a practicing physician who serves as the humanitarian and service outreach coordinator in the Church’s North America Southeast Area and has served as an Area Seventy, agreed. “They are reaching this marginalized community. They are feeding the hungry and clothing the naked and visiting the homeless and caring for the homeless and doing everything that Christ would have them do.”
“I know that God created me to share this story,” LaToyia explains. “The Church understands this mission. They’ve helped me bring hope to families who didn’t know hope existed.”
Sources: From: Church News: Church initiative aims to reduce infant mortality rates in vulnerable US Communities by Mary Richards