09/11/2026
💜 SMALL ALIYAH’S PLACE UPDATE! 💜
I wanted to give everyone in the Pensacola community a little update and, most importantly, reassure all of the families who have been calling, emailing, messaging, and asking when we will open:
Aliyah’s Place is STILL moving forward!
I have been working incredibly hard behind the scenes, and so much is already prepared and in place. Right now, I am simply waiting for the phone call that will allow me to move forward with access to the building we are planning to use.
At the moment, that means I’m working on someone else’s timeline—and I’m okay with that. Building something meaningful takes patience, and I am thankful and grateful for the opportunity to potentially share space and work alongside another organization.
But while I wait, I am NOT sitting still!
I’m excited to share that Aliyah’s Place is officially an approved provider with Step Up For Students! 💜
I am now working through the process of becoming a provider with the Early Learning Coalition as another potential resource for eligible families.
These are extra resources to help families for the “after school “, outside of the Youth Center that will still remain 8-5pm.
I have also been reaching out throughout Pensacola seeking community partnerships, business partnerships, sponsorships, resources, referrals, and additional support to help make Aliyah’s Place everything our children and families deserve.
And most importantly, I’ve been listening.
I’ve listened to parents tell me what their children need. I’ve heard from families whose children have different disabilities, diagnoses, developmental needs, and abilities. I’ve heard from parents who have struggled to find somewhere their child truly fits.
As a special-needs mom myself, I understand firsthand how difficult it can be to trust someone else with your child.
You need to know they are safe.
You need to know they are understood.
You need to know the people caring for them see the CHILD first—not simply their diagnosis or disability.
That is exactly what I want Aliyah’s Place to be.
I’m working to create the village so many of us wished we had.
A village for our children.
A village for parents who need support.
A place where our children can feel safe, secure, included, supported, valued, and free to be themselves.
I cannot wait for the day I can return all of these calls, messages, and emails and finally say:
“OUR DOORS ARE OPEN. COME SEE US!” 💜
Until then, I will continue doing the work—one day at a time.
I also want to sincerely thank the incredible people and organizations who have reached out, encouraged me, shared resources, offered support, advocated for this mission, or simply told me, “Pensacola needs this.”
Thank you to my spouse,David Shannon, for being one of my biggest supporters through it all.
Thank you for the support I’ve received from members of the UWF community and others throughout Pensacola, including Jena Sudderth Yonker, Susan Sowell Byram, Rachel Durand Payne, Shriners Children's , Tender Care PPEC, encouragement, connections, and willingness to support this vision. There is also one other lady that has been so supportive Mrs. Betty Williams a board member from another private school.
And thank you to the people helping me build Aliyah’s Place from the inside:
💜 Yulanda Knight — Director
💜 Sabrina B Henley — Team Lead Assistant
💜 Nichole Collins — supporting this mission in so many ways
💜 Chris Staton— Board Member
💜 Azul Vaduva-Ali — Board Member
💜 Carolina Staton — sister in law supporting us in so many ways
💜 Coffin Trinkets for reaching out and supporting me as soon as she has found out and willing to help with merchandise!
💜 850 Wood working for hand making the game for the children and putting so much thought into it
The vendors that showed up for our first even!
Pink Marlin Bakery
BatterBlitz
Xtreme Lemonades and Dirty Sodas
Savage Sips & Libby’s Lemonade
Frederick Norris
All Hands In
And to everyone I may not have named, please know that I see and appreciate you too and comment!!
Even the support for Owensboro Kentucky!!
If you’ve shared one of my posts, told another family about Aliyah’s Place, attended Spirit Night, offered a business connection, sent an encouraging message, written a letter of support, congratulated me, prayed for us, or simply believed in this vision—
THANK YOU.
You are already becoming part of the village I’ve been trying to build.
And to the Pensacola businesses, organizations, healthcare providers, therapists, advocates, community leaders, and individuals who are seeing this:
I would love to connect with you.
Whether you can offer a partnership, sponsorship, donation, service, resource, referral, or simply help us spread the word, there is room in this village for you too.
Pensacola, I hear you. I see the need. And I am beyond ready to serve our children and families.
We’re getting there.
One day at a time. One family at a time. One village together. 💜
— Nicole Staton
Founder, Aliyah’s Place
📧 [email protected]
📞 850-501-5070
