Hidden Gems: Meet Certura Dowdy of Authentic Experiences Family Service Child Care Center

Today we’d like to introduce you to Certura Dowdy.

Hi Certura, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am an educator, I started the introduction to this journey in high school. My work study assignment in my junior year was in a child care center preschool classroom, where I was impressed with how much a child could absorb and learn very young. Years later after the quest to change job responsibilities I began to take evening classes to license my home for child care, which became a passion to dive deeper in the industry, taking trainings, receiving a CDA, becoming the 1st NAFFC HOME in my city, and enrolling in college to receive an Associate degree in early childhood. I maintained my home license for 10 years 1999-2009 next added the transition from home child care to helping a friend manage her child care centers. This offered flexibility and the continuous path for seeking my bachelors degree in ECE, and the journey to open a small center, I maintained that space for 10 years,2009-2019 then the transition to open another much larger location Covid hit slowing the process I kept the doors open to essential working families while starting the renovation process to finally open in 2021. This became the task of owning 2 locations which worked for a few years, I renovated the lower level of the new location to add children and made the decision to close the 1st smaller location the end of 2025. Since that time the focus has become establishing a brand and quality center to serve children and families. In 2025 I have licensed my home once again in a new location providing child care service to 3rd shift working families and occasional travel care service. Early 2026 I created a children’s coloring book series that provides an early introduction to college particularly HBCU colleges, it is in the process for publishing. As the child care center runs on systems that now free my time up. Presently in 2026 I have obtained my substitute teaching license to serve in various school districts and make a difference on another platform. I also am currently seeking to be a part of the keep children out of foster care system, by providing relief time to families. My journey is always evolving as my passion for children continues to be the goals I set for myself.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
This journey has not been a smooth road, The challenges were juggling raising a family, attending college later in life which took extended years to complete and remaining committed to the task at hand which all required mental strength and commitment.

We’ve been impressed with Authentic Experiences Family Service Child care center, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Provide quality child care services to working families, while providing Authentic Experiences that allow children to be children and mirror what childhood once looked like (ex) retro games, and materials displayed. The extended goal is to empower children self esteem by providing resources and materials that serve as an an early introduction to college, particularly HBCU colleges…under the brand of Historically Black Child Care United where I have created coloring book series depicting the early introduction to college “from the crib to the campus “

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
The outcome from putting the dedicated work in to achieve a vision

Pricing:

• $20 for each individual coloring book
• Promotional Bundle 3 for $50

Contact Info:

• Website: https://aechildcareservices.com