Afro-centric pride brings village mindset to day care
When Danielle Tucker opened ProVisionAry Childcare earlier this year, she was answering a call she says came from both faith and motherhood. The licensed family child care provider, located in North Minneapolis, offers care for children from six weeks to 10 years old in a culturally affirming, home-based environment.
Tucker said she was inspired to start the business after becoming a mother and realizing she needed both financial stability and flexibility. “Being a parent made me realize I needed to earn more income and have the flexibility to be a mom first,” she said. “Believing that I could do it came from my faith that God will provide.”
That belief inspired the name ProVisionAry: a blend of “professional” and “visionary.” Tucker’s approach merges creativity, faith and community. “It’s child care that comes with a village mindset,” she said. “We’re intentional about making every child feel seen, valued and safe.”
Licensed in April 2025, Tucker runs the day care from her brown, wood-toned home near Theodore Wirth Park. The space features warm natural hues, child-sized furniture, books displayed at eye level, and even a mirror to greet families upon arrival… an intentional design to “affirm their beauty and value,” she said.
While this is her first formal year in child care, Tucker’s experience with children stretches back nearly two decades. She began working with the YMCA in 2007 as an after-school teacher, later serving as a youth support specialist and program director. She is also currently completing training toward Montessori certification, which she expects to finish in May 2026.
Tucker’s program, called “Royal Reign,” emphasizes cultural pride and inclusivity. She notes that North Minneapolis currently lacks Afro-centric or Montessori-inspired family child care options.
“Parents don’t have to explain or apologize for their child’s differences here,” she said. “The environment already meets them where they are.”
ProVisionary Childcare is licensed for up to 10 children, though Tucker currently cares for four. Tuition is $350 per week, with plans to accept child care assistance for qualifying families. She hopes to expand into a larger facility within the next year and eventually train staff as her program grows.
For more information, contact provisionary14@gmail.com or call 612-470-4182.
Scott Selmer is a contributing writer for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. He welcomes reader responses to sselmer@spokesman-recorder.com.