Bed-Stuy Preschool Founder 'Mama Fela' Wins $200K Prize

BED-STUY, BROOKLYN — A preschool founder Bed-Stuy residents might know best as "Mama Fela" was one of five New Yorkers chosen for this year's David Prize, a $200,000 award for changemakers in the city, the organization announced.

Fela Barclift, who founded Little Sun People preschool four decades ago, was chosen for the award from a group of thousands of nominations from across the city, which was ultimately narrowed to 22 finalists, according to the organization.

She will be given the $200,000 over the course of two years to help expand Little Sun People, which she started in her brownstone in 1981 after struggling to find a daycare with racial representation for her daughter.

The money will help Barclift achieve her dream of building an elementary school based on the preschool's mission and writing an Afrocentric curriculum book to be used by other schools, she said.

“...Winning the Prize will help ensure that this work is codified so that other institutions and future generations can see the power of learning about African culture and history from an early age," Barclift said in a press release.

Barclift was one of five winners of the 2021 David Prize, which is named for David C. Walentas, the founder of the real estate group Two Trees Management Company.

Other winners include activist and current Council Member Carlos Menchaca staffer Cesar Vargas, former inmate turned advocate Five Mualimm-ak, foster care nonprofit worker Felicia Wilson and Jaime-Jin Lewis, who founded a company aimed at helping home-based childcare workers.

“With all of the daunting issues our city is facing today, I’m encouraged by the tremendous plans from our winners and finalists this year that promise to bring tangible change to their communities,” said David Prize Executive Director Erika Boll. “...We look forward to seeing how they all continue to make the city a better place to live, work, and visit."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.