Justice for TJ & A Step Ahead Daycare

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A STEP AHEAD: The Story of One Woman, One Daycare, and a System That Turned Its Back

We’re raising funds to help TJ Parker challenge a devastating $405,000 judgment — issued without a full trial — and fight to reclaim the legacy her mother built.

Read TJ's full account of what happened to her HERE.

For over 35 years, A Step Ahead Learning Center was a beloved, Black-owned pillar of Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood — providing affordable, nurturing care to families across generations. Founded by Regina Parker, a single mother determined to create a space where working parents could find quality, compassionate childcare, it grew from a nursery serving 10 children to a thriving center with five classrooms and 71 kids.

Her daughter, TJ Parker, took over and poured her life into continuing that legacy. She didn’t just run the daycare — she embodied it. A teacher, a mentor, a second mother to hundreds of kids. For many families, TJ and her center were lifelines.

But what started with a leak in the ceiling in 2015 unraveled into something far worse. The landlord refused to fix the damage. Despite years of calls, texts, and pleas, the leaks grew. Water damaged walls, shelves, books, photos, and eventually forced TJ to close most of the center’s space — displacing dozens of children.

When she asked for rent relief on unusable spaces, the landlord took her to court.

What followed is a textbook case of judicial failure:

At a Use and Occupancy hearing — meant only to determine temporary rent— the judge improperly entered a final $405,000 judgment against TJ.
No full trial ever occurred. TJ’s attorney tried to show proof of payment, communication, and damages — but the judge cut her off, saying “No. No. You -- everybody had their opportunity to testify...We don't really need to see much more...”
TJ’s defenses, including her right to argue constructive eviction, were barred through a partial summary judgment.
Key evidence — including texts, photos, videos, and financial records — was left out during summary proceedings and never reviewed by the court.
Though TJ had paid for a jury trial, legal mishandlings and procedural tactics (“304 language”) locked in the judgment without a fair hearing. A partial summary judgment barred her from presenting evidence at trial — making the path forward feel impossible.

Read the transcript from this hearing. Ask yourself if TJ was given a fair chance to plead her case.

April 2025

That judgment has now frozen TJ’s accounts, shut down her business, and barred her from removing even classroom materials or toys. The ruling followed her, even though the building remains unrepaired. And by leveraging a rare procedural maneuver (“304 language”), the landlord made sure that what should’ve been a temporary order became legally binding — without trial, without testimony, and without her defense.

TJ is now liable for every item in that building. As she explained: “Anything that I take out of the center is considered an asset.” Unless a judge declares an item has no value, she risks further legal action simply for reclaiming what she built.

TJ’s loss is not just financial. It’s spiritual.

It’s the erasure of her mother’s dream. It’s the collapse of a space built with hands and hope. It’s the heartbreak of being told, by the system you trusted, that your truth doesn’t matter.

And yet: she’s still standing.

This is where we need YOU.

TJ is now seeking legal support to file a motion to vacate the judgment and explore what recourse, if any, remains. She’s not asking for charity — she’s asking for justice.

Your contribution helps her fight that fight.

Sincerely,

Daycare Parents & Friends of TJ and A Step Ahead

A Message from TJ

My name is TJ, and A Step Ahead Learning Center is more than a daycare — it’s my mother’s dream, and my life’s calling.

My mother came to this country from Africa with nothing but a stick doll in her hands and a dream in her heart. As a single parent, she knew how hard it was to find affordable, trustworthy childcare. That struggle inspired her to create something better — a place where working families could bring their children and know they were safe, nurtured, and learning.

I watched her build that dream from the ground up. She laid tile, painted walls, built shelves, took classes, and taught herself everything about early childhood education. What started as a scorched, empty space became a warm, joyful nursery for 10 children. Over the years, it grew into A Step Ahead Learning Center, serving more than 70 children across five classrooms — a home away from home for generations of families in Uptown.

When my mother passed, I carried on her work. Teaching gave me purpose and peace. The laughter of children, their hugs, their wonder — it reminded me every day why we began.

For over 35 years, we’ve been part of this community’s fabric. We’ve helped children grow, supported parents, and created a space filled with love and learning.

But now, I’m fighting to save that legacy.

What began as a small leak in the ceiling turned into years of damage — to our building, to our enrollment, and to the families we serve. I begged the landlord to make repairs. I offered solutions. I kept paying what I could. But instead of helping, he took me to court.

In that courtroom, the landlord lied — and the judge wouldn’t even let me speak. I had proof: photos, receipts, texts, reports. But I was silenced. I was ordered to pay rent on spaces I couldn’t use. And now, I’m facing a $405,000 judgment that has frozen my accounts and shut down the center.

As a Black woman and small business owner, I have never felt more invisible. I’ve poured everything I have into this place — my savings, my strength, my heart — and it’s being taken from me without a chance to defend myself.

I’m not asking for sympathy. I’m asking for a fair shot — a chance to be heard, to clear my name, and to rebuild.

Your support will help cover the legal fees that stand between me and that chance. Whether you donate or simply share this story, I’m grateful.

I won’t give up. I can’t. My mother wouldn’t have. And neither will I.

Thank you for standing with me.

– TJ

You can see more photos and videos of the damage here.