Alliance Center for Education, affectionately known as AC4Ed, was formerly known as Bethlehem Center of Charlotte until a rebranding in 2020. Bethlehem Center was founded in 1940 by the United Methodist Women in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Charlotte to provide much-needed childcare and support to mothers during WWII. This support was greatly needed and expanded over the next several years. In 1956, services expanded into the Southside, Brookhill, and Wilmore Communities, offering Charlotte’s first free kindergarten programs, activities for school-age children and other family enrichment services. Today, AC4Ed operates in 12 Center locations across Charlotte, serving more than 800 families daily.