About us

Our goal is to provide children a safe, caring, and educational environment with a focus on instilling Islamic values, such as charity, respect for elders, compassion for others, the importance of education and, most importantly, love of God and His Prophet.

Crescent Learning Center is in the heart of Milwaukee’s Muslim community, near the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, Salam School and many Muslim-owned businesses on Milwaukee’s south side. The 7,500-square-foot center is licensed to provide care for up to 114 children (94 during the day and 20 in evening hours), ages 6 weeks to 14 years old, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Its diverse staff includes Palestinians, Egyptians, Indians, Pakistanis, Moroccans, Burmese, Somalis, Rohingya and African Americans, including teachers who can support students who speak Arabic, Somali, Burmese, Urdu and French, in addition to English. 

 
 

  • Rafat Arain

    OWNER / ADMINISTRATOR / DIRECTOR

    Rafat is a well-known leader in Milwaukee’s Muslim community. She has served more than 20 years on the shura, the leading board, of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, at 8th and Layton, Wisconsin’s largest Muslim organization. She served on the ISM’s task force that pursued the development of the Masjid al Noor, ISM-West, in Brookfield. She has served on the shura of the Dawah Center since the 1990s, and is a longtime member of the shura at Masjid Al Quran.

    Arain has also worked for years with Catholic Services and Lutheran Social Services to support refugees. She is an active participant in Milwaukee’s interfaith community and is known for her devoted work to help refugees, the poor and underserved.

  • Sayma Haroon

    ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

    Sayma debuted as a lead teacher at Crescent Learning Center. After having her interest in childcare rejuvenated, she made the decision to enroll in the MATC Early Childhood Program for an Associate Degree. Working as a lead teacher and a fulltime student, she determined to take her professional journey as an educator even further. She has now been the Assistant Director at Crescent Learning Center for the past five years.

 

 
 

Rated 4-Star in the YoungStar quality rating program

 

“As a Muslim-oriented childcare facility, we give witness to the belief in the presence of God in our support of moral and spiritual principles of living.”


— Rafat Arain, Director and Founder of Crescent Learning Center