Family-owned and Operated Business
Elzadie B. Smith (“Zadie”) is the Owner/Founder and Executive Director of Zadie’s Nurturing Den in Summit and Zadie’s of the Oranges and Zadie’s Early Childhood Center in East Orange.
Zadie was born and raised in Tifton, Georgia. She and her husband of more than 40 years, G. Winston Smith, and their three children, resided in Decatur, Georgia, until her husband’s job transferred him to New Jersey. Relocating to Summit proved to be a life-changing event for the Smith family.
With children ages ten months to 11 years, Zadie was tasked with finding child care comparable to the attentive care her oldest child received down South. After years of settling for what she considered less-than-ideal care, Zadie decided to build what she desired. Thus began her vision of providing high-quality care for children in a home-like environment.
Three months after attending a session at Programs for Parents, a federally funded program, and learning the basics of running a home-based child care business, Zadie was nurturing her first five families and their babies in her home. As word spread of her exceptional services, the number of children under her care grew to more than 20. This sudden increase resulted in her caring for and educating children at several locations throughout Summit. Zadie decided it was time to find her business a forever home. Building a brand new state-of-the-art facility from scratch proved both challenging and rewarding. Zadie was determined to ensure her new home reflected her deep commitment to nurturing and education. Zadie’s Nurturing Den, located at 1 Walnut Street, opened for operation in the fall of 2001.
Zadie, her beloved family, and her deeply dedicated staff remain intensely focused on delivering high-quality, academically focused early care and education to children of parents pursuing their personal or professional goals.
We welcome you to become a part of Zadie’s family today!