The Booker T. Washington Development and Education Center is located in the heart of the City of Erie, PA and is focused on creating quality educational programs and resources available to the public. We offer after-school programs and other educational programming that invests in our youth and the future of our community. Named after Booker T the educator, writer, and speaker, who was an instrumental leader for the African-American community following the American Civil War. His autobiography, Up from Slavery, is still widely read today. Washington believed that the best means of improving conditions for people was education.