|
|
|
A Newsletter from Baby's Space February, 2012 Volume 3, Issue 2 |
|
Baby's Space is a holistic, research-based approach to infant through 3rd grade education, adolescent mental health services and support for children and families residing in poverty and violence. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Baby's Space Announces
2012 Growth Plans
Dear Friends,
Baby's Space provides child development programming from the baby's point-of-view, creating successful children and families and transforming neighborhoods of poverty. We offer childcare, family services from pregnancy to third grade and year-round public kindergarten through third-grade education at Tatanka Academy. With evidence that the Baby's Space approach ensures success of children, we are becoming a national model.
For the past few years, we have worked on regional and national expansion. Initially our efforts focused on expansion on White Earth Indian Reservation and Northside Child Development Center in North Minneapolis where components of our model are implemented with success. Other regions of the state and country continue to seek information about our model and opportunities for replication.
While our initial efforts were based on a brand replication, we have found it's easier for organizations to build the model through components rather than trying to achieve our full-service model all at once. In response, we have created a Limited Liability Company to oversee product development, dissemination and training. By the end of 2012, we'll offer Baby's Space training curriculum, learning environments and parent education products.
To manage this new growth phase, the Baby's Space Board of Directors is in the process of hiring an Executive Director to lead the Little Earth and Tatanka Academy direct services.
Strengthening and broadening our leadership team is an important step for Baby's Space, a premier Minnesota-based public sector organization. We look forward to introducing the new Executive Director to you at March 2nd event at the Walker Art Museum.
Best Regards,
Terrie Rose
Founder and President |
|
|
Edina Girls Hockey Team Visits
Thanks to the Edina High School girls hockey team for reading to our students and for the generous donation of books. |
Meegwiitch, Brother, Magkway
Tatanka Academy's second- and third grade students worked with Native American artists to learn about the art of storytelling. 
The six-week program integrated oral storytelling into videography. It was taught by Tiana LaPointe and Cochise Anderson, American Indian artists-in-residence,
of MIGIZI Communications, Inc. at the University of Minnesota.
The highlight of the program was a performance of Meegwiitch, Brother Magkway or Thank You, Brother Bear with a video documentation of students sharing their life experiences. The performance was attended by 60 Tatanka families and community members. |
|
|
|
|
Heroes Pat and Molly Cronin Family
 | | A baby enjoying the gifts shared by the Cronins |
For Pat and Molly Cronin, frequently dropping off gently-used high chairs, strollers and toys to Baby's Space has turned into a new holiday tradition. Every December the Cronins, along with their three children, Claire, age 9, Tommy, age 7 and Patch, age 5, visit Lakeshore Learning to purchase gifts for Baby's Space. The Cronin children each chose gifts from the Baby's Space wish list that resonate with them as items the children at Baby's Space will enjoy.
For parents Pat and Molly, it's an opportunity to support Baby's Space while developing a fun and meaningful holiday tradition for their family.
"We support Baby's Space because we know the organization is really making an impact with at-risk children," said Molly Cronin. "Buying holiday gifts has many benefits, including those for our family. We slow down and spend time together talking about our own blessings. Our whole family shops and delivers the gifts. For our children, it's a time where they focus on what someone else would like rather than on what they want."
The Cronin family made their second-annual visit in December, 2011 to deliver gifts. The family visited the classrooms and the Cronin children made a meaningful connection about the value of their gifts as they watched the children play with the toys.
Thanks to our heroes - Pat, Molly, Clare, Tommy and Patch Cronin. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MAKE AN IMPACT
Annual FUNdraiser is March 2
Attend a Party and Save a Life
Baby's Space Annual FUNdraiser
 Walker Art Center
March 2, 2012
6:00 to 8:30 p.m.
6:00 to 7:00 p.m. features an Art Auction
Complimentary Martinis
Black & White Informal Attire |
|
|
|
New Board Chair and Members
The Baby's Space board of directors elected Chris Bray (pictured left) as chairperson and welcomed new board member Mary Werbalowsky (right). Also joining the board of directors, but not pictured, Andrea Mueller.
|
|
To Donate to Baby's Space
Click below on the >donate icon and be directed to giveMN.org, a secure way to donate and 100% of your gift goes to Baby's Space. If you prefer to contact us directly, download our Baby's Space Donation Form for credit card and check donations that may be sent directly to us. Thank you!
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
