Photo by John F. Schreiber.

Kelly Crockett was a lifelong resident of Maryland until 2009, when she and her husband, Shane, relocated to Massachusetts for his work. As if moving away from the only place she'd ever lived wasn't enough, Kelly -- then a practicing attorney -- was also nine months' pregnant with their first child. Settling in to the new baby-new home-new life routine was about to be disrupted by another new announcement: Shane's job was transferring him to Charlotte, N.C., for six months. So the new family 

of three headed south for a half year until they finally returned to Massachusetts in September 2010. Since then, Kelly has worked hard to make their new house a real home, and Jewish Family Network has been a large part of her journey. Kelly and Shane shine in this picture with their daughters, Julianna (2 1/2 years) and Morgan (4 months). 

How did you first hear about Jewish Family Network?

When I was in Charlotte, N.C., for those six months (my second huge move in less than a year) with a brand-new baby, not having any friends or family in the area, I searched out "mom playgroups" on the Internet. I found a very interesting website called Meet-up.com and joined a moms' group that was exactly what I was looking for. The only thing better would have been if there had been a Jewish aspect to the group or a Jewish moms' group that I could have also joined, but I could not find one in my search on the Internet.

When I returned to Massachusetts, I searched the same website for "Jewish mom playgroups" and found the group that was run by Julie Rubin, [then the South-area connector for Jewish Family Network]. I was excited to find such a group in my area. I attended a couple of playground meet-ups and got connected to JFN.

Our family attended a couple of JFN holiday events, and they were really fantastic. I felt that even for a 2-year-old, my daughter really got something spiritual out of the holiday events and their activities.

I am very excited to start back up the Meet-up.com site that was formerly maintained by Julie Rubin. It will be a way for me to connect with existing JFN members and also reach out to new members. 

Have you always been involved in Jewish organizations or the Jewish community where you lived? 

Attending Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville, Md., a large part of the curriculum was Jewish studies. I used to go with my grandfather to Shabbat services and that is one of my fondest childhood memories. I have always enjoyed and sought out the camaraderie of Jewish friends, working at a Jewish summer camp between my junior and senior year of high school, being active in the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization, and attending numerous Hillel and Chabad activities in college. 

I found myself again seeking out a connection with other Jewish families when I had my children. We are still in the process of finding a synagogue to join, but even once we become members of a synagogue, I feel my family will really benefit from an extended Jewish community: playgroups for my daughters, parent activities for my husband and me, and a chance to get to know my surrounding areas while enjoying the company of other Jewish families.

What do you hope to bring to people in the South area as their new connector? And what are you looking for personally?

I hope to bring to the Jewish families of the South area an excitement about getting together for activities, whether that is just meeting for coffee, park meet-ups, visits to area attractions, or one of our larger multi-area Sunday events. I welcome any family in the South area to contact me with ideas for events or willingness to host playgroups or other types of meet-ups.

Personally, I hope to make new friends for myself and for my children. I hope to have more friends in the area who I can celebrate the Jewish holidays with.

Have you always known it would be important to you to raise your children with a strong sense of the Jewish community?

Absolutely. I come from an interfaith family. I also married a man who is not Jewish but who agreed to raise our children in the Jewish faith. My husband is pretty amazing in that regard. When I was pregnant with my second daughter and not feeling up to taking my oldest to the JFN Tu B'Shevat holiday event, my husband took her on his own. They had a great time. My husband felt very welcome and enjoyed the event organizer, [the JCC's Penni Rochwerger], educating the attendees about the holiday.

I have always enjoyed being a part of the Jewish community. I remember during law school being on a study-abroad program in Curacao in the Netherlands Antilles. I was one of only a handful of Jewish students among a group of 60 or so. The local rabbi, hearing that there were some Jewish students on this trip, invited us to his home for a Shabbat dinner. I want to instill this sense of hospitality and kindness and desire to be part of the greater Jewish community in my children. I believe that being part of the greater Jewish community  will have a lasting and meaningful impact on my children.

Join Kelly's Meet-up.com page or contact her at kcrockett@jfsmw.org. She'd love to hear from you!