PEPS group 2019
Greetings, PEPS family!

A new decade has me reflecting on the last one, and wow, it was a big ten years for me. Personally, the beginning of 2010 was when I got pregnant with my daughter Violet. My son Owen came three years later. Becoming a mother changed just about everything for me, including my career. When Violet was born, I had a job that required me to be on-call 24-7 and it was no match for motherhood. It forced me to look for different opportunities, including volunteering for PEPS, which led me to a role on staff.
 
Now, ten years later, I feel so fortunate to be leading the organization in a new strategic direction. Community and connection are still at the center of everything we do at PEPS, and we're approaching our work in new and innovative ways. We prioritize equity, diversity, and inclusion - in our organizational policies, processes, and in our programs. We strive for PEPS Groups to be a safe place where every person belongs and where the diversity of identities, perspectives, and experiences are honored and celebrated.
 
It's going to be a big year at PEPS, with a lot of foundation building for new initiatives that will become part of who we are over the next decade. I hope that you'll join us on Tuesday, March 10 for our Annual Luncheon, where we'll be sharing more about our work and how you can stay involved.
 
Here's to taking time to reflect AND approaching the future in bold new ways.
 
In community,
Dana Guy
Executive Director
Resources & Inspiration
The Top 5 Stories of 2019 - A Look Back on Your Favorites

We've pulled together the five most highly-read articles of 2019 for you...

Read more
blog.peps.org
Crushing Your Goals in 2020

It's a new year, and for many people that means a fresh start...

Read more
blog.peps.org
Does the snow have you scrambling for ways to keep your kids busy? Check out these 25 Indoor and Outdoor Activities from our partner, ParentMap!
upcoming events
Mark Your Calendars for Tuesday, March 10!

Each year, Luncheon guests help PEPS to raise critical funds to keep and expand our programs, helping new parents across the region. Please consider joining us! Save the date, bring a friend or two, and lunch with us!

As always, babes in arms are welcome. And, for those with toddlers and preschoolers, there will be FREE childcare! Our friends from College Sitters will be providing complimentary childcare for children 18 months to 5 years old, offering toys, books, and fun activities for kids on site at the Seattle Children's Theatre while you enjoy the social hour and your lunch. All sitters are First Aid and CPR trained. To learn more, visit our FAQs page.

We look forward to sharing a fun and inspiring afternoon with you!
What PEPS parents are saying…

“…being a parent was an area where I didn't have community…I can't imagine being a parent or going through this process without PEPS.” – PEPS Participant
Grandparent event December 2019
Last month, PEPS grandparents gathered with local educator, Leilani Raglin, who led a conversation on 'Talking About Race and Cultural Differences with Young Children'. Leilani is a former PEPS group participant and board member, and currently consults with businesses and organizations on diversity, equity, and inclusion.  

We had a moving and thoughtful discussion about intersectionality - especially on how class and race often go hand-in-hand.  The takeaways? Here are a few...
  • Make space for kids to be kids.
  • Children begin noticing race as early as six months old, so the sooner we introduce books and take them to diverse places, the better.
  • Books and media are especially effective methods to spark dialogue about race in low stakes situations.
  • Be vigilant about saying ‘yes’ to culturally diverse spaces, activities, and groups - and ‘no’ to homogeneous ones.
  • Encourage kids’ curiosities around recognizing and speaking to difference. 
  • Be willing to make mistakes and model making mistakes when talking about race. Perfectionism has no place in this very important work.

Thank you to Leilani for sharing her time and knowledge with us!
Zoe Barker-Aderem, the Donor Relations Manager at Program for Early Parent Support
A Warm Welcome to Zoe!

Zoe is one of our newest members of the PEPS staff, joining us recently as the Donor Relations Manager. Zoe is responsible for building relationships with financial supporters, managing campaigns and organizing events like our Annual Luncheon (have you saved your seat yet?!).

She is thrilled to be a small part of assisting the thousands of families in our community as they begin their journey as parents. Get to know Zoe or if you're interested in sharing your PEPS story with her, connect with Zoe here.
PEPS Sponsors & Partners
Toddler sitting in a wicker chair flipping through a book
WA529 is proud to be a PEPS sponsor because they are passionate about helping families set their children up for future success. We all want to encourage our kids to dream big. By planning ahead when they are young, you can help them reach their future goals. The gift of education is a gift that keeps on giving.

Visit the WA529 table at this year’s luncheon and learn more about how to make your child’s dream a reality.