Each year, PEPS honors volunteers who shows deep commitment to parental support, enhance PEPS programming, serve their community, and inspire others to make volunteer service a meaningful part of their lives.
Category: Volunteers
Finding Connection in Co-Leading: What Two Group Leaders Learned From Each Other
By Avani Nadkarni, PEPS (Estimated reading time: 2 minutes) At PEPS, it’s not just the parents that can find meaningful connection — sometimes, the Group Leaders find that connection, as well. Recently, Elaine Walsh – PEPS Leader Training & Support Manager, mom of two and 20-time Group Leader, and Anushree Dasgupta – PEPS Leader Recruiter, a non-parent and first-time Group…
It was my first and won’t be the last: Reflections from a PEPS Group Leader
As a master’s student originally from Indonesia, Brigita never imagined that she’d spend her summer facilitating a parent-peer support group through PEPS. But she took a leap of faith and tried something out of her comfort zone by volunteering as a PEPS Group Leader. In the process, she not only provided support and community for a group of new parents, but also honed her facilitation, community-building, and English-speaking skills. Read Brigita’s reflections on her experience volunteering with PEPS.
A rewarding opportunity to add another experience to your repertoire. And it’s fun too!
As a group leader you create a safe space where parents can become parents together, where they can say raw feelings out loud, connect and build community is critical. Get inspired by Alison’s, Cindy’s, Chelsea’s and Carolyn’s take on co-leading their PEPS Groups.
Preparing for Baby: Emotional Changes and Challenges
by Kimberly Chan This post was originally published at https://www.oktobeimperfect.com/preparing-baby-emotional-changes-challenges/. Emotional changes and challenges should be expected with the arrival of a new baby. As I prepare to lead a PEPS Newborn group discussion on Emotional Changes and Challenges and prepare for the arrival of our second child, I want to share my approach with other new and expecting parents…
Co-leading, Sister-Style
Julia Calkins is a new PEPS Group leader! She and her husband Jeremy have been married for 4 years this summer. “Our little guy is 19 months old. We were in an evening group starting when Gus was about 8 weeks old and it was so helpful in so many ways!” she said. Like many PEPS parents, they didn’t have…
Table Captain Profile: Suz Fix
Suz Fix participated in a Newborn PEPS Group back in 2016. “During one of the most challenging (and joyful) times in my life, PEPS provided me with a safe and supportive environment where I could talk freely and connect with other new moms.” She decided to give back by being a volunteer leader for another PEPS Group, helping other new parents…
Featured Volunteer: Katja Petersen
Five years ago, Katja Petersen and her husband joined a PEPS group. “We are both originally from Mexico. When we were pregnant with our first child, we found ourselves with no support network. Thankfully, a friend of ours introduced us to PEPS,” Katja said. “The experience of being an immigrant is not easy because people we love are far away. We are forced to build relationships and connections with people that might not speak our language,…
Featured Volunteer: Elise Tumbas
Elise Tumbas is a PEPS Leader volunteering in 2018 to lead a Newborn Group for moms group that meets in the evenings in Woodinville. Elise moved to the area from New York in 2013 with a 6-week old and 22-month old in tow. “With no family or friends in the area – and two very small boys – I found…
Featured Volunteer: Marnee Crawford
by Marnee Crawford Back in 2002, before my son was born, my older sister told me about how fabulous her PEPS experience was. I knew that I wanted that same community and connection to neighborhood families who had babies around the same time we did. Sure enough, the day I showed up to the first meeting on a snowy December…