Roosevelt Island Parents' Network 2015 Year In Review - 530 Members, Education Workshops, Crafts For Kids, Moms On The Move, Issue Advocacy, Salsa Night Out, Information Exchange & More

Roosevelt Island Parents' Network Coordinator Eva Bosbach reports:

Image Of RIPN Members And Kids At Four Freedoms Park

Dear RI Parents,

As another year draws to a close, many of us reflect upon the things that matter most to us. Our families and our community are the focus of every holiday season. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to you for being part of the RI Parents' Network and making it what it has become.

We have now 530 members and look back on many events and get-togethers in 2015 that would not be possible without the dedication, kindness, volunteering efforts and community spirit of many of you. Thank you!

We met monthly for our "Crafts with Kids" workshops that included a "Valentine's Craft", "St Patrick's Craft", "Earth Day Craft", "Easter Craft", "Mother's Day Craft", "Father's Day Craft", "Summer craft - a lady bug", a "Back to school craft", a "Halloween craft", a "Lantern making workshop" a "Thanksgiving Craft", and most recently a "Holiday Craft".

Every week moms went for walks and then enjoyed exercise and chats outside or in playrooms during the RI Moms on the Move (RI MoM) events.

We went out to leave the Island! ;) for a Salsa Night Out, a Mommy-lunch, a night out with drinks and a comedy show, and met here on RI for several Potluck Family Picnics. We got together for many Playroom Share Projects during the first months of the year and for a few now that the winter is slowly turning in again.

During two "Parents for Parents" workshops we learned about "Sleep: from Newborn to Preschool age", and about the choices when "Choosing the Kindergarten for your child".

We partnered with other Island organizations for their events and are thankful to all our sponsors. I am looking forward to many exciting events in the upcoming year! Please save the date for our New Year's Brunch on January 10, from 11am to 1pm at the 475 lounge.

Another part of our activities was advocacy for the needs of Island families like the functionality of the Tram elevators or Pre-K programs on the Island. We interacted with RIOC and other Island organizations and as a member of the RI Community Coalition (RICC) added the voice of our member families to negotiations with Cornell in regards to the new campus.

Perhaps most importantly, the RI Parents' Network continued to serve as a free information exchange platform and a support network for all interested Island families.

Thank you all for your contributions within this parents' community!

I wish you all Happy Holidays as well as a healthy and joyful year 2016 with lots of energy, sleep and love.

Cheers! :)

Feel free to contact us for more information on the Roosevelt Island Parents' Network.