Program conceived to connect new parents

By Faren Hochman (VP, Outreach)

As offices and schools were vacated and plans were canceled, many assumed a COVID baby boom would arrive in early 2021. The number of children in my house doubled, and plenty of Jewish babies were indeed born in our community. Along with all these babies, a new program offered by the Jewish Federation of Edmonton was born—Shalom Baby.

Last summer, Sarah Troster and I hosted outreach focus groups with young professionals. During our Zoom sessions, the seed of a Shalom Baby program was planted. Throughout the pandemic, it grew and grew, until finally Shalom Baby was born into our community this past July.

Modeled after the Shalom Baby initiatives seen at many Federations across North America, this outreach program welcomes newborns and their parents into the Jewish community.

More specifically, Shalom Baby Edmonton is designed to connect parents with other members of the Edmonton Jewish community, to offer Jewish content activities for parents and their babies, and to provide tools and resources to parents and families.

The Federation team secured support for the program through a competitive PJ Library Engagement grant, as well as grant funding from the Government of Alberta’s Ministry of Community and Social Services.

Anika Zepp, a first-time mom, is currently working alongside Jenn Magalnick, Federation Jewish education and engagement specialist. As a parent connector, Anika’s roles are to help organize events (e.g., meet-ups, speakers on relevant postpartum topics), to invite new parents to the program, to connect families and their babies to community organizations that align with their values, and to promote baby and child-friendly activities and programs happening within the community. The inaugural Shalom Baby Edmonton event took place in mid-July. Seven new mothers and their babies met at the Federation office, on the second floor balcony. They socialized over muffins and coffee, sharing the highs and lows of their week. In August, 12 moms and babies attended another meet-up over sandwiches. In October, programming shifted to a virtual platform, featuring a tot Shabbat hosted by Cantor David Mannes. The program included Shabbat songs, as well as an opportunity for socialization.

Shalom Baby Edmonton is also arranging for participants to receive a “welcome baby” package.

Gift bags are being hand-assembled to include contributions shared on behalf of organizations in the local Jewish community. Featured items may include a PJ library baby book, hand-knit or crocheted hat, milestone cards, bibs, onesies, and other Jewish baby resources.

If you or someone you know has had a baby within the past year, please contact Anika (anikazepp@ gmail.com) or Jenn (magalj@edjfed.org) to receive your welcome baby gift and to register for upcoming programs.

Members of Shalom Baby met in person mid-July and the number has grown for each meeting since the launch of the program.