PJ Library excited to introduce three Parent Connectors
PJ Connectors provide connections to families with young children
PJ Library Minneapolis is excited to announce the hiring of three Parent Connectors who will be engaging with parents of children ages 0-3 this year.
The three positions are funded by a PJ Library Implementing Partner Engagement Grant from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation to expand and deepen engagement opportunities for families raising Jewish children. This is the second year Minneapolis received this grant.
“We’re so excited to be expanding this unique opportunity to connect families with young children in the Jewish community,” said Carrie Fink, PJ Library Program Coordinator. “The pandemic has caused families and parents to feel isolated and alone. The Parent Connectors will be building relationships through virtual parent chats, story times, and outdoor physically-distant gatherings. Programs will be offered on both weekdays and weekends to accommodate parent schedules.
The three PJ Parent Connectors are Lauren Schefman, Terri Lindenbaum, and Haley Lerner.
Lauren Schefman is returning for a second year as a Parent Connector. She is a kindergarten teacher turned stay-at-home mom to almost 2-year-old Talya. She has loved spending these early years of motherhood finding fun baby and toddler friendly activities around town and meeting lots of new friends with young children. Lauren, her husband, Michael, Talya and pup Gemma live in Plymouth.
Terri and her husband, Elan, moved to Minneapolis in 2015 from Madison. She worked at the University of Minnesota as a landscape designer, then as a Gopher assistant rowing coach, and is now full-time at home with their son, Noah (16 months), and soon-to-be sibling come November. Terri’s path to Judaism came later in life, and she is excited to share the joys of Jewish life with families of all backgrounds raising Jewish children. Terri and her family live in south Minneapolis, where you can find them running or biking the many beautiful trails in the city.
Brand new mama to her 3-month-old daughter, Eliza, Haley is thrilled to be one of the Parent Connectors this year! Originally from Milwaukee, Haley has called Minneapolis home for the past 10 years. She, her husband, Oliver, and Eliza live in Golden Valley. Before her most recent promotion to mom, Haley worked as an educator in the non-profit sector and an event planner in the corporate world. In between all of that, she also kneaded and braided dough day in and day out for her home bakery, Challot by Haley. Haley loves throwing Shabbat dinners for her friends and family, cabin weekends in the north woods and long walks with Eliza through her neighborhood parks.
Lauren, Terri, and Haley will be reaching out to families with little ones ages 0-3 to start building connections and hearing from what parents what their needs are. You can also get a chance to meet them at our next virtual Shalom Baby Circle Time on Sunday, Oct. 25. They are looking forward to spending time with you!
PJ Library Minneapolis is a program of Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis’ (JFCS). It is an international award-winning program designed to strengthen Jewish identity by sending Jewish-content books and music on a monthly basis to children from age 6 months through 8 years. PJ Library also hosts regular community events for families. Shalom Baby welcomes families of newborns and babies, up to age 2, to the Jewish community.