Happy New Year Everyone!
The new year is bringing a new phase for the Birth Circle this year, most notably that this is my first email as the new Director of the Birth Circle. For those of you who don’t know me, I am a stay at home mom to Lucia (4) and Violet (3 months). I moved to a little parcel in Wayne National Forest in 2013 with my partner and tiny bump of a first trimester baby. We have since added various animals, way too many home improvement projects, and two daughters, both born in swift and beautiful home births attended by several of our amazing local midwives and doulas. We chose Athens County in part to be close to family but also because we had heard about the wonderful support of the Birth Circle and the sustainably minded community with good access to fresh local food! I am passionate about empowering women in general, and specifically in the areas of childbirth and rearing, breastfeeding, and owning our reproductive health and mental well-being. I became involved in Birth Circle monthly meetings soon after moving to Athens county while pregnant with Lucia and joined the Board in 2014. I have worked (and so far still serve) as the Meals for Families coordinator for the last two years and have helped with many Birth Circle events and fundraisers over the years. In my spare time I enjoys knitting, sewing, and reading. The Birth Circle was instrumental in supporting my family through the first few years of parenthood and I am excited to further that work in the community.
A huge thank you to Claudia for her years of service to the Birth Circle, and to all who joined us though donations and participating in JIVE! to make our end of the year fundraising a success! Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to continue our programing and outreach efforts to provide a nurturing community for our families. I am looking forward to a fresh beginning in 2018 and beg your patience as I learn how to fill this position that Claudia fulfilled so capably. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you feel that a conversation you started with the Birth Circle in 2017 has fallen through the cracks during the transition!
Ariel Carver
Executive Director, The Birth Circle
www.athensbirthcircle.com
JIVE! 2017
Thank you to all who volunteered, attended, donated raffle prizes, played music, and sponsored our annual JIVE! Fundraiser, we could not do the work we do without your support!
THANKS TO OUR JIVE! SPONSORS!!
Special thanks to:
Athena Grand
Athens CASA/GAL
Athens Mini Maestros
Avalanche Pizza
Bodhi Tree Guest House
Carmilla Butcher – Matilda Jane Clothing
Casa Nueva
Donkey Coffee
Factory Street Studio
Friendly Paws Pet Supplies
GoBus
Kiser’s
Real World Organizing
Salaam
Shagbark Seed & Mill
Snowville Creamery
Michelle Stobart/Inhale Yoga
White’s Mill
YOUNG MOMS’ GROUP
Date and Time to be announced, stay tuned on our Facebook page!
We hope to gather later this month for some play and socializing, we hope to see you there!
January Monthly Meeting
Wednesday January 31st, 7:00-8:30 pm at the Athens Library
Jennifer Cain, Tammy Hogsett, and Cathye Williams of Hopewell Health and Help Me Grow will join us to talk about a variety of early childhood topics. Come learn about the early intervention and special education services offered by Help Me Grow as well as a discussion about creating supportive routines and parenting strategies to help toddlers through difficult transitions and emotions.
MEALS FOR FAMILIES (formerly Meals For Moms)
Let The Birth Circle community cook for you! If you’ve just had a baby, if you are going through another type of transition in your family, or have experienced a loss, The Birth Circle is more than happy to organize a meal calendar to help support you. If you are interested in receiving meals, providing meals or both, please contact our Meals For Families Coordinator, Ariel Carver at arielrose.carver@gmail.com for more information.
