We hope this message finds you well — enjoying the coziness of winter and glimpses of sunshine through the literal and figurative clouds.

Whether you’ve been following along since 2007, or have just joined the Recess Family in the last few weeks, we are so glad you’re here.

If you’re reading this, you already know the power of connection and community. In a culture that so often emphasizes individuality, organizations like Recess remind us how essential it is to lean on one another.

Regardless of how we come together, there’s a deep, universal truth that links us all: without a hub to bring folks together and a way to share information, parenting—and life in general—can feel isolating and overwhelming. This is especially true during the highs and lows of the postpartum period.

We are deeply grateful to celebrate with you—the triumphs of simply getting out of the house, the bonds formed through shared parenting experiences, and the kindness, empathy, and care that emerge when we come together as a community.

Wherever you are on your journey, we hope you’re finding moments of joy and ease. The road we’ve traveled together has been full of twists and turns—sometimes bumpy, often beautiful—but Recess wouldn’t exist without you.

Thank you for being here with us and for letting us be here for you. This shared connection is what it’s all about!

xx

Lisa

gratitude

We have deep gratitude for the hospitality and generosity that Black Bird Bookstore + Cafe has shown us over the past few years. When the pandemic forced us to close our own brick-and-mortar space after 13 years, we thought we might never find a new home base. But the welcoming, cozy, and protected backyard of this Outer Sunset establishment has allowed us to continue hosting our new parent circles—and it has exceeded our wildest dreams.

Our next round of New Parent Community Circles (0-6 months), led by the incredible Sierra Fish, will begin on January 9, 2025. These groups offer wonderful opportunities for new parents to connect with one another, share resources, and reduce feelings of isolation.

Spread the word to your friends with newborns and infants— sign up now and support Black Bird Bookstore when you need a great cup of coffee or the perfect new book or toy.

reflections

what we’ve been up to!

At Recess, our moments of celebration over the past couple of years have included:

• Winning a Shine On Action Award through the San Francisco Park Alliance and building an outdoor Neighborhood Hub for Families.

• Providing our weekly New Parent Groups at Black Bird Bookstore + Cafe. Tremendous gratitude to Sierra Fish for facilitating these groups!

• Joining the Bayview Alliance and beginning to explore opportunities for collaboration on the southeast side of San Francisco.

• Meeting with D4 Supervisor Engardio and D9 Supervisor Ronen to learn more about the potential for bringing play spaces to other neighborhoods in the city. (Here’s a blog post from the D4 newsletter.)

• Resuming our community playgroups in conjunction with SF Department of Public Health Home-Visiting Nurses and their clients.

• Establishing new community playgroup programming in 2024 for moms in recovery and their caseworkers, in partnership with UCSF.

• Celebrating our 7th year of support from Patricia De Fonte and De Fonte Law. If you’re looking to better understand estate planning and what documents you should have in place now that you’re a parent, please join her for all the details. We are incredibly grateful to Patricia for her years of support.

• Embarking on a partnership with The National Center for Family Learning and Sparkler App to provide developmental playgroups that teach parents how to use play to support their child’s development, funded by the San Francisco Department of the Young Child.

what can we do, together?

Parenting is the great equalizer. The isolation and overwhelm of everything new can be a challenge, no matter how many resources a family has when welcoming a new member.

We are fortunate to create opportunities for new parents to connect—whether with their case managers, nurses, partners, or solo—to share resources, build lasting relationships, and foster meaningful community. The organic networks of support that emerge from these groups are truly powerful.

Your generosity over the past year has made this work possible. We’ve witnessed the impact of this work for nearly two decades and see it reaffirmed year after year: parenting is easier and healthier when done in community.

If you are planning your end-of-year donations, a tax-deductible gift to Recess Collective will allow us to continue this important work. No amount is too small.

We remain committed to helping families in the postpartum period thrive by providing care, play, and connection for those who might otherwise miss out on safe and enriching opportunities to learn and grow. Thank you for supporting us by spreading the word, joining the effort, and contributing financially.

Together, we can make a lasting difference for families in San Francisco.

• Support Recess with your time or expertise—Volunteer.

• Support Recess by making a donation here or mailing it to Recess at 2309 Noriega St, SF, 94122.

We appreciate you!

Out and About

• Have you checked out the programming at the SF Public Library?  It’s truly a treasure trove.  Free museum visits, free audio books, online courses, art installations, craft classes, story times, and author events. We have an old blog post about it.

• Enjoy a day of art and family fun at SFMOMA’s Free Family Day! Get your hands dirty in art-making sessions at the SFMOMA Education Center alongside various engaging activities. Admission is free for up to four adults accompanying a child or teen.

• Throughout the Bay Area, immersive science learning experiences, led by experts, are taking place almost daily. Check out the calendar here to see what strikes your fancy.

• The Field Station located at Presidio Tunnel Tops is an extraordinary space, inspired by base camps where scientists do their research in remote parts of the world. It’s packed with nature specimens, historical artifacts, tools, and maps that connect visitors of ALL AGES with the Presidio’s nature and history.

Parent Support

Local activities to connect with your child and explore together. Some ideas to support the work you do as a person who loves children:

• Local Fun if you’re staying in the city over break

• DrawTogether Art activities with Wendy MacNaughton

• Sensory Sensitive Events to check out.

There are also some live parent support opportunities:

• Real Parenting Workshops - Monthly Parenting circles on the Presidio at Cow Hollow School

• Mindfulness for Parents - with Jessica Samples

did you know?

We love hearing from you! If you have a minute to share what Recess has meant to you, what you hope we will offer, tips for grants we may be eligible for, or ideas for future programming, please reach out! lisa@recesscollective.org.