New neighbors
DBFA recently announced expansion into the Hamilton-Lauraville (H-L) neighborhood. Their application was unanimously approved by DBFA's board, making H-L the first new neighborhood to join since the organization announced its plans to expand in October 2012.
More than 100 neighborhood families signed the application, which also contained commitments from five area businesses and support from two local nonprofits: Hamilton-Lauraville Main Street and Healthy Neighbors. As part of the agreement, two residents from H-L will join the DBFA board in 2013.
"We are thrilled to be partnering with such a wonderful community," said DBFA executive director Heidi Vorrasi. "They represent everything DBFA stands for, and we are happy to welcome them into the fold."
Situated in Baltimore's northeast corridor, H-L is an ideal neighborhood to join DBFA. Nearly one-quarter of H-L's 25,000 residents are children, and the neighborhood has multiple highly rated schools, including two City Neighbors campuses and Hamilton Elementary/Middle School. In addition, the neighborhood boasts the kind of social and economic diversity and commitment to family that is common in the other 23 neighborhoods DBFA represents.
"Many neighborhood parents have voiced their interest in gathering families together in support of a better life and stronger community," said H-L resident Susan Norman, who oversaw the application process. "With DBFA's support, we can accomplish this and strengthen the organization at the same time."
Sharing wine and knowledge
They came from all over the city-and they came looking for answers."Is it okay to let my children play outside unsupervised?"
"How do you drive your kids to school across town and still get to work on time?"
"How do you explain some of the unsavory elements of the city to your children?"
Fortunately for the 40-plus local parents in attendance, the people answering questions were seasoned veterans, parents who had made the choice to stay in the city 10 or even more years ago, when many families around them were fleeing to the suburbs.
It was all part of DBFA's Meet the Big Kids' Parents event, held recently at Abbotts Presbyterian Church in Highlandtown. Ten local parents (with children ranging in age from 8 to 17) were on hand to share the lessons they had learned from raising their families in the city-and no topic was off limits. Discussions included everything from school quality and diversity, to public safety, to letting children make their own choices in an urban environment.
While their answers varied, there was a common theme among the panelists, many of whom were raised in the suburbs or small towns: the benefits of raising their children in the city far outweighed the challenges that came along with it, and they were each thankful for the chance to bring their kids up in an urban environment.
They also agreed that raising families in the city is better and easier than it used to be, thanks to higher-quality schools, more arts and cultural opportunities, and the efforts of groups like DBFA to connect families to each other.
Socializing at the JCC
DBFA held its quarterly New and Expecting Parent Social recently at the JCC Baltimore's new home in Federal Hill, and the house was packed. Guests got a chance to tour the facility and mingle with other new or about-to-be new parents.
Many a playgroup has been formed from events such as this, so thank you to everyone who came out. We hope you made some valuable connections and discovered a future playmate or two for your child.
Rally time
Seats are still available on the DBFA-chartered bus to Annapolis in support of the upcoming Baltimore
Education Coalition rally on February 25. The bus is scheduled to leave from the Harris Teeter parking lot at 5 p.m., and dinner will be provided. Please join us as we work to convince our state leaders that Baltimore's children deserve new school facilities. For more details and/or to register for this event, please click here. Upcoming events/offers
Our 4th annual members-only skating party is coming up on Sunday, March 3, at the Mimi DiPietro Family Skating Center in Patterson Park. What better way to shoo away those winter blues than to come out with the family for a private skate-around? There will be hot refreshments, craft tables, and plenty of laughs, so bundle up the little ones, dust off the helmets, and head for "The Bubble."
MAC Harbor East, which was voted Baltimore's best gym three years in a row by Baltimore Magazine, has a special offer exclusively for DBFA families: sign up by February 28 and get six FREE months of Kids Club! Join the 160-plus DBFA families already enjoying the MAC's 10,000 square feet of cardio and strength equipment, plus six group exercise studios for yoga, spinning, Pilates, kinesis, and more. And don't forget their award-winning aquatics facility with three saltwater pools and a whirlpool. Swim lessons are available for infants, toddlers, and beyond. The MAC also features an Internet café, steam showers, saunas, and a conference facility. Welcome aboard
DBFA extends a heartfelt welcome to the following new business partners:
Relay Foods is the mid-Atlantic's online food marketplace, offering easy online access to an array of food producers-local farms and farmer's market vendors, specialty gourmet shops, restaurants, and grocery stores. Their selection includes the freshest local and organic produce, curated gourmet items, and a full range of essential groceries, all offered at competitive prices. Use discount code DBFA10 for $10 off your first five orders! Chesapeake Pediatric Dental Group provides compassionate and high-quality dental care to children, as well as a caring atmosphere where each child is treated as an individual. The doctors at CPDG are not only members of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and board-certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, but have also completed a pediatric dental specialty program at the University of Maryland Dental School. Everyone at CPDG works together to create an environment that gives children the best dental care, while providing a positive experience that will lead to a lifetime of happy dental visits. 
Downtown Baltimore Family Alliance | PO Box 38917 | Baltimore | MD | 21231
