All virtual events are being hosted by Dad Guild on Zoom. Same link. Same password. Every time (with the exception of the Fletcher Free Library book groups, which you will receive a separate Zoom link for via email when you register).
Link: https://zoom.us/j/142812659?pwd=MDRwQXE2MEhiRVVjaE5hUFRYOE91Zz09
Password: 614565
Having difficulty setting up Zoom? Lacking access to reliable technology that allows you to connect with us? Reach out to us and we'll see how we can help.
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Now that we got a Family Feud joke out of the way, let's get down to business. Roughly once a year, Dad Guild looks to survey our fatherhood community to hear some stories, get some feedback, learn about the impact we're having, figure out what we could be doing better, etc. All of this information is SUPER helpful in our work. In fact, it's pretty necessary. As we look to raise some funding in the months ahead, we need to have some data and personal anecdotes to help get the job done. So PLEASE, if you do complete one survey today, make it this one. The more responses, the better off we'll be. I'm guessing it should take roughly 10(ish) minutes to complete. All responses are anonymous! Thank you!
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Precious Little Sleep: A Special Event
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In my many conversations with fathers at Dad Guild, sleep struggles has certainly been a common topic. We've all struggled with it at one point or another. I've heard of folks using a number of different strategies, and sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. Sometimes what works for one family, doesn't work for another. Sometimes you think you've got it all figured out, then the next morning your kid is standing by your bed at 3am demanding that you play with them. Here's an opportunity to learn and explore some strategies regarding getting your kid to sleep.
When you register for this event, you will be provided with a link to a free electronic version of Precious Little Sleep, by Alexis Dubief. Take some time over the next few weeks to read the book, discuss with others (including at Dad Guild's weekly Hump Day Check-In and in our Facebook group), and then come on out on Thursday, April 29th for a Zoom event with Alexis Dubief herself.
Bring your questions. Share your successes and challenges. Hear how others are doing. Hope to see you there, and please be in touch with any questions. Click here to visit the Eventbrite page and register today!
At Dad Guild, we believe that there are a lot of acceptable ways for folks to parent. Sharing perspectives, reading different books, thinking critically about information being delivered, and adding new tools to our parenting toolboxes is something we greatly encourage all caregivers to do. We do not officially endorse any one method of parenting, and we enjoy providing opportunities for folks to learn, share, and discuss.
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Winooski Mutual Aid Success!
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Dad Guild's first donation drive for Winooski Mutual Aid's March Pop-Up Mutual Aid Drive (PUMA) was a big success! We collected over $500 in financial contributions, in addition to ~$500 of in-kind donations at our drop-off bins located at ECHO and Vivid Coffee. A few fathers then participated in the PUMA itself, and were able to assist in distributing the resources to community members in need. Thank you so much to everybody who made donations! Please note that Winooski Mutual Aid's April PUMA is happening this weekend, and our drop-off bins can still be found at ECHO and Vivid Coffee, so feel free to drop off some resources if you're able to!
Additionally, if there's a project or community effort that you're interested in and would like to use the Dad Guild community to help amplify the work, please let us know!
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Dadvocate Giving Circle Update
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Last month, our Dadvocate Giving Circle met for the first time to figure out what topic involving antiracism would be the focus for our first 6-month cycle. Folks decided to focus on the topic of "parenting". We're still exploring what this will include and what the main focus will be, and we're exploring how folks are talking to children about systemic racism, and the specific issues impacting BIPOC caregivers. Moving forwards, we are sharing resources with one another (articles, podcasts, videos, etc) to dive deeper into the topic, and researching organizations that are doing work related to the topic. Ultimately, we hope to better our own understanding of the issues at hand, increase general community awareness, and find an organization that we can financially contribute to and provide other ways to help (amplify work being done, volunteer, etc).
This is an OPEN group and folks can join at any time. Financial contributions are 100% not necessary to be a part of this experience, although participants will have the opportunity to make a donation. If you are interested in joining, feel free to join this month's meeting on April 19th, and/or email us to get access to our shared Google Doc that we're using to share resources and notes with one another.
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Fletcher Free Library Book Group for May: Fearless Jones
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Due to the amount of reading folks were trying to keep up with, we'll be shifting the Fletcher Free Library book group to every other month, and we'll just be meeting once as opposed to twice...giving folks a chance to breathe and not make this group feel like homework. We've been reading a lot of great nonfiction over the past handful of months, and for the month of May we'll be reading our first fiction novel, Fearless Jones by Walter Mosley. Here's a summary of the book from Audible.com:
"Paris Minton is minding his own business when a beautiful woman named Elana Love walks into his bookstore. Within the next 24 hours, Paris has been beaten up, made love to, shot at, robbed, and his bookstore has been burned to the ground. He's in so much trouble he has no choice but to get his friend Fearless Jones out of jail to help.
Fearless Jones is an army veteran, a man who is proud of his accomplishments during World War II and refuses to step into the background now that the war is over. Violence dogs Fearless' every step, and Paris has tried to keep his distance. But there's no friend like the one you need.
The two set out to find the elusive Elana Love, and every step leads them deeper into a bewildering vortex of money and betrayal. These two black men in 1950s Los Angeles have few rights, little money, and no recourse under attack. But they have their friends, their wits, and their knowledge of the way the world really works to help them prevail."
Interested in participating? Then click here to sign up today! Remember, you do not need to be a Burlington resident to participate in this experience.
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Reconnecting After Vaccinations
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The vaccinations are rolling out fairly quickly these days. I'm feeling excited, hopeful, nervous...all the things. Additionally, I still can't picture gathering with friends without wearing masks or social distancing, even as much as I want to. I feel like the social gathering reintroduction process is going to be a long, awkward, and anxious one, and I have no idea when I'll feel comfortable letting my guard down once again. If you're having some similar thoughts or feelings, you can read more in this month's Kids VT "Pop Culture" column.
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Just a friendly reminder that Dad Guild's Weekly Hump Day Check-Ins are still going strong, after a year of doing them! Lately, we've been talking a lot about searching for childcare, places to explore outside, and bidets (seriously, we've been talking about them a LOT...doesn't that make you want to come out?). Feel free to pop in for the whole time or just 5 minutes. Join at any time!
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