Programs
The Two Generation Approach
“Many programs focus solely on the child or the parent(s), but 2Gen approaches do not focus exclusively on either a child’s development or isolate an adult’s needs because their well-being is interconnected and interdependent. 2Gen approaches aim to integrate services and supports to move the whole family forward, benefiting both the child and the adult(s) in their lives.” -Ascend Aspen Institute
At Parent Villages, we strive to create programming that’s designed with Aspen Institute’s 2Gen Approach in mind. We offer Adult Village Builder Bootcamps, which are small workshops for parents and caregivers who want to improve their skills and empower themselves in their roles as caregivers in their community. Our workshops cover a wide variety of topics that are relatable to the participants in the groups. Additionally, we have Village Care Sessions, a safe and intimate space for adults to come together and discuss different topics related to everyday life and their impact on physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Parent Villages offers Youth Village Builder Workshops. These workshops are designed to help young people in grades 6 through 12 by teaching and empowering them with important communication and social skills that they can use in their day-to-day lives. The best part? Many of the topics covered are proposed by the participating youth themselves, making it a fun and engaging experience for everyone involved.
Community I-Meetups
Grassroots efforts to bring our community together to discuss important topics that affect our families and education system. Our guest speakers and meaningful discussions have provided valuable information to attendees these last few years. We often offer a hybrid attendance option. We took a break from these meetings but will be back to meeting monthly in the near future.We can't wait to continue our fruitful conversations and tackle necessary community topics together! Stay tuned for more information! If you have ideas of topics to discuss, please send them to us!
Village Care Sessions
We all go through difficult and emotional experiences in life that can have a lasting impact on our mental and emotional well-being. Unfortunately, not everyone has a safe and supportive space to talk about those struggles. That's why our village members come together every month to support each other and discuss those tough topics. We offer a warm and compassionate environment where everyone can feel understood and accepted without judgement. We understand how tough it can be to deal with life's challenges, and we're here to support you every step of the way. “This program is supported by a grant awarded by the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA) through the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Assistance Grant Program.”
Community Engagement
Adult Village Builders
Our Adult Village Builder Bootcamps are designed to be fun and interactive, covering a variety of topics that can help you think more creatively, boost your emotional intelligence, and improve stability in your life, which can make a big difference in your family dynamics. Parent Villages understands the barriers that can come with being an adult, and possibly even more with being a caregiver. When we say caregivers, we mean anyone who has the responsibility for the well being of a child: moms, dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, foster parents, etc. We want you to feel included, heard, and empowered in their community. Let's work together to help you overcome any challenges and achieve your goals as a parent and caregiver! “This program is supported by a grant awarded by the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA) through the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Assistance Grant Program.”
Youth Village Builders Workshops
Parent Villages organizes monthly workshops for youth in grades 6 through 12. These workshops are interactive and cover various topics that are relevant and beneficial for the youth. The workshops aim to help the youth become more independent, improve their communication and social skills, and gain knowledge about different areas of interest. Some of the topics covered in the past include work readiness, entrepreneurship, ways to have a successful school year, creative arts expression, and public speaking.
Ongoing Programming
Community-based Partnerships
These partnerships allow us to establish resource sharing networks, ensure opportunities reach intended audiences, and increase visibility for Parent Villages and partnering organizations.
Mentoring Programs
Mentors accelerate the learning and career growth of mentees simply by investing time and insight (Forbes Oct. 2, 2018). COVID forced us to re-examine our mentor programs - stay tuned for our refined Parent-to-Parent mentor program and the re-institution of our Peer-to-Peer mentoring programs.
#SHOWUP Initiative
Parent Villages started the #SHOWUP Initiative to empower adults to show up for their children and youth in their community whether they express that they need it or not. The #SHOWUP Initiative encourages parents to be proactive about their child’s education by showing up at the school for the good, the bad, and everything in between.
Summer Nights
Funded by the Department of Conservation & Recreation, Parent Villages is able to offer fun and educational summer programming for your youth during the evenings between July and August.
Our Youth Village Builders workshops are an extension of the Summer Nights program, and they're designed to help your kids learn new skills, express themselves creatively, and boost their independence.
Be on the lookout for summer '25 registrations to open!
#SHOWUP Initiative
Parent Villages started the #SHOWUP Initiative to empower adults to show up for their children and youth in their community whether they express that they need it or not. The #SHOWUP Initiative encourages parents to be proactive about their child’s education by showing up at the school for the good, the bad, and everything in between.
#SHOWUP Initiative
Parent Villages started the #SHOWUP Initiative to empower adults to show up for their children and youth in their community whether they express that they need it or not. The #SHOWUP Initiative encourages parents to be proactive about their child’s education by showing up at the school for the good, the bad, and everything in between.
