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Cambridge has a commitment to all of its families
and our commitment in this community is to ensure that all families
have the same level of opportunity to access resources and programs.
Baby U is supportive and a blast.
I can admit before Baby U, I was completely clueless.
I feel like this is a real community, like family.
You see loyalty in relationships between staff and parents,
the love is everywhere.
It's always a good time when we're at Baby U.
Baby U is phenomenal - (laughs).
We were fortunate to have the opportunity led by Councilor Ken Reeves to see the Harlem Children's Zone.
We were so impressed by Baby College, their parenting program.
We came back, drew together a group of agencies in Cambridge,
which provided early childhood programs
and that group became the steering committee,
which oversees the program that we now run.
Connection is at the heart of everything at Baby U.
When parents come to Baby U they find others they can connect with.
They find Baby U staff, who are parents themselves.
They find a safe space to share what their lives are like
and it breaks the isolation of parenting...
...There are a variety of ways parents connect with the program
through workshops, playgroups and home visits.
What kept me coming were the programs that Baby U offered.
You know, we did a program about brains.
I was just intrigued by it. They are talking some real stuff here.
I wanted help on how to play with her.
We scheduled a time to go to the park, we met and she helped me play.
I enjoy my home visits, they feel like my therapy.
I can say everything, I feel comfortable.
We talk about the fact that parenting is a hard job
and as with any job, you need strategies to help you do well.
With Baby U I was given tools...given that tool box (laughs)
with different tools in there, and I open it...
...I open it and use it.
They say we have to put our oxygen mask on.
I never forgot that as it made sense.
I have to take care of myself to take care of my child.
Starting the Baby U program I just had my 4th child.
Learning the strategies with Baby U reinforced what I was doing at home.
I realized what they were teaching was still valid with my older children.
I never heard words like observe, listen, pause, patience, and a child has feelings.
Growing up my father says there is one rule...
...you don't have feelings. You do exactly what I say and do.
That is a big thing, I never knew how to have patience,
and how to talk to a young child as a person.
We talk about positive discipline, love and limits.
Discipline is one of the things every parent struggles with.
Connect before you correct. That encapsulated a lot of what we learned at Baby U.
The strongest part of that is the connection.
Back in the day we got lashings, this and that.
We look at that today and think it archaic.
Growing up in a Haitian culture, they believe in spanking, beatings.
After Baby U I don't want that, I would rather talk to my child.
Going through Baby U I had an opportunity to learn other methods.
It doesn't have to be through...I don't want to use the word violence...
but, it doesn't have to be through aggressiveness.
We connect with parents by creating a safe space
to share their life experiences, childhood, parenthood with other parents.
What made me feel comfortable at Baby U, speaking to others, was being around positive people.
I knew no one was judging me, or would use my words against me.
They would share their stories, it's a sigh of relief, it's not just me.
In father's group, we talk about how we were raised...
some things we would like to pass on, some we wouldn't.
Men talking about babies, how we can be better fathers, parents and mates.
We have a commitment to stay connected to every family until their youngest child is 5 years old.
I was delighted to learn there were pretty regular events throughout the year
where we could continue to maintain friendships, relationships, with other families.
...but also continue to grow, not lose what we learned.
We went apple picking, I remember it was freezing out, raining too.
We had such a good time on the bus together having fun.
We went picking, got a big bag of apples and made apple pie
It's nice to know they will always be there for you.
I still wake up wishing I was going to Baby U - on a Saturday morning
it became a wantingness for it.
Keeping up with Baby U is like a doctor's visit.
Everytime you go, it helps your health, your child.
It was a lot of support. I don't have much support at home, or from anyone.
It's the whole family unit that grows, gains from this.
I want them to see, for what they offer me, what I give back.
Being a good mom, a good person, a good citizen.
Baby U is Cambridge's future.