Coffee Connnections to Ring in the New Year

Dear iLEAD Exploration Families,

Happy New Year!

We wanted to start the year off by providing several new opportunities for Exploration families to gather together in 2017! As independent studying parents, we all work hard to ensure that our children are well supported academically and socially, yet we often overlook our own social needs. How often do we connect with fellow independent study parents who understand the joys and challenges of this alternative learning path?

In an effort to encourage these connections, some of our educational facilitators have voluntarily come together and created spaces for our Exploration parents to meet up. While these gatherings will be lots of fun for the kids, the primary purpose is to connect parents with one another. The goal is to provide a fun, safe and comfortable space for parents to get to know others in their local independent study community! We are calling these gatherings “Coffee Connections.”

Listed below are the 2017 Coffee Connections. We sure would love to see you at a few of them! If there is a positive response and high attendance to this year’s Coffee Connections, we will be sure to bring them back the coming school year with even more locations, dates and times. Simply show up at these informal gatherings to let us know whether you want to see more connections being made in your community.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Sincerely,

Mandy Schutt
Community Connections Coordinator

P.S. Please be sure to click on the links below to get the complete details of each Coffee Connection and to RSVP!

BREA
Date: January 11, 2017
Time: 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Location: Whole Foods Market at 3301 E. Imperial Hwy, Brea, CA 92823

While parents chat and connect, Amy Bender (reading tutor & vendor), will read a few winter-themed stories and lead children in an art lesson (ages 5-12). Bonus: After our Coffee Connection gathering, children and parents are invited to tour the different food departments led by a Whole Foods staff member from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Hosted by Ana Lucero.
RSVP here

LOS ANGELES (Mid-City)
Date: January 12, 2017
Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: With Love Market and Cafe at 1969 S Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90007

Chat with other independent studying parents while your learner participates in a cooking class! (Spots for the class are limited and an RSVP is strongly suggested to secure a space. More info provided at the reservation link.)
Hosted by Adrienne Lynch.
RSVP here

HUNTINGTON BEACH
Date: January 12, 2017
Time: 7-9 p.m.
Location: Euro Caffe at 7631 Edinger Ave. Suite #1520, Huntington Beach, CA 92647

Enjoy a kid-free night and have an evening of conversation, coffee and connecting with fellow independent study moms. (Moms with infants are welcome!)
Hosted by Amber Music.
RSVP here

LONG BEACH
Date: January 23, 2017
Time: 12-2 p.m.
Location: Viento Y Agua Coffeehouse at 4007 E 4th St, Long Beach, CA 90814

Gather with like-minded parents at Viento Y Agua Coffeehouse to enjoy coffee with your independent studying community as children of all ages engage in a beadwork craft. Hosted by Gabriela Stiles.
RSVP here

CANOGA PARK
Date: February 15, 2017
Time: 10:30 a.m. – noon
Location: Children’s Development Institute at 7260 Owensmouth Ave,

Canoga Park, CA 91303

Join us for coffee and bagels while your children read, interact and play in a giant indoor playhouse! Hosted by Pamela Von Eschen.
RSVP here

SOUTH ORANGE COUNTY
Date: February 21, 2017
Time: 10:30 a.m. – noon
Location: Union Market in the Kaleidoscope at 27741 Crown Valley Parkway, Mission Viejo, CA 92691

Join us for an informal time of board games and conversation at the Union Market in Mission Viejo. Grab a cup of joe at Portola Coffee or a boba drink at Milk Tea before heading over to the ping pong area. Be sure to bring a favorite board game for the kids to share! Hosted by Lara Durrell.
RSVP here

LONG BEACH
Date: February 22, 2017
Time: 10 a,m. – noon
Location: Viento Y Agua Coffeehouse at 4007 E 4th St, Long Beach, CA 90814

Gather with like-minded parents at Viento Y Agua Coffeehouse to enjoy coffee with your independent studying community as children of all ages engage in a beadwork craft.
Hosted by Gabriela Stiles.
RSVP here

ONTARIO
Date: February 23, 2017
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location: L.O.L. Kids Club at 735 N Milliken Ave, Ontario, CA 91764

Enjoy sipping a cup of coffee or tea along with other independent studying parents as our children play on obstacle courses, slides, ball pits and trampolines! Hosted by Felicite Badillo.
RSVP here

LOS ANGELES (Leimert Park)
Date: March 1, 2017
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Location: Kiddie City at 3818 1/2 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90008

Kiddie City is a child-sized indoor “city” and we’ve reserved it for our learners to tumble around while their parents mingle and chat! Hosted by Adrienne Lynch.
RSVP here