 Did you know that one of our very own patients at SSP classified for the national women’s soccer team? She is an inspiration to all, teaching us that anything can be accomplished if you set your mind and heart to it, and give it everything you’ve got. Meet Angela Aguero, our SSP FIT Ambassador and soccer prodigy!!!  SSP: You are quite the soccer phenom! How did you initially become interested in the sport? Thank you! When I was about 4 or 5 years old, my parents decided it was time to put me in some level of physical activity to keep me active and they chose soccer because all you needed was a ball and a pair of soccer cleats. From the moment I started playing I fell in love with it. I remember always running after the ball and being really eager to score a goal. In 2010 when the men's World Cup in South Africa began I watched almost every game and that's when my love for the game was getting really serious. SSP: Who would you say is your biggest inspiration - sports icon or other? My biggest inspiration is 100% Cristiano Ronaldo and Marta. Both these soccer players started from the bottom with a dream of becoming a pro footballer and they dedicated their entire lives to give them the chance to be seen professionally. You always hear of other players coming to training an hour early to impress the coaches, but Ronaldo has already been there for 2 hours. Things like that - I admire their hard work and genuine love for the game. SSP: How amazing was it be selected for the National Women’s Soccer team? Can you tell us more about that experience? That day, May 18th, 2016, was one of the best and happiest days of my life. I remember I was in history class and my dad called me three times so I had to leave the classroom and call him back. He picked up right away and screamed that I had been called for the u15 national team camp in Portland. It was a dream come true really, when all your hard work and late nights pay off and you're given an opportunity to represent your country. It was such an honor. And I had also committed to Penn State an hour after that call which made the day even better. The feeling was indescribable.  SSP: What position do you play, and do you always play that same position? I play center forward/ striker currently. I have played this position pretty much my whole life but when I was younger I tried almost every position! I played goalie for two years with a club team and I played right back for another two years at another club, and sometimes even today I can get pulled back as a center mid/center attacking mid. It's always good and fun to play other roles on the field. You can learn something from every position! SSP: How do you balance school and soccer? When I became a freshman in high school I had started training with a club which is in upstate New York (about a 2 hour drive). So going to training every day far away wasn't easy, especially balancing this with the demands of schoolwork. What I always do is try and do as much homework as I can during school free and lunch periods so that I don't have to stress about that when I get back home. The earlier I got my work done, the better so I could focus on soccer and not have to do homework when I arrived late at home. SSP: What is it that you love most about playing soccer? This is a tough question because I love everything about it! For me though I must say, nothing makes me feel more at peace with myself then while I'm playing soccer. If I had a stressful day at school or just didn't have the greatest day, I would go to practice and forget about everything for those hours of practice. Whenever there is a ball at my feet, I seem to forget about stressful things in life and just have fun with the ball. The freedom and peace the sport brings to my life is a huge one. As well as making so many amazing friends and having amazing experiences around the world!  SSP: Do you have any words of advice for kids, as to why playing sports and continuing to be active is so important?
Try and be active every day! Find something that you love, whether its running, tennis, soccer, football, anything and go with it! Staying active is not only good for you physically and makes you feel good and fit, but it also is so good for you mentally! It clears your head and you can just have fun! And when you play a sport, you can make so many amazing people and friends that you can play with and share similar experiences with!
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Part of our mission at SSP is to create meaningful relationships with local businesses, building a stronger community in South Slope and introducing our families to these business owners that share a love for our local culture. One such business is iLoveKickboxing, which Jennifer Ma, an expecting mom and soon to be patient of South Slope Pediatrics, opened with her husband Rick Rodriguez two years ago. Bonus - it’s literally just across the street from SSP! Let’s talk to Jennifer and learn about how her business came to be!  SSP: What made you make the decision to open iLoveKickboxing two years ago in Park Slope? I started going to the iLoveKickboxing in Bayside, Queens, where I grew up. I had gone through a huge family loss at that time in 2014, losing both my parents very close together. Trying to cope with my emotions, I found happiness in kickboxing. I started going 3 times a week and then taking double classes up to 4-5x per week. The encouraging, friendly and positive instructors of iLoveKickboxing was made me really look forward to punching the bag everyday. My husband and I wanted to bring this unique fitness experience to Brooklyn where there wasn’t yet an iLoveKickboxing location and help others the way it helped me. SSP: Can you tell us about your personal background, and how you got involved in this sport? I have a background in cosmetic marketing and have been in the beauty industry for 10 years. I am not an excellent kickboxer but that’s not the point; it’s about the way our team of instructors can help transform lives through confidence, weight loss, toning and emotional improvement.  SSP: Many of us have never tried kickboxing before. Can you tell us about the classes, and how someone is introduced? Just like me when I first started, I never kickboxed before in my life! I was scared but my first day I was set up with an awesome instructor who stayed with me 1-1 throughout the entire class. They showed me at a slower pace how to do the proper moves. I was definitely out of breath but it was so empowering. I knew I had to stick with it and I signed up for a membership. The more I went, the more I fell in love with the fun workout. It will be the BEST HOUR OF YOUR DAY. Anyone who is interested to try out a class can go to iLoveKickboxing.com and sign up for a 3 class trial with a pair of free gloves for only $19.99. Our goal is to ensure our first day friends do not feel initiated and know that you will have someone right next to you to guide you the entire way.  SSP: Would you suggest your classes for all ages and all levels of athleticism?
We welcome everyone that is 18 years or older and all fitness levels, especially beginner. If you are 13-17 years old, a parent or legal guardian is required to sit with you the entire class on the first day only. SSP: How does the kickboxing workout differ from other workouts? We walk you through step by step and “hold your hand” (but not literally) on your first day to make you feel as comfortable as possible. You will feel the positive, upbeat energy of the studio from our staff members the moment you walk through our door! It will be the best hour of your day because it is like you are at a “party” with some of the nicest people while leaving feeling sore and sweaty. We promise to deliver the best 1 hour of your day with a total HIIT body workout that is fun, consistent and never boring. We’ve seen so many transformations from our members within 6 weeks of working out at least 3x per week with us and welcome others to join us so we can help them reach their fitness goals. SSP: As someone who knows very little about kickboxing, I would think this would be an incredible way to let out all frustrations and stress. What do you think are the most important benefits? The most important benefits of kickboxing is to forget about everything that happened in your day and to focus only on you-this is your 1 hour that you dedicate to yourself to releasing those endorphins in your body that leaves you feel accomplished, empowered and healthy. Not only do our members see weight loss, inches lost, but the way they feel the day after or 36 hours after each workout makes them skip to work happy! SSP: I understand that not only do you help make people feel amazing from taking your classes, but you make them feel good about donating to special causes. Can you tell us more? We donate as much as possible to the local community by selecting a few schools a year to donate a charity basket, working with Little Essentials to help with baby gear donations, and working with members to help with their individual charities that they believe in. With every check in on Facebook or Instagram, a member is contributing to a different cause a month from donating dog food to a shelter to 3 meals to a child in need. We are part of a franchise but as a local business owner, my mission is to help as many people as possible inside and outside of our studio. For more information, please go to https://www.ilovekickboxing.com/studio/signup/Park-Slope-NY or call 347.464.8818 3447.464.8818  At South Slope Pediatrics, being deeply involved in our local culture and community and connecting with like-minded businesses is at the core of our philosophy. One such local business that we’ve been so lucky to establish a relationship with is Align, a boutique wellness studio just a few blocks down the street from us. In fact, our team just enjoyed an amazing yoga class there this past month! Let’s learn more about how Align came to be and about the co-founder and owner of this practice, Dr. Brown.  SSP: Congratulations on the almost 5 year anniversary of Align! Although quite an accomplishment in itself, I understand that you and your wife Pamela have been involved in fitness and training for many years. How did your path lead you to opening up Align, right here in Park Slope? Thanks! I can’t believe it’s been nearly 5 years! I’ve actually been a doctor of chiropractic for 29 years and have always been an athlete. I had considered for quite a while exactly what I wanted my practice to look like and how I could best serve our South Slope community. One day I was walking home from a yoga class - we’ve lived on 18th Street since 2005 - and saw the “for rent” sign in the window. Pam and I had ideas for other spaces over the years and had a business plan ready to go, and so I called the number off the sign and the rest is history. SSP: What made you personally so invested in health and wellness? Can you tell us a little about your background? My dad was an MD, one of the earliest physiatrists, and was always interested in natural healing. In our home we always were encouraged to play sports, be fit, and eat healthily. When I was in high school, I was on the football team. I had injured myself at a Tuesday scrimmage and didn’t think I’d be able to play in Saturday’s big game. My dad took me to a chiropractor, and I was just hooked. I was back on the field with the team by Thursday and played in the game that Saturday. I knew then and there that I was going to be a chiropractor. For me it was incredibly effective and the perfect combination of science and natural healing. I am still fascinated by anything to do with the body and movement, and continue to learn, so I am happy with my choice. SSP: What would you say is your mission statement at Align, and what is it that you specifically set out to do for those who join your classes? Our mission is simple: to use natural, but science-based techniques to promote the wellness of our community including chiropractic, exercise and functional nutrition. Our classes are built around a chiropractic vision for wellness, which emphasizes a highly personalized dynamic balance that is ever-changing toward enabling the innate ability of the body to heal and keep itself healthy. The components of this dynamic balance include alignment, balance, strength training, cardiovascular conditioning, core stability, flexibility and recovery. In addition to the classes we have become known for we offer functional nutrition, chiropractic and myofascial therapy. We hope to be “one stop shopping” for the South Slope’s health and wellness needs.  SSP: Can you tell us about your current class offering? Are there certain areas of focus/expertise that we should know about? Our class offerings are in three categories: yoga, functional fitness and contemporary Pilates. All of our classes emphasize mindful movement and a personalized approach to alignment. Our yoga offerings include athletic Vinyasa-style Yoga Flow classes, Hatha based Yoga Ground classes, and Iyengar based classes that incorporate our yoga suspension wall - Yoga Fly and Yoga Heal. Our functional fitness classes emphasize strength building, cardio and mobility. These classes include Align 1:10, Align Ignite and Align Roll, and they incorporate some of my favorite tools - kettlebells, TRX, foam rollers and BOSUs. And our Pilates based classes include Align Core, Align Fusion and Align Define. These are fun, upbeat classes that emphasize core stability. The primary focus of the studio is on alignment and balance. We believe that diversity of movement is best for all bodies and that a positive, welcoming, and warm space where everybody is truly welcome is the best environment for wellness. The emotional piece of wellness shouldn’t be overlooked, and that includes feeling good about oneself for showing up and taking care of one’s health and wellbeing in an environment of compassion and acceptance. SSP: You have quite the resume! In addition to being a certified yoga and fitness instructor, you are also a licensed chiropractor, certified clinical nutritionist and certified chiropractic sports physician! Do you offer any of these other services at Align as well? Actually, I became certified as an exercise physiologist, yoga instructor and clinical nutritionist, after becoming a chiropractor. I love studying the body and so I also took an additional two years of classes to become a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician. I don’t want my patients coming repeatedly for the same condition. I always want to get rid of my patients in a sense. Sort of put myself out of business. In order to assure this I have to be able to teach them what they need to do on their own. This almost always entails some combination of yoga, core work, rehab, and body-mind centering.  SSP: I think for most of us moms and dads of young ones, our health and wellness often take a backseat to our children’s needs. Can you please tell our readers why it’s essential to make this more of a priority, and how Align can help them reach their goals?
It’s sort of like what they say on a plane, that you are of little use to others until you put the mask on yourself first. We want to raise a generation of well-balanced kids who are fully engaged with the world. For me, I saw my parents engaging in healthy activities like proper rest, exercise and eating habits and that encouraged me take this life-style on for myself and to make wellness my life. Whatever your wellness goals or needs, we are here to support you! Yes, you do have to make the time, but we have a variety of memberships and packages to suit a variety of needs and budgets. If you can make a commitment to coming 7 or more times a month, our Unlimited Wellness Membership is the best value. It even includes regular wellness evaluations with me to make sure that folks are keeping up with their goals and can have any specific questions answered. We also try to create a class schedule that is conducive for busy Brooklynites. For example, we call Sundays “Self Care Sunday” at Align Brooklyn. Our Sunday schedule includes two sets of classes that are easy to take back to back: Align Ignite at 11am and Align Roll at 12 noon, and Yoga Flow at 3pm and Yoga Melt (restorative practice) at 4:30pm. These are Yin/Yang combos that cover a variety of physical and mental needs. We also offer 6:30am fitness classes every weekday, as well as 7:30pm and 8:00pm yoga classes on weekday evenings. I also offer free wellness workshops to the community on topics like posture, foam rolling and nutrition. Folks can find out about these on the workshop section of our website at www.alignbrooklyn.com.  Most of us know someone who has hired a doula for support during childbirth, but did you know that there are postpartum doulas who specifically assist during the newborn stage? They can be an unparalleled means of support and comfort for new moms, both physically and emotionally. In fact, moms who work with doulas often report lower incidences of postpartum depression, higher self-esteem, improved mother-infant interaction and a better chance of breastfeeding success. To learn more about the benefits, we’ve spoken to Park Slope resident and mom of 2, Mika Kleban, a doula servicing new moms in the neighborhood.
SSP: Many of us, myself included, have never worked with a doula before. Can you tell us what your key role is in a new mother’s life? What do you think is the most critical benefit of hiring a doula? Having a baby is one of the most profound life events there is. Having support can make an enormous difference in the way families experience labor, delivery and the early days with a new baby. When extended family members aren't available or they are not the right fit to lend this support, doulas can fill this need beautifully. I look to support not only the mother, but the partner too. The whole family unit is going through this together. Meeting with mother and partner (if applicable) prior to delivery can, in of itself, help the parent to feel aware and more in control of what their future will hold. Whether they are seeking support with their labor, postpartum care - or both - they are proactively taking care of themselves and their families needs. The greatest benefits a doula can provide to each family varies depending on their individual needs. In the postpartum realm, for one family it may be support with breastfeeding and aiding in the mothers self care. For another, the guidance on how to care for the new baby or providing emotional support may be paramount. From keeping the dirty dishes at bay to being a source of information and comfort... the benefits are abound! SSP: What led you to become a doula? Did your own experience inspire you down this path? A long while back I was thrust into a situation where I helped a friend give birth to her baby in an intense and challenging delivery. I left that experience feeling in my element and inspired and I was interested in helping birthing families ever since. Fast forward 6 or so years and I had my first daughter and it only solidified my desire to be a support to families in the birthing world. SSP: Understanding that lack of sleep and lack of support are major contributors to postpartum depression, I would think a doula can aid greatly in this respect. How do you see your work and contributions in a new mother’s life combat PPD? Not only does having the support of a postpartum doula help new parents to have a healthier and happier adjustment to life with their new baby, but it can also play the important role of identifying postpartum depression in a new parent. Many hands make for light work and they definitely help to get parents better sleep, well fed and cared for. I approach my work with families with the intention of supporting them towards the goal of leaving them healed, happy, educated, strong and self sufficient. SSP: How would you describe your doula style? I would say that I am intuitive with my care. I try to anticipate the needs of my clients. Often new parents aren't sure of exactly what they need or want and that can cause anxiety. I am there as your ally in whatever way you need. I believe that keeping a sense of humor going here and there goes a long way too. SSP: Has there been one experience you’ve experienced as a doula that you think is very meaningful, and would like to share with us? Many of my experiences are very dear to me and that is what I cherish about my work. The most rewarding and special experiences for me are definitely those where I have been able to help a new parent out of a very fearful and anxious place and restore their sense of being in control. There is one mom in particular that stands out, but I have had the chance to be there for parents in this way multiple times and I am grateful for that. A recent client of Mika’s had this to say about her experience: “After the birth of my first child, Mika was like a fairy godmother. She was endlessly kind, optimistic, and calming, exceptionally reliable and supportive, and could somehow predict what I needed before I knew I needed it. Despite frigid winter storms, she always arrived on time and was available to answer questions - no matter how small - any time of day. She brought warmth and happiness into our home each time she arrived, and was as essential to my physical recovery from childbirth as to my mental and emotional recovery. Mika wasn't just there for me or my baby, but also essential to giving my husband support as a new father. As first-time parents, we were often unsure or overwhelmed with our newborn, but she consistently lifted us up, and reminded us to trust our instincts. No task was too small for Mika - she would fold laundry, pick-up groceries, and make me (delicious!) breakfasts, as well as give exceptional care to our son while I napped or simply needed a break. She was also there for me while I struggled with the stress and sadness that accompanied breastfeeding difficulties, a part of motherhood I was not prepared for. I wish every mother had the support that Mika gave me and my family. I recommend her with my full heart and highest compliments”. To contact Mika Kleban, please reach out to info@southslopepediatrics.com and we will share her details.  Holidays are over, you’re exhausted and over winter already. We all know that our kids won’t survive staying indoors “relaxing”(or well, either will we) ...so what do we do? Here are 17 ideas to help you get through these long cold winter days and create some of our best family moments. Now get out there and explore all that Brooklyn and NYC has to offer!
1) Bowling: Check it out at Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg, where they have family hours on on Saturday from 11AM-5PM and Sundays from 11AM – 6PM (bonus: on Sundays they have family concerts)! Too far? Check out Melody Lanes in Sunset Park, where there is a daily family special and glow in the dark bowling. 2) Shipwrecked: Right in our backyard of Red Hook, Shipwrecked has their own indoor mini golf course. All reclaimed and recycled, this course takes you through themed areas with lights, sounds and fog. Kids 2 and under are free! 3) Indoor Pool: Eastern Athletic Club in Prospect Park and Brooklyn Heights both offer day passes to the indoor pool (adults: $25, kids: $7). 4) Lefrak: If you haven’t been, this place is the jam. LeFrak boasts 2 ice skating rinks, one is open aired and the other is covered. The Bluestone Cafe on premise offers food as well as hot chocolate, a must after skating. 5) Prospect Park Zoo. Brave the cold and visit our fuzzy friends at the zoo. Open from 10am- 4:30pm, this is a quick and easy escape and so close in Prospect Park. 6) FAO Schwartz: Want to make your kids’ head explode? Take them to the new FAO Schwartz location at Rockefeller Center. Go nuts on the dance-on piano and admire the colossal clock tower. 7) Bounce U: Too many days indoors and missing those outdoor playgrounds? No better place than Bounce U to let all of that pent up energy out! On Fridays from 10:50am until 12pm there is the “preschool playdate” for ages 2-7. 8) Good Day Play Cafe: Right here in Park Slope, The Good Day Play Cafe on 5th Ave boasts an angled climbing wall, a slide into a ball pit, play marketplace, a fully matted area for younger children with sensory toys and matted building blocks, a Hinoki cypress wood cube pit, a lego station, magnetic wall and more! 9) Storytime at Powerhouse on 8th: This bookstore with an amazing children’s book section has storytimes every Sunday, often starring local authors reading their own work. 10) Brooklyn Children’s Museum: One of the many highlights of this museum is “totally tots”, which features nine different sensory play areas including water, sand, music, dress up, blocks, and more (ages 0-6). 11) BAM Kids’ Film Festival: On February 2nd and 3rd, Brooklyn’s favorite children’s film festival returns for its 21st year, presenting the best shorts and features from around the world—representing 27 countries in total. This year’s fun-filled program showcases curated selections from the top children’s festivals in North America. 12) Nitehawk Cinema: Check out this dine-in movie theater near Prospect Park. Did you know they even have a kids menu? Tater tots, grilled cheese, chicken tenders, hummus with veggies, and a flatbread! 13) Brooklyn Cat Cafe: What better way to spend the day than cuddling with cats? Their mission is to save our city’s cats. This is a place where cat lovers of all ages can interact with adoptable animals – and one another – while learning about pet rescue and care together too. 14) Flatiron Lego Store: Just a quick subway ride away, Featuring hands-on building for kids and adults of all ages while being surrounded my jaw-dropping lego sculptures. Check out the “Digital Box” where kids can watch the Lego city sets come to life in 3D animation! 15) Taro’s Origami PS: Get your creative gloves on and try your hands at this Japanese craft! Appealing to kids and adults of all ages, there are both drop-in options and classes available. For the drop-ins, they recommend that the child be at least 5 YO. 16) Jane’s Carousel: Open all year, this gorgeous carousel on the river is fun ANYTIME of the year! Tickets are $2 a piece, kids under 3 YO ride free with an adult. Open Thurs - Sun 11am-6pm. 17) Brooklyn Botanical Gardens: Experience all that is serene and take a stroll with your little one through the gardens. Free weekly admission!  Here we are again, at the end of one year and thinking about what the next year holds. Many of us will focus on our goals and resolutions for the year ahead. It’s a chance to better ourselves, and work towards a happier and more fulfilled life. We’ve done some research on the most popular new year’s resolutions, and have listed them below. How do these connect to your goals?
 Most of us that have raised small children in Park Slope are more than familiar with Hootenanny and the couple who runs the space, Kira Smith and Pete Sinjin. They are synonymous with all things music and art; inspiring babies, toddlers and small children all over Brooklyn to get up and sing, dance, create. Did you know however they’ve just recently opened up a new art space right around the corner from Hootenanny called the Art Annex? Learn more here in our interview with Kira Smith!  SSP: Prior to us all learning all about your new amazing art space for children, can you please tell me a little about yourself, Kira? I know you’re a musician, dancer...AND mom! How did you and your husband Pete start Hootenanny over 10 years ago (with a tiny baby to boot)?! I’m so glad the word has spread about the Art Annex! Thanks for your continued support and kindness! So… 11 (plus) years ago I was pregnant with Tucker, our younger child, and in school for Creative Arts Therapy, and Pete was teaching Music Together all over Manhattan as well as in Brooklyn for Theresa Wozunk at the “Musical Bridge” on 15th Street. Theresa decided to move on and do theater production, and asked Pete and I if we would be interested in buying the business. We thought and thought about it and finally came to the conclusion that no, we should definitely not do that! We had never had ambitions to run a business, nor had we any skills or experience. I was about to finish my last internship and Pete really wanted to focus on making music, when he wasn’t busy teaching. Theresa (who we now call St. Theresa!) wouldn’t take no for an answer. She insisted it would be a great place for us to be creative and have a positive work life balance as parents of young children. Clearly, at that point, we listened to her, and the Hootenanny vision began. We decided if we were going to do this, we would build the place we wanted to spend our days… as artists, as parents… we wanted to create a joyful community gathering place focused around art and music. I will admit I cried through most of the back office set up, 8 months pregnant trying to learn excel and quickbooks and trying to build a website. That may sound ridiculous now, but for context, when I went to college I didn’t have a computer or an email address. The first session we took registration for Hootenanny classes we sent confirmations by MAIL! With stamps! Anyway, we just tried to make up for all of our shortcomings by focusing on the love and from day one the community gave it back tenfold. SSP: You and Pete are infamous in the Park Slope community for Hootenanny, a pillar of awesomeness in terms of music classes, yoga, dance and everything else that you offer. What made you decide to expand and open up the Hootenanny Art Annex? Thank you again for your extreme generosity. Just like Hootenanny, we didn’t go looking to expand and open up an Art Annex. It was all a very lucky synchrony. We are good friends with Amy who ran the Brooklyn Design Lab, and she reached out to us and let us know that after 10 years she was done and wanted to move on. At the same time our art program at Hootenanny had really been flourishing, because we had a fairly new teacher, Hannah Kasper Levinson, who was so inspired and inspiring to us and all of the families who took her classes. I knew that we were going to have a tough time keeping Hannah around with the limited amount of time we had to offer her classes, and we did not want to lose her. I got super excited by the vision of creating a little Hootenanny Art Space around the corner from Hoot, on 7th Ave. I had a meeting with Hannah and asked her if she would be interested in building the vision with me and being the lead teacher, and fortunately she said YES! SSP: What would you say is the mission of your new art space? For me the mission is so simple. Whenever I went to Hannah’s art classes at Hoot I was so impressed. Kids as young as 15 months, and as old as 7, and their grown ups were all so engaged, so full of curiosity and joy. The sense of exploration and freedom was palpable. The art being made was stunning. Hannah was always smiling. When families spoke to me on the phone or on the street about the art classes they were glowing and effusive. Over the last couple of years, when we were not always feeling so much joy about the world, there was something special going on in Hannah’s classes. The mission of the Art Annex is just that… More joy. More joy, more community, more art and hopefully by extension a little more love and peace in the world. Hannah wrote our official mission statement which is more related directly to art and child development: At the Hootenanny Art Annex we see the child as competent and capable and we believe that learning is social and collaborative. The art studio is a space where children come to create, explore, and experience themselves through art. With this belief in the capability of children we are helping them to become resilient, lifelong creative thinkers! SSP: Can you tell us a little about the curriculum and the classes you offer? Yes! We started with what we know best, kids 4 and under. The Toddler Art Play class that Hannah developed at Hoot previous to opening the annex is probably our greatest hit! It is a sensory-driven open-ended exploratory process art class for 15-month olds through 3 year olds. It introduces a vast array of art making materials and combines art, play and socialization. Our classes for 2-4s become a little more specific with a focus such as Nature Art, Printmaking, full bodied Moving Art, or Self-portraits, and combine a seated project with open exploration. We have afternoon classes for Pre-k and up such as Hannah’s Treasures and Collections, Creative Table, and Handmade from Scratch classes which explore intriguing mixed media materials, encourage imaginative play, and develop and support individual expression and creativity. For 3rd through 8th graders we have classes with specialty teachers such as Textiles, Trade Secrets, Comics, and Observational Drawing where kids can really learn and deepen their skills to continue to express their own unique ideas as artists!  SSP: What do you think differentiates what you are doing here from other children’s art spaces?
I wouldn’t say I’m an expert on other children’s art spaces and I am sure they are all mostly fabulous. We just really try to emphasize joy and open-ended creativity. Hannah and the other teachers have created such a rich and inspiring environment. Our shelves are filled with exciting materials and the space is open and inviting. I like to think that what makes Hootenanny and the new Annex different from other places is the people involved! I’ve really searched for teachers who are vibrant and enthusiastic artists who are fully invested in the community. Like Pete and I, all of our art teachers have children, and are very aware of how precious these years are. I hope and believe that all of our teachers are warm and welcoming to every grown up and every child that walks in the door. SSP: What does the future have in store for the Hootenanny Art Annex? We are very excited about building grown-up art and craft workshops. I hope to have a calendar of craft nights for the New Year! We had our first one a couple of weeks ago and it was so much fun. One of our teachers Kim Correll, taught us a Japanese dyeing technique called Arashi Shibori. We got to hang out together, drink wine, dye scarves and t-shirts and bags, and we all went home with gorgeous things! We will be offering birthdays, of course! We are also hoping to build our art classes for older kids. Kim teaches a textiles class for grades 3-6 and we have Comics and Observational Drawing options for kids through grade 8. We also just participated in the Park Slope Windsor Terrace Artists Collective Open Studios and it was so thrilling to have Sean Qualls and Karen Giordano show their work at the Annex. We’d love to use the space as a gallery for local artists. And I also thought we could try develop a plan to offer local artists studio space in the evenings! And…and… ha, we never have a shortage of ideas for Hootenanny, just a long list that competes with keeping what we are doing afloat, and of course, two teenagers and laundry! SSP: Lastly - for me, personally, I have always felt a deeper connection to you guys and all that you do due to how involved you are with the community and bringing everyone together in support of issues we all hold dear (climate change, civil rights, etc). Are there any plans for an upcoming fundraising event or concerts? Yesssss! We are getting ready to reboot our activist Monday coffee hour , which I think moving forward will be activist Happy Hour- probably 5-6:30 once or twice a month. It is a time when you can come by with your kids and write postcards or do other easy important things related to the current issues. We have everything set up and there will be someone there to hang with the kids while you do the work! Pete and I are also in the very early stages of a collaborative creative project related to Climate Change. I don’t have details to share yet, but we are hoping to create something that inspires people to start really talking about this vital issue of our times and our children’s future. With honest talk we hope to orient ourselves away from the anxiety that makes this issue so paralyzing for so many of us, and move us towards being involved, pro-active and progressive. Oh, and on that note I should also do a quick last plug for our Holiday Gift Making Week December 10-14. All week there are workshops for kids (15 months through grade 5) to make simple gifts for friends or family and 5$ from every registration will go to the IRC, the International Rescue Committee and their work with refugees. https://hootenannybrooklyn.com/  We love helping bring attention to the tremendous variety of talent among our SSP families here in Brooklyn. One such talent is a SSP mother, Tegan Brozyna, who was recently highlighted in the Gowanus Open Studios event this past month. Her artwork incorporates a combination of textiles, painting and sculptural elements; collectively creating a very calming effect. It’s no surprise as her family has been working with textiles for generations, traced all the way back to her great grandmother! SSP: Let’s start by sharing with our readers a little bit about your artwork, which is truly unique in regards to the combination of mediums and materials used. Can you tell us about these materials and your process? Drawing from both my background in traditional landscape painting and my interest in weaving, my current body of work focuses on my relationship to my environment, specifically my neighborhood in Brooklyn. As part of this exploration, I collect artifacts in the form of objects, shapes and color palettes. Using this source material as inspiration, I then create woven paper collages that are suspended in loom-like structures. Each piece relates directly to a specific location. The color palette is inspired by found objects, and the paper forms take their shape from rubbings of cracks and other physical markings in that same environment. Borrowing from the language of weaving, clusters of paper are then layered and suspended in space by the tension of threads.  SSP: Can you share a little about your background and upbringing and how these experiences inspired and affected your art? My parents always encouraged my siblings and me to be creative and to pursue our artistic interests. From a young age my artistic training was traditional with an emphasis on drawing and painting from life, but a few years ago my practice started to feel stale. I wanted to move away from representational work toward abstraction, but didn’t know how to break into it. I started to experiment with textiles, specifically sewing, weaving and embroidery. It felt like a natural fit because my mother’s family has a long tradition in textiles starting with my great grandmother who worked as a seamstress in England and going down to my mother who sews and crafts. Although I still consider myself a painter, incorporating textiles has reinvigorated my art. SSP: How has being a mom changed your approach to your work? How do you balance being a mother and an artist? At times it can be a challenge to balance being a parent with being an artist. More than anything, time often feels limited so I feel very lucky to have a supportive partner who can watch our daughter while I’m in the studio. When she was little, I often brought my daughter to the studio with me and made smaller work that was easier to complete in 1-2 sittings. Things got a little more challenging when she started crawling and then walking so I have to say that I wasn’t as productive as I’d like to be. I baby-proofed my studio to make sure that my daughter had some freedom to play and explore while I worked. It’s a little easier to focus and get work done now that our daughter is in school twice a week.  SSP: If your artwork said something, what would it tell us? Is there a deeper meaning behind the textiles, the color and the overall presentation?
For me, my work is meditative and calming; it helps me to make sense of my world, and to feel at home in both my surroundings and my own skin. My hope is that my audience also gets this feeling of peace and harmony, which I think is especially important right now. SSP: Do you have one particular piece which you’ve created that has more significance to you, and why? A few years ago I created a piece that was inspired by a quilt that my great grandmother made during the Depression that repurposed old clothes. It made me feel closer to her, and it also tied into my interest in sustainability and the environment. SSP: I understand you’ve not only been fortunate enough to show your art in the US but also on global scale, including Italy and Iceland. Most recently you were a part of the Gowanus Open Studios this past month. Where can we see your work next and what does the future hold? I’m currently in a four-person show called “A Fluid Tapestry” at Ground Floor Gallery on 5th Street here in Park Slope (just off of 5th Ave). The exhibition is up until November 13, and we’ll have an artist talk that night from 6:30-8pm. We’re also expecting our second child in February so I plan on using the next few months in the studio to really dig into my practice and experiment with a new series of work. To read more about Tegan Brozyna, please visit: www.teganmbrozyna.com  Halloween is a chance for us parents to reconnect with those childhood memories...encouraging imagination, creative play...telling “spooky” stories and in Brooklyn, attending the most fun parades, festivals and all things dress-up! Join DJ Questlove at Brooklyn Bowl for a jamming kids dance party, attend a haunted walk through Prospect Park or for all you pup lovers out there, there’s even a dog costume parade at Luna Park.
October 31st (starting at 14th St and 7th Ave in Park Slope): It’s the annual Park Slope Halloween Parade!!! This child-friendly parade will head north on 7th Ave, turning left on 3rd St and then will ultimately end at JJ Byrne Playground. The festivities begin at 6:30. Be sure to keep a look out for Dr. Cao, Matteo, and their daughter Isabella! October 14th at Luna Park, Coney Island: Get your dogs ready in the most creative costumes for Luna Park’s annual Dog Parade & Costume Contest. They will have a chance to win awards for categories like cutest, mister/miss congeniality, and for originality. Pre Register your dog ( It’s FREE!) Saturday, October 20th at Pier 6 Lawns, Brooklyn Bridge Park: Each October, we celebrate the changing of the seasons with Harvest Festival. This year they will kick off the festival with a parade led by a brass band! Throughout the the festival you’ll find fun for the whole family with face painting, spin art, live animal demonstrations, pumpkin decorating, family-friendly square dance activities, story time, badminton, spike ball, and more. Local organizations including City Growers, The Honeybee Conservancy, and Genspace will host harvest-themed interactive and educational activity stations. Food will also be available from Fornino and Ample Hills. Saturday, October 27th at Albee Square Farmers Market (corner of Fulton & Bond): Come and haunt Albee Square for some spooky fun, balloon ghouls, monster tunes, a photo booth, paintable pumpkin patch, and more. 1:00pm to 5:00pm. Free! October 27th at Nethermead in Prospect Park: The 39th Annual Halloween Haunted Walk and Fair brings thousands of kids and families for free, ghastly fun to Prospect Park. Encounter zombies, werewolves, witches and other Halloween spirits on a haunted walk through the woodland Lookout Hill, ideal for families with children ages 7-12. All ages can enjoy a festive Halloween Fair on the Nethermead, featuring family-friendly activities, as well as sweet and savory treats from some of the city’s top food trucks. 12pm- 3pm. The festivities continue at BKLYN BOO!, the official after party, taking place at City Point in downtown Brooklyn! October 28th at Industry City: March in the kids Halloween parade! The parade begins at 10am at Liberty View, and marches down Second Ave to Industry City for family activities, candy, and a concert by Rock and Roll Playhouse. There’s even a Captain America meet and greet!!! 12pm-2pm. Weekends through October 28th at Prospect Park Zoo: Don't miss this annual Halloween event at Prospect Park Zoo. This year you’ll be learning about bats from around. Every weekend will be jam-packed with fun activities such as a Costumed Character Scavenger Hunt, face painting, and other Halloween-themed games and crafts. Plus, plenty of animals to visit. Sunday, October 28th at Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg: Come and boogie down with your kids to the sounds of DJ Questlove (frontman of The Roots) at the always fun Brooklyn Bowl. Arrive an hour early and jam out to Black Tie Brass, a NYC jazz/funk band playing a set of Michael Jackson! Black Tie Brass 11:30am-12:30pm; DJ Questlove 12:30pm-5:30pm. October 28th at Brooklyn Botanical Gardens: Stilt Dancing Insanity, Caterpillar Feedings, Rutabaga Skee-ball and Brooklyn’s Wackiest Costume Parade! Noon–5:30 p.m. Kids under 12 free! Gates open at 10 a.m. Last admission at 5:30 p.m. Weekends Through October 28th (weekends only) at Luna Park: From 12pm-6pm, head to Coney Island for some Halloween fun! Little ones can get their faces painted, go on a mini-tractor race, dance on the monster mash stage...and no need to head to a farm to find your Jack O’Lantern—the park will have a pumpkin patch onsite. Head to Luna Park's website for more event information as its announced! All ages.  Did you know that up to 40% of the homeless youth in this country identify as LGBTQ? Many of these children are homeless because their parents have rejected them merely based on their sexual orientation. Homeless youth are at a greater risk of violence, sexual assault and exploitation. One organization’s mission is to protect these children from harm and help empower them to live independently, and that organization is the Ali Forney Center. Alexander Roque, a SSP dad, is their Director of Development and oversees all of their donor programs. Please read and share this with your friends. We all need to think about how we can help this incredibly important organization and the innocent children they support. SSP: Can you please tell us about the organization you work for, the Ali Forney Center? What is your mission? AFC is the nation's largest and most comprehensive provider of services and housing for homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender young people. Our mission is to protect homeless LGBTQ youth from the harms of homelessness while providing them with the tools they need to rebuild their lives. LGBTQ youth are eight times more likely to experience homelessness than non LGBT youth. Once homeless, these young people are eight times more likely to experience violence, substance abuse, HIV infection and tragically suicidal ideation. In NYC there are an estimated 4,000 homeless young people on our streets. AFC provides care for nearly half who identify as LGBTQ. Family rejection is the leading cause of LGBTQ youth homelessness. Please watch this moving video of Alex presenting an award to Lady Gaga and Lady Gaga’s mother, Cynthia, who Alex says “shared kindness and love with our kids in only a way a parent can”. SSP: Why is this cause so important to you, personally? As a parent, I struggle with comprehending how families reject their children for any reason but more so I cannot understand how a parent can reject a child because of their LGBTQ identity. Having experienced family rejection because of my identity I am particularly empathetic to the young people we provide care for. Above all, the issue of youth homelessness is one we should all be concerned with. Homeless populations, particularly homeless youth, need our support and care beyond a donation of cash. SSP: Can you please share a little more about how that very personal experience led you to where you are now? Generally, my childhood and what I was exposed to led me to a career of caring for others, and more specifically working to improve the lives of young people - prior to joining the Ali Forney Center I worked for a national organization that dealt with a neurodegenerative brain disease - Huntington's Disease. And, before that I worked for a program of the 11th Judicial Circuit Court providing care for children who were abused abandoned or neglected by their parents. Specifically, I grew up in Miami, Florida as a first generation Cuban-American immigrant. Both my parents were religious and expressed their homophobia and transphobia very openly at home - in fact, family rejection rooted in religious beliefs is the leading cause of LGBTQ youth homelessness - about 90% of the homeless LGBTQ youth population identify religious believes of their parents as the reason for their homelessness. My father in particular threatened me with abandonment (kicking me out of my home) if I were gay. When he suspected that I was gay he sent me to a therapist for psychiatric care - as a result I grew up rejecting my identity and in fear of family rejection. SSP: Did you always know you wanted to help gay youth? Having moved out at a very young age and building my own community of support and acceptance, I sought refuge and empowerment in helping others - primarily young people - be it LGBTQ or not. I always knew that my upbringing was not normal nor was it one I deserved, as such my work circles largely around helping youth who are underprivileged, underserved, or otherwise disenfranchised from acceptance, and love. SSP: What programs do you offer at your center for the LGBTQ youth? I understand you also offer shelter? In addition to providing shelter and housing services, AFC offers a continuum of services specifically designed to help these young people thrive and overcome the trauma of family rejection and the harms of street homelessness. This includes medical and mental healthcare through our onsite medical clinic, substance abuse treatment, career and educational support in a classroom environment, support group services, leadership development, advocacy training, peer led services, and other vital care. We also do a lot of work around sex trafficking and sex work. In the US more than half of homeless youth are propositioned for sex within 72 hours of being homeless-- typically sex in exchange for food, shelter, or money. Nearly 87% of the young people who come to us indicate they have engaged in commercial sex to survive. In total, we connect with over 1,700 young people annually who are forced into homelessness. Nearly 50% of our clients come to us from New York, 45% come to us from across the country -- mostly the south, and 5 % come to us from outside of the US. SSP: Can you tell us a little about Project Birthday? Project Birthday is a program I launched when I worked with children in the dependency system -- these are young people who were abused, abandoned and/or neglected by their parents. I learned that children in the court system did not celebrate their birthday, and worked with a board member on developing funding that would allow us to celebrate birthdays. When I joined AFC in 2011 I knew I wanted to introduce this program but I wasn't able to amass the funding necessary to make it possible. Earlier this year, I was fortunate to work with a donor and board member on introducing the program. Each month, we host an agency-wide celebration where we celebrate all birthdays that month. Each young person who has a birthday that month receives a birthday card, a gift card to Target, a certificate for a cupcake at Sprinkles, and a birthday celebration with other friends celebrating their birthday. Above and beyond the gift and the time we spend celebrating the birthday, we are able to celebrate this young person's life. We are able to remind them that they are valued, important to us, and loved. SSP: What has been the most meaningful and impactful experience you’ve had while working the Ali Forney Center? For me the greatest impact and most meaningful part of my work has been the thousands of people that I have connected to our work over the years. Telling our story, educating others about the realities of our homeless young people, and engaging the community in this work is particularly meaningful because our young people need us - not just for funding - but to remind them that even though their parents/families have rejected them they are valued, and celebrated just as they are. Connecting our community to our work demonstrates for them that they can build new families and new lives, and even though their family rejection may be painful, there is a family waiting for them. SSP: Funding must be more important now than ever, as I understand certain federal grants are ending this year. How can we get involved, can we volunteer? And how does one donate? Volunteering, telling our story, liking us on FB and sharing our posts are all ways you can help us. Attached are group volunteer opportunities but there are also individual volunteer opportunities. I personally volunteer once a month in Sunset Park and once a month in Harlem. There are over 18 sites where individuals can volunteer. Donations can be made online on our website at www.aliforneycenter.org or on our Facebook page. 
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Jen Valu
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