More Queen Bees

On Sunday morning, I saw a message in our dynamic, seventy-five mama Hive Family Collective What’s App group.  Our program director, Kayla wrote, “Hey everyone, there’s a trunk or treat through MOPS (Mother of Preschoolers) today from 3pm-5pm at the Mountain Life Church if anyone wants an excuse for an early Halloween celebration.”   I chimed in requesting photos of the littles in costume.  I could’t resist.  Babies in costumes are too cute.

For the next few hours, snapshots of babies sitting in pumpkins, around pumpkins and in baby costumes filled my feed.  The texts between mamas were heart-bursting.  One mama wrote, “Pretty much the reason I had a kid…to put in a pumpkin.”  “OMG, I’m dying.”  “Oh my gosh, I am living for this thread.”More Halloween events were announced, and a couple of free hand-me-downs were offered in the thread: two snow suits and a bouncer needed a new home.  A few of the mamas said they were planning on going to the Halloween event.  The vibe in Hive is a good one.

The most impactful decision Hive made in 2023 was to hire someone to help.  After two years of acting as the volunteer executive director, I was burning out.  We prioritized finding someone to assist.  In January, we posted a job for a program director.  Kayla Kantor reached out immediately.  She said that she felt like this job was divine intervention.  That’s speaking my language!  I knew she was a fit.

We won the lottery with Kayla.  She’s a beautiful, funny, and smart mother of a one-year-old boy named Ethan.  Kayla is a board-certified music therapist who previously worked at Primary Children’s Hospital.  She told me, after having Ethan, working at the hospital was too much. Both emotionally and time away from Ethan.   Hive’s part-time position was perfect.

Together, Kayla and I develop and execute all Hive programming.   Kayla is the face of Hive.  She hosts the the weekly coffees, the monthly speaker series, and the Hive Hikes.  Kayla schedules and manages our Instagram feed and tells me what she thinks the mamas need.  We work well together.

As the Hive community is growing we needed more support.  This fall, we created a board of advisors.  We hired an advisor, Mary Christa to help guide us in this process. We asked four local women to join us.  Each has unique talents and a connection with Hive or with the community that we serve.  Our first retreat was in October.  It was an awesome energy.

Together, our board will meet monthly and set goals to broaden Hive’s programming to support, educate and connect all mamas regardless of race, language, or orientation.  We know that to broaden our offerings, we need to diversify our board. This change allows my co-founders Perry and Joanna to maintain their roles as founders instead of advancing to the advisory board which is a better fit for them.

Our board will help us fundraise to sustain the free programming and our paid staff.  This Friday, November 3rd is Park City’s annual day of giving, Live PC Give PC.  Our goal is to raise $100,000 from 100 donors.  I am hopeful we will meet our goal.

The donations and grants we receive are paramount.  This last year we:

• Hosted 45 weekly MamaBEE mama social groups in person at the PC Library, monthly Hive Hikes and a Summer Soiree music in the park event.  

• Created an in person support groups called WellMama (a Postpartum Mood Disorder support group in collaboration with the People's Health Clinic) and Boob Group (a breastfeeding support group)  and a  free Infant CPR class for parents. 

• Hosted ten monthly speakers live on zoom and archived them on our website.

• Created our first Healing Circle for pregnancy and birth loss and Perinatal Resource Fair.

• Delivered delicious dinners for new families and families experiencing hardships.

I sent a few emails out last week promoting Live PC Give PC.  One mama wrote me back sharing the news she just had a second child.   She said:

“I look back to my maternity leave with (my first daughter) with such fondness because of the women I was lucky enough to connect with through Hive and have missed our coffee and chats.  I will most definitely be donating again this year. Keep doing the good work you do.”

Hive Family Collective is really special.  I’m grateful for the time and space to focus on this work and for Kayla’s support in executing our mission.