25 Years! Parent Book Groups. New Blog & Podcast. More
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Parent to Parent with Melanie
Happy July!
Is midsummer hitting you as hard as it has me? There's so much energy and activity right now, and yet that familiar feeling is creeping in: fall is coming, and a whole new season of life is on its way.
That is certainly true for PEN. Behind the scenes, amidst personal vacations, summer camps, gardening, and celebrations, a lot of planning and preparing has been underway. It can be hard to stay present in the moment while also building toward the future. But that is exactly where we find ourselves right now — and honestly, it feels like exactly the right place to be.
Our October 1 fundraising celebration, Roots & Wings, will perfectly encapsulate this beautiful tension. We will honor and celebrate 25 years of PEN's rich history, have a ball dancing, singing, and eating delicious food together, while raising the funds to seed our next chapter. And let me tell you, our future is bright.
Following a year of change, transition, and recentering, PEN is launching into fall with new partners, a new location-based hub strategy, an expanded programming focus, and (fingers crossed!) a refreshed website. Much more to come on all of this soon.
In the meantime, mark your calendars for two big events this fall:
We will be sharing our full vision for the next chapter of PEN very soon. Until then, we are looking forward to a fall of celebrating, honoring, playing, planning, and building: together, with all of you!
In solidarity with parents,
Melanie Piazza Executive Director
Roots & Wings: Celebrating 25 Years of Parent Engagement Network
TICKETS ARE ON SALE!
Join us for a special evening of storytelling, connection, and vision as we celebrate 25 incredible years of helping parents be and raise healthy, happy humans.
Thursday, October 1, 2026 5:30 – 9:00 PM at Nissi’s in Lafayette
See old friends. Meet new ones. Honor our roots. Help us spread our wings.
Enjoy cocktails, dinner, music, dancing, a wine pull, and a silent and live auction.
Hear from parents who have been with us since the beginning.
Celebrate parents and families whose lives have been changed by our work.
We are thrilled to announce our 2nd AnnualCelebrate Together! ¡Celebrando Juntos! — an all-ages, inclusive community event.
This year's event will take place at TLC Learning Centerin Longmont and feature music, food, family activities, and community resources for the whole family. Whether you’re looking to make new connections, discover helpful resources, or simply enjoy a fun-filled day with your family, there’s something for everyone.
Our Event Calendaris quickly filling for Fall 2026. Be sure to check it out and add dates to your calendar!
Upcoming PEN Events:
Parent Ambassadors 2026/27 School Year Kickoff Gathering Date: August 31, 2026 > Learn more
My Sister Liv: A Film Screening Date: September 17, 2026 > Learn more
MOTUS Theater Presents: What Love Requires Date: November 14, 2026 > Learn more
Collaborator Events:
Parenting with Ease hosted by Lisa Kaplan and Kate Winslow Date: July 23rd at 12 PM MT > Learn more
Motus Theater & Museo de Las Americas present: ConnectArte: Living Stories of Denver’s Chicano Movement with Motus Playback Theater Date: July 30, 2026 >Learn more
Parenting Book Groups are Back!
Parenting doesn’t come with a how-to manual, but you don’t have to figure it out alone.
PEN’s Parenting Book Groups are a welcoming space where parents and caregivers come together to discuss research-based parenting books, share experiences, build meaningful connections, and learn from one another with the guidance of an experienced facilitator.
Previous participants describe PEN Parenting Book Groups as a “welcoming, supportive environment where every voice is heard.” Participants leave feeling more confident and better equipped to navigate the joys and challenges of parenting.
Books will be available to borrow at no cost from the hosting library.
Fall 2026 Parenting Book Groups:
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
Tuesdays: September 15th, 29th and October 13th, 27th
Read our newest guest blog from Parent Coach, Jenn Wert
How to shift mindset to see your young kiddos differently. Attention-seeking behavior is often met with frustration, even disgust. If we see it differently — as our child actually feeling disconnected and needing more connection — we view, approach, and handle it quite differently.
Parenting Well Podcast — Creating Space: Parenting with Presence, Acceptance, and Connection
"I hear you, I see you, and I am present with you."
Dr. Lisa Templeton, a licensed clinical psychologist, author, and founder of The Interpersonal Healing Center, joins Dr. Shelly to talk about helping individuals and families slow down, listen inwardly, and meet life’s challenges with more awareness and connection.
Dr. Templeton is the author of Letting It Be: Mindful Lessons Toward Acceptance, and her public work includes writing, speaking, music, poetry, and teaching practices that support self-care, deeper listening, and relational harmony.
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