CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Walk into a small storefront on the corner of 61st and St. Lawrence in the West Woodlawn neighborhood, you’ll enter a world of a little joyful chaos.
"Oh yeah, this place can get a bit chaotic," laughed Jennifer Mosley, board president of HelloBaby, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
HelloBaby is a free play space for children under three and their parents. It was founded by Debbie Frisch.
"HelloBaby is her first child,” recalled Mosley. “The concept was born after she had a lot of foster children and realized many communities didn't have access to places for kids like she had. She wanted a place where they could come and learn about what tummy time is, be read to or singalongs, and their parents are with them too."
Mosley said it's as a way to provide safe spaces in so-called “play desserts.”
"Play desserts is a place where there is no playground where kids can play safely, or they aren't comfortable or safe playing in their front yard,” Mosley said. It's a neighborhood that doesn't have a place for children to come out safely and experience nature, or where parents can bring their kids and have a community where they can build relationships not just [with] the children but the caregivers, parents and our volunteers."
Mosley said it's not a drop-off or a daycare, it's a community center for their toddlers and their parents.
"Parents stay with them, and it's unique because it's free and it's in underserved neighborhoods,” said Mosley. “Normally on the North Side, downtown or even on the South Side, parents take their kids for these experiences for learning opportunities. Some of these neighborhoods don't even know these things exist. We want our parents to also come in and connect."
Board Vice President Dr. Patricia Jones Blessman is also a clinical psychologist.
She said HelloBaby offers important activities, socialization and programming for kids at a critical age of growth and development.
"Kids, zero to three, that age is critical,” Jones Blessman said. “It's important to capitalize on their brain development while it's happening and to give children very enriched, social, cultural and emotional experiences because you're priming their brains for learning.”
HelloBaby is open five days a week and includes onsite programming and visits from a therapy dog and a pediatrician. Children also have a chance to go outside in the “Fairy Garden.”
"We have dance classes, they do little play and puppet classes. They also have plenty of free time,” said Mosley. “They are learning texture, and speech, not just a screen. There is no screen time. There is the Fairy Garden where they can experience nature, put their hands in the dirt and listen to the birds and just feel safe." said Mosley.
Seven years and 30,000 play visits later, HelloBaby is already expanding. A second location in Avalon Park is set to open next year.
Jones Blessman said the space and its opportunities have already made a huge difference to the West Woodlawn community.
"We also give away Pampers and baby food, but we provide connection to the community as well. This is the start of what I hope is a national movement to end play desserts in under resourced communities," said Jones Blessman.
Mosley said their goal is to raise $6 million and to open five new locations over five years.
“We wanted to make sure we were ready to grow,” Mosley said. “We are in the midst of building our second location. Right now, we are in the middle of our fundraising campaign. We want HelloBaby lights all over Chicago.”
HelloBaby is a dedicated play space that kids can call their own. Mosley said it's for kids who need it most.
"When kids come here, their faces light up. They actually cry when they have to leave," she smiled. "This is something that all cities need. We are helping Chicago understand that this is a very important thing. All kids deserve it, but there's a spot missing in Chicago's underserved neighborhoods," said Mosley.
Every Friday, "Stages Chicago" visits HelloBaby for an interactive story hour.
"We learn best when we're joyful and playful, and that is beyond a doubt, the one thing that HelloBaby serves up plenty of: joy and laughter," smiled Jones Blessman.
For more information or to donate, log onto hellobabychgo.org.
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