Creativity to Infinity
A reflection on hope, gratitude, and emerging from challenges, by Sister Mary Bader, CEO of St. Ann's Center.
This article was originally published on Sept. 6, 2022, at the Catalogue for Philanthropy blog.
A Minute With Sister Mary: Summer Fun and Special Moments at St. Ann's Center
You may know that we celebrated St. Ann’s Day on July 26 – our annual summer celebration with resident families, children in our Child Care Center, and St. Ann’s staff. This event – hosted here at St. Ann’s – includes fun activities and games, food and drink, and of course, ice cream. The day also offered two particularly special moments which have stayed with me over the last week.
Families Enjoy Games, Treats, and Pony Rides on St. Ann’s Day
St. Ann’s Day 2022 opened with the “mane” event – a real-life Pony Ride held next to our outdoor playground. Skilled trainers from Piscataway Riding Stables accompanied Bishop (horse) and Peanut (pony) to provide rides for all attendees – including mothers and their children who live at St. Ann’s, as well as children from the community enrolled in our Child Care Center.
Melody's Story: From Trauma to Healing and Hope
As a survivor of childhood trauma, sadly, when Melody had no familial or social supports she was placed in Maryland's foster care system. When she became pregnant, she moved again, this time to St. Ann’s Center's Teen Mother-Baby Program.
A Minute With Sister Mary: New Beginnings, Anchored by Housing and Child Care
Thank you for enabling new beginnings for families at St. Ann's Center! While no two families who enter our programs are alike, we often see common stressors which have previously impacted a family’s ability to maintain independence and stability. These stressors include...
St. Ann's Center's Model of Care
The Directors of St. Ann's Center's Residential Programs and Clinical and Social Work Services recently joined us for a conversation on St. Ann's emerging Model of Care - and how this model supports mothers' mental health during and after their time at St. Ann's.