Raising Astoria Social Networks

Raising Astoria began as a conversation between two new moms, Kimberly Montini and Laurie Nicholson, who wondered why their family-friendly neighborhood wasn’t offering more family-friendly retail and class options. As their dream came to fruition, they realized there was one truly unique and special thing that the neighborhood truly needed-- support. Support for parents, so many of whom have no immediate family nearby. Support for children, who need to learn, grow, and play in a strong community. Support for moms and dads who have amazing ideas, knowledge, and wisdom to offer back to their community. As Raising Astoria has passed through our own infancy and toddler years, we’ve learned a lot! Our mission has taken on a life of its own, and we’ve simply opened our hearts and our minds, following this community as it defines the mission of Raising Astoria. We truly are raising Astoria. Here are some key components of the new Raising Astoria: Community and Education Center. ● We pride ourselves on maintaining affordabilty and value within our class offerings, both for children and adults. ● We know that flexibility is key for parents. That’s why our classes work on a rolling basis, and most of our class packs are interchangeable. ● We are committed to recognizing the talent within our community. That’s why we hire local parents to teach 90% of our classes. We believe that parents who are “in the trenches” everyday can create and provide children’s and parenting education in a way that no pre-packaged or corporate class can compare to. ● We also utlize local parents in a work-study program, allowing those who are more budget conscious to work and gain class credits. ● Most importantly, we love this community. We want to make it better because we live here! And we want to continue building a strong community because we need it too! Our kids are little Astorians, and we view Raising Astoria as a big family.