Success Stories: The First Annual Cornerstone Mom’s Dinner

Darcy Phillips, Cornerstone’s Executive Director says, “When my kids were growing up I was lucky to have a great tribe of moms that I could surround myself with. I’m not sure what I would have done without the support of other women who, like me, all questioned if we were doing the whole “mom” thing right. This is why I was thrilled that last week Cornerstone hosted our first annual Mom’s Dinner! This event gave mothers and their kids a space to connect with other moms and kids in our community and the opportunity to build a network of support.”

Cornerstone’s Family Resource Navigator, Iris Bicksler, came up with the idea to host a mother-daughter dinner. Iris works closely with many Cornerstone families and organized the event, stating “ Social isolation is one of the biggest issues families I work with face. Parents and kiddos have busy lives, often live away from family, and are sometimes nervous to make new friends.” Mom’s Dinner was open to residents from all properties, giving attendees the chance to see some new faces, in a safe, welcoming environment.

According to Iris, Mom’s Dinner is the type of community engagement event that can make a big impact on the lives of Cornerstone residents: “I’ve built relationships with each family through peer support, and I am honored to be a part of their lives. Living in a place that has community events like this is a key element to making sure kids thrive.”