Kristin is a parent whose experience as a single mother inspired the idea for Café au Play. Drawing on her professional and personal experiences, Kristin began to envision a gathering place that would offer caregivers and children informal and formal support and be accessible to their unique needs and routines. Kristin has a B.S. in Elementary Education from Vanderbilt University and has taught both elementary and special education. Currently, she is working towards attaining a Masters degree in Public Administration with Nonprofit Specialization and the Advanced Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Portland State University. Kristin looks forward to building relationships with the diverse group of families that support Café au Play and watching their children grow up in a more family-centered community.

Being the mother of twins for the past 2 1/2 years, Julia realized there were places for children and places for adults, but there were few local places that catered to both. When she read about Café au Play in the Oregonian last winter, she was inspired to get involved because she knew it would be a great place for families with its mission focused on nurturing both children and their caregivers. Before Julia took on the full-time work of raising twins, she worked as an administrative assistant for the District Attorney of Multnomah County. Currently, she is an area manager for Moxie Moms and volunteers for Full House Moms, an organization that supports parents of multiples. When Café au Play opens, she looks forward to facilitating an advice phone tree for expectant and new mothers and encouraging them to join in the café community. Julia has plenty of experience walking into coffeehouses with her twins and having the patrons look at her as if to say, “how long is she going to stay?” She can’t wait to walk into Café au Play and have the regulars greet her with, “where were you yesterday?”

For years Charles has talked with his daughter, a single mother, about the need for public spaces that not only welcome children, but encourage parents to connect with each other. As an Associate Professor of Urban Studies and Planning at Portland State, he was familiar with Ray Oldenburg’s book, The Great Good Place, which argues that one of the essential roles of public spaces is to foster community. The idea for Café au Play emerged from their discussions and reading of Oldenburg. In addition to being a father and grandfather, Charles has been active in traditional organizations such as the PTA and neighborhood associations, but also helped create new organizations such as an art support group, growers’ co-op, and direct action political groups. Charles’ commitment to Café au Play is a continuation of his efforts to create new community organizations that are responsive to the changing contours of our society.