On March 31, Way to Grow hosted its spring Community Baby Shower at the University of Minnesota’s Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC) in North Minneapolis. Families gathered for a shared meal, hands-on activities, baby supplies, and connections to community resources. The evening focused on bonding and attachment.
Throughout the night, families took part in activities, connected with educators and community partners, and received baby items and gifts to support their growing families. Larger items were donated by Joie Baby, including strollers, highchairs, and cars eats. These important items were shared through a closing moment of celebration, giving families the chance to bring home something they can use every day for their child.
From decorating onesies and creating baby books to learning about infant massage and breastfeeding, each part of the evening was designed to support early connection between parent and child. There was time to sit together, enjoy a shared meal, and simply be in community. A visit from Crunch, the Minnesota Timberwolves mascot, added to the fun for everyone, young and old.
It was a joyful night, and an extra-special one. Moments like this remind us what is possible when a community shows up for families.
Below, Way to Grow’s Program Director, Ronel Robinson, shares why these events matter and what families take with them when they leave.
Why We Host Community Baby Showers
By Ronel Robinson, Program Director
In some areas of the Twin Cities, families were not getting access to the kind of education that supports healthy pregnancies, child health, and better birth outcomes. We saw this gap and made the decision over these past two years to host or co-host community baby showers. These events are one way to close that gap and are made possible by funders who value supporting maternal and child health education through a celebratory, community-centered event.
Each baby shower is built around a theme. Past events have covered bonding and attachment, safe sleep, the benefits of breastfeeding and good nutrition, prenatal and postpartum self-care, stress management, and baby massage. Way to Grow also introduces early literacy at every shower. Babies can hear as early as five months in utero, so reading and talking to your baby before birth matters. We want families to know that.
What Families Bring with Them
Not every family comes to a baby shower for the same reason.
Some expectant parents are looking for a connection with the community. Some have shared that they do not have family nearby, or that their support circle is small. Others come to enjoy a positive celebration for themselves and their babies. They see it as a way to connect with their child, and as a way to access the baby supplies they need.
Way to Grow designs these events with the whole family in mind. Fathers, aunties, grandparents, children, and friends are all welcome. Family activities, games, and prizes are part of every evening so that everyone in the room feels included, not just the expectant parent.
Community Also Means Connection
Community baby showers do not end when the event is over. What families carry with them matters just as much as what happens in the room.
At our March baby shower, families connected directly with trusted providers offering support across pregnancy and early childhood. That included breastfeeding education, doula services, immunization support, postpartum care, and ongoing health resources.
During the evening, families met representatives from NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center, including OB-GYN Dr. Lavonne Moore, who led a breastfeeding education station. Hennepin County’s Baby Tracks immunization program, Hennepin County Child and Teen Checkups, Everyday Miracles, Cherish Life Birth and Beyond, the Ninde Doula Program at the Division of Indian Work, the Native American Community Clinic, and others were also present. The night was sponsored by the Medica Foundation, NorthPoint Health and Wellness, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, and Joie Baby.
These were not just tables or handouts. They were conversations. Families asked questions, shared their experiences, and built connections they can return to.
This kind of partnership is central to the model. It strengthens relationships across organizations and helps families find support that continues beyond a single event. This network of support is part of what makes these evenings work.
What We Hear from Families
The feedback from families has been clear. Parents value the education, the chance to learn something new, and the practical support. They appreciate the baby equipment, the mom-centered wellness gifts, the baby books, the food, and the fun.
Together, it all sends a clear message: you are not doing this alone.
Family Educator Nataya brought one of her newest families to the March 31 shower. For Britney, who is expecting her fifth child, it was her first baby shower. “I’m so happy you invited me and my family,” she told Nataya. “No one has ever thrown me a baby shower. I got so emotional being here. I look forward to coming to more social groups.”
Continuing the Support at Home
Community baby showers are one moment in a longer relationship. Way to Grow’s home visiting program continues this work through regular visits with a certified Family Educator. Families receive support on many of the same topics covered at community baby showers, from safe sleep and prenatal health to early literacy and navigating the healthcare system.
If you or someone you know is expecting or recently welcomed a new baby, learn more at waytogrow.org/services or enroll here.
Ronel Robinson is Program Director at Way to Grow.
