By Debra Messick

CAMBRIDGE - Braving the frosty air on Saturday, Dec. 21, parents, grandparents, and children of all ages received a warm welcome at Maryland Parents Supporting Parents (MDPSP) headquarters on Pleasant Street in Cambridge.

In equal parts merry and meaningful, the family engagement event featured a hot chocolate bar, a special meal by local caterer Shantay Linder (Catering by Shantay), arts and crafts, gently used toys for kids to select and complimentary professional quality holiday family photos.

The group’s founder, Shay Lewis-Sisco, is a Community/Program Engagement Consultant, Dorchester County Public Schools Career Coach, and is set to officially begin representing Ward 2 on City Council beginning January 13.

She’s also a mom, busy raising four youngsters with her husband Harold–Jairyn,18, Jakayla, 12, and twins Harmonie and Harlem, 9 and is looking forward to connecting with community parents.

In the cheerful office space, they recently finished renovating, informational flyers informed visitors of the group’s goals, programs and activities.

In the building’s large meeting room, often used to host One Mission Cambridge community meals, guests partook of the hearty spaghetti and meatballs buffet with Christmas cookies and brownies for dessert.

The walls were festooned with winter holiday landscape backdrops, providing picture-perfect Christmas card backgrounds for the family posed and playful portraits provided by volunteers Anthony Mann and Jeson Whitaker, who contributed their skills.

Mann, Program Coordinator for Wicomico Partnership for Families and Children, is also

coordinator for the group’s Violence Intervention and Prevention Program and travels to Cambridge to attend Living By Truth Ministries Church, where Lewis-Sisco also attends.

Whitaker, who delved into photography in his late teens, began by taking digital shots on his phone, until getting his first “actual” camera in 2018. After his dad, Erick, transitioned from life in 2020, photography became a crucial tool in helping him navigate through grief and loss and entrepreneurial calling. He now enjoys helping and giving back to others in the community whenever he can.

The local branch of the statewide organization is “dedicated to educating and supporting parents,” an introductory flyer stated.

“MDPSP recognizes life’s challenges and changes and aims to create a supportive network where parents are engaged, educated, and empowered," the flyer said.

The group aims to provide a welcoming, inclusive environment where all parents are heard, understood, and supported, and which will strengthen the community to help parents navigate challenges together.

According to Lewis-Sisco's flyer, an array of services is planned, from family engagement events to academic & financial literacy training, to workforce development.

Upcoming family engagement events include family support groups, family game nights, karaoke/bowling, a summer pool event and fall family field day.

Academic and financial literacy resources will include the Circles Financial Wellness Program funded by Moving Dorchester Forward with topics including money mindset and management plus budgeting.

The Circles upcoming seven-week cohort begins January 12, with four virtual sessions and three in-person meetings at Cabin Fever on Race Street.

Parents can also tap into resume assistance, job search support, workforce development, unemployment assistance, and professional networking.

For more information on MDPSP call 443-477-8257, email info@mdpsp.org, or visit www.mdpsp.org.