Moms Helping Moms: MESH moms Builds Connection and Community

By Traci Sanders

Ask any mom about the challenges of motherhood, and you’ll hear words like sleep deprivation, stress management, keeping the kids entertained, and more. But one thing that nearly every mom goes through but rarely talks about—whether out of guilt or the fear of being judged—is the feeling of isolation. Being home with little humans who demand your time, attention, and energy daily can be physically and mentally taxing. However, many moms worry they will appear ungrateful, selfish, or weak if they mention needing help or needing more human interaction than what their children provide.

A new organization serving the greater Atlanta area aims to address this challenge and build a supportive community for new mothers. MESH moms is an independent, secular, in-person group for mothers that launched in July 2023 to connect and empower women during pregnancy and the duration of the early childhood years. One of their primary goals is to help moms put all those fears, insecurities, and struggles to rest.

The group was founded by two friends, Martina Stellmaszek and Juliana Caspari, who are moms of seven children combined. They’re dedicated to combating the isolation and overwhelm that many new moms experience. “Motherhood is challenging enough; no one should have to go through it alone,” Juliana shared.

Both women are former executives who decided to use their corporate skills and advanced business degrees to create this entrepreneurial venture to help local moms.

“We wanted to provide a safe in-person space, as well as online, where moms could connect, share experiences, and receive guidance,” Juliana explained.

The club is open to and aims to provide a friendly, welcoming environment for mothers from all backgrounds and parenting styles.

MESH moms organizes playgroups based on children’s ages and developmental stages. Workshops on breastfeeding, sleep training, potty training, and postpartum mental health are also offered. Resources such as cooking classes are already on the calendar for next year.

“We believe that by coming together,” Juliana added, “we can create a powerful network that helps women navigate the challenges of motherhood and build lasting friendships along the way.”

Some of the regular meet-up activities include stroller walks, baby hangouts at the park, mobile baby playground meet-ups, luncheons, moms’ nights out, and more. Some are scheduled weekly, and others occur monthly. Seasonal events such as outings to pumpkin patches, annual holiday parties, and kids’ carnivals are also on the calendar.

Since the group is in its infancy and looking to grow, the founders are offering membership for just $1 per month to the first 100 members.

Continued on page 17

Snellville Citizen’s Police Academy: See What it is Like to be a Police Officer

By Tana Poncsak

Have you ever seen a police officer and wondered what being in law enforcement is like? Many local municipalities have a program that can help answer that question, and the Snellville Citizen’s Police Academy is one of them.

Sergeant Scott Smith of the Snellville Police Department is head of training and community affairs and the coordinator of Snellville’s Citizen’s Police Academy, which began its 34th session in September. The program started almost twenty years ago to bridge the gap and foster relationships between law enforcement and community members by giving residents a glimpse into what Snellville police officers do daily.

Sergeant Smith says the premise of the program is to put the attendees in similar scenarios that police officers might encounter on any given day so residents can get a better understanding of the processes, the decisions, and the possible consequences an officer may face on a caseby-case basis.

A big part of the program includes training tools such as a weapon simulator and enactments.

“It’s very hands on,” Sergeant Smith says. “We’ll tell a participant that they’re responding to a person down, and they’ll have to enter an empty building with role players to work their way through a given scenario and see if they can come up with a conclusion.”

If the attendee can’t reach the conclusion, the officers, who volunteer their time to teach, can help talk them through it.

The program also allows attendees to interact with many officers on the police force and to build personal relationships between the officers and the residents, something that Sergeant Smith says helps residents put a face with a name.

The immediate benefits of the program can be seen. Those who go through the Snellville Citizen’s Police Academy tend to show respect and support for the people in law enforcement in tangible ways, such as expressing kind words and providing the officers with a cool drink of water on a hot day during their shifts.

“We’re just people doing a job,” Sergeant Smith says. “It’s the relationships we are fostering with those two hours every week. And to see the return of those who come back to show their support and volunteer, it’s nice to know we’ve got their respect and support as well.”

The Snellville Citizen’s Police Academy is a nine-week session that meets one evening per week for two hours. During that time, attendees learn about public safety, firearms safety, domestic violence, traffic stops, and more. The sessions are taught by the same police officers who patrol the streets and neighborhoods while working to keep residents safe. The program is free and is for ages 18 and older.

Once attendees complete the program, the support for law enforcement doesn’t have to stop there. For those who would like to continue to support the Snellville Police Department after completing the program, Snellville has a Citizen’s Police Academy Alumni Association, which continues to support law enforcement through interaction and volunteer opportunities where alumni members can use what they learned from the program and contribute to the community. The association holds regular meetings, and there’s a nominal membership fee.

More information at https://www.snellville.org/police-department or their Facebook page.