What’s Blooming at Bellis This Spring

The never-ending January turned into the faster-than-ever February and now we find ourselves on the precipice of spring and all the new beginnings that come with it. Here at Bellis, we have been steadily working all winter to bring to life abundant programming and events. Last week marked the beginning of our sixth(!) online drop-in group, with the addition of our Newcomer’s Group, which is designed specifically for new participants to Bellis as a means of welcoming them gently into this vulnerable space of sharing their experiences. Seeking support, while ultimately beneficial, can be overwhelming and intimidating, especially when it has previously been filled with shame and judgement. This group offers a safe space to explore the landscape with others who are also new to Bellis. 

At the end of March, we will be hosting the Bellis day retreat with 15(!) participants already registered. Due to the increased number of participants, we moved venues from our Uptown office to Children’s Home of Minnesota, which was made available free of cost to us. The theme for the day is “The Things We Carry”. We look forward to engaging conversation, thoughtful introspection, and a renewal of spirit, accompanied by delicious food provided by our Board of Directors.

We have the honor of speaking at the Minnesota Social Services Association Convention in late March. I will be giving a presentation entitled Always a Mother: Understanding Ambiguous Loss as a Mental Health Issue. I am grateful to have Nicole Peter, one of our long-time Bellis participants, presenting with me. The courage it takes to stand in front of a group of strangers and share your story is tremendous. Nicole’s will to do so stems from her innate desire to offer support to others that are grieving the loss of their parental rights so that they know they do not have to walk alone.

And lastly, but certainly not least, our biggest fundraising event of the year, Bid for Bellis, is Friday, April 25th from 5-7:30pm at Town and Country Club in St. Paul.

Bid for Bellis

When Vanessa and I started thinking about a fundraiser our goals were fun, easygoing, engaging, and impactful. I feel like we are spot on with these ideals. Tickets are low cost, designed to appeal to those who are curious about Bellis, but aren’t ready to make a huge financial investment. The location, right off 94 and Cretin, makes it accessible for people coming from both metropolises and surrounding areas. The day and time frame allow for people to swing in after work or before heading out to dinner and not have to commit to an entire evening. The silent auction offers incredible opportunities to support Bellis while benefiting from amazing items: signed games hockey sticks from Minnesota Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov and future Hall of Famer Marc Andre Fleury, a sailboat cruise on Bde Maka Ska, handcrafted pottery and custom artwork from local artists, dinner and wine pairing for 8 in your home, an Apple Watch Series 10, and so much more!

We will also have the privilege of hearing from three of our Bellis participants as they share the impact Bellis programming has made in their lives. Please join us and so many others from our incredible growing community in supporting people whose children are parented by others.

We are so very grateful for your continued support of the work we do and the Bellis participants.  We hope to see you soon!

Written by Kelly Tronstad
M.Ed and Licensed Parent and Family Educator
Bellis Executive Director