Upcoming events – Breastfeeding World

Join The Third Annual Times Square, NYC Big Latch On!

Samantha Sykula — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 13:00:47 +0000

Last year over 200 mothers gathers on the red steps of Times Square in New York City and nursed their babies, together being a part of New York City’s, Second Annual Times Square Big Latch On

This year, Breastfeeding World is bringing the Big Latch On to New Yorkers again! With the help of our volunteers, sponsors, and donors, we are “Spreading The Breastfeeding Love” in New York by hosting this year’s third annual Times Square Big Latch On and Community Event!

On August 5^th, 2017, at exactly 10am, mothers and babies (and/or their pumps) will gather on the red steps in Times Square, New York City. In that moment, we will unite as one with thousands of mothers across the World to Normalize Breastfeeding.

What is the Global Big Latch On?

Global Big Latch On events take place at registered locations around the world, where women gather together to breastfeed and offer peer support to each other. Their friends, family and community join this celebration to promote and support breastfeeding. Volunteers from within the community host each location, hosting a Global Big Latch On event creates a lasting support network for your community

Find out more on their website

Last Year’s Latch On’s

Last year was Breastfeeding World’s first year organizing Tri-State Level Events. We hosted Latch On’s in Hamilton County, Martha’s Vineyard, and of course here, in Times Square, NYC. United as one, we celebrated Breastfeeding within our unique, amazing communities.

Check out our promotional video from last year, created by our founder Alexia Garcia of Allegares Photography:

What Can You Expect From This Year’s Times Square, New York City Big Latch On?

Upon arrival, check in for nursing mamas will begin at 9 am. Please be sure to give yourself enough time to navigate the streets of Manhattan, transportation or parking. Registration will be found at the red steps, simply look for the teal Breastfeeding World shirts! After registration, we will gather on the steps and prepare for the big moment, the Latch On, which will begin at 10am sharp. After the final count has been made and photographs of our Big Latch have been taken, as a group, we will walk over to Bryant Park (On 6^th Ave, between 40^th and 42^nd St) for the Community Event!

Don’t Leave After The Latch On! The Fun Is Only Just Getting Started. Join Us At Bryant Park For The Breastfeeding World NYC Community Event!

As every mother who has ever put a babe to the breast knows, Breastfeeding isn’t just about the latch. The same goes with our event – it’s not only about the latch here either! It’s about self-care, finding support, discovering our village, and, naturally, the FREE STUFF!

I know, I know, free stuff has nothing to do with breastfeeding. But, what kind of awesome event doesn’t have free stuff right!? Our supportive sponsors have each donated a raffle item for our participants and their families. Every mother who is pre-registered will get a free raffle ticket, along with a swag bag, filled with amazing goodies from our sponsors! Additional raffle tickets will be available for purchase for $1 each.

How To Participate In This Year’s

Times Square, NYC’s Big Latch On

Latch On Participant

Are you a Breastfeeding or Pumping Parent with a nursling? Let us know to expect you, get a free raffle ticket and swag bag by Pre-Registering Here! Then all you have to do is join us the day of and check in!

Sponsor

Would you like to support our local Breastfeeding community while marketing your brand to our participants? Email me at ssykula@breastfeedingworld.org for more details, and Register Here

Volunteer

Everyone at Breastfeeding World volunteers our time and love because of our passion for the breastfeeding community. Are you interested in helping to make this event possible? Please email Samantha Sykula at ssykula@breastfeedingworld.org

About Our Photographer

We are very lucky to have our founder, Alexia Garcia and Alegares Photography, photograph our event

Alexia Garcia is a wonderful mother to her little girl Francesca. She currently lives on Martha’s Vineyard, and spends a lot of time in New York, where she lived during the first Big Latch On event. Alegares Photography specializes in family, children and newborn portraiture. Alexia has an incredible eye and has been practicing her craft for over four years. She began Breastfeeding World after she had her daughter and struggled through the beginning of her Breastfeeding journey. Alexia credits her mother and sister who motivated her to push through the hard times and continue Breastfeeding. The project was born from the understanding that not every mother has the support and community that she should. Find out more, or book a session by emailing her at info@alegares.com

About Our Diamond Sponsors

Breastfeeding World is a volunteer run, self-funded and non-profit organization. We rely on donations like those from our generous sponsors to make these events possible. Supporting our sponsor’s businesses is a great way to let them know you think we are a great cause!

Kindred Bravely

Kindred Bravely is an amazing, mother-centered business. Just like motherhood, Kindred Bravely is built on love. And that love has literally been poured into each item of clothing in their line. They sell amazing SUPPORTIVE (goodness knows that’s hard to find, especially for moms with ginormous boobs!) nursing bras, tanks, pajamas, and even beautiful C-section underwear!

Baltic Essentials

We can’t even contain our excitement about working with Baltic Essentials: On top of their generous Raffle donation, they are donating an amber teething necklace in Every. Single. Swag Bag. Find out more about them here!

MommyCon

Speaking of Swag Bags, MommyCon will be donating swag bags to the Indiana event! What is MommyCon?

MommyCon is a nationwide convention series dedicated to creating and nurturing a community of parents and parents-to-be in celebration of natural parenting.

MommyCon take a gentle and positive approach to educating parents about the emotional and physical benefits of natural birthing, breastfeeding and babywearing. We advocate value of holistic health, eco-friendly diapering, child safety standards and procedures, and female self-care and wellness. Our mission is to create a community of support, acceptance and non-judgment for women journeying through parenthood.

We are so grateful to Mommycon for donating bags to fill with amazing swag!

So Come and Join Us! Throw Down Your Picnic Blanket, Whip Out A Breast, Feed Your Baby, and Find Support. You Don’t Want To Miss Out On The Family Event Of the Year!

Be sure to join us in our social media accounts and be up to date with the progress of our project!

And… Don’t forget to share your brelfies using our hashtag

#BreastfeedingWorld

Samantha Sykula

Born and raised in NY, I studied speech and language pathology at NYU. I am a stay at home mom to two beautiful children, Richard and Charlotte and wife to my wonderful husband, Rich. I have always had a deep love for learning, which has grown further since becoming a mother, I am always looking for new ways to enrich our lives. Becoming a mother changed my life, I learned compassion, caring and most importantly, true love. I hope to share the experiences of my breastfeeding, cloth diapering, babywearing, crocheting, full of love, life.

The post Join The Third Annual Times Square, NYC Big Latch On! appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

Announcing our Second NYC Big Latch On

admin — Wed, 04 May 2016 15:43:21 +0000

Yes, we are doing it again!

It pleases me to announce that this year Breastfeeding World will be uniting efforts once again with the Global Latch On and we will be hosting our Second Annual NYC Big Latch On!

This year Alexia Garcia (Founder of the Breastfeeding World community & photo project) will once again be working with her amazing friend and fellow dreamer Lisa Maloney (volunteer coordinator for Breastfeeding World events) as well as the rest of the Breastfeeding World’s team: Samantha Sykula (BFW Editor) and Christian Garcia to ensure we bring you the best peer-to-peer event possible in New York City.

On 2015 with only one month of planning we managed to have a great success in our first iconic NYC Big Latch On. We gathered 76 nursing moms and over 100 breastfeeding supporters who came together to celebrate breastfeeding in none other than the traditional Times Square.

The Global Big Latch On takes place annually over two days during World Breastfeeding Week (1st – 7th August). As a worldwide peer support and community development event, it aims to strengthen national and global support for breastfeeding and to improve the health of children and women around the world. The first year it took place was in 2010, two countries participated in it and had 2,045 babies latched. On 2015, 28 countries participated and together we managed to break the record having 14,889 babies latched.

How does the Big Latch work?

It’s pretty simple and so much fun. At 10:30 am local time women all around the world simultaneously nurse their little ones for one whole minute aiming to help promote breastfeeding around the world.

Why did Breastfeeding World choose to stay in Times Square?

Two very simple reasons…

Times Square is the heart of NYC, the heart of the Big Apple. Last year, our NYC moms took over Times Square and they loved it. We decided we couldn’t take our iconic and historic event and “after coffee” (you’ll know more about that soon) away from the city. So get ready because this year we will be momentous! Together we will be making a difference in our community.

Breastfeeding World is not affiliated with any political entity. We kindly thank all the efforts that Borough Hall presidents have done to help promote and normalize breastfeeding but we prefer to keep our event politics-free. Our goal is to serve our community of mothers by educating, offering support and creating an atmosphere where they can all feel welcomed and cared for. Breastfeeding World is an initiative that has quickly developed into an online community, from moms to moms and we wish to keep it that way.

I’d love to join and be apart of Breastfeeding World’s second annual NYC Big Latch On, how can I do it?

First thing you need to know: you DON’t need to be a breastfeeding mom to be able to join us, if you are a breastfeeding supporter then we want you with us too!

You can be a part of this year’s iconic event by participating in the actual latch or by being part of our amazing volunteer group.

Nursing mama? You can register to be a NYC Big Latch On participant HERE and make sure you mark it on your calendars!

Volunteer? You can sign up to be a part of the Breastfeeding World volunteer team for this 2016 NYC Big Latch On and help us make a difference in our community HERE.

Important Disclaimer: On April 1st on our Facebook Page we announced we were working with Lisa Maloney and our volunteer from last years event, Kiki Valentine, organizing the Brooklyn Big Latch On. Kiki has parted ways from the Breastfeeding World’s group of volunteers and we wish her all the very best, we loved working with Kiki and will be missing her dearly but we are super happy to have inspired her to have her own event. Breastfeeding World is no longer participating nor affiliated in any way with the Brooklyn Big Latch On nor with Brooklyn’s Borough Hall. We wish them the very best!

Be sure to join us in our social media accounts to be up to date with the progress of our project!

And… don’t forget to share your brelfies using our HT #breastfeedingworld

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admin

A photography project founded in late 2014 by Alexia Garcia, photographer a Alegares Photography. Breastfeeding World aims to promote breastfeeding and encourage new moms to nurse their babies through the art of photography and story telling.

The post Announcing our Second NYC Big Latch On appeared first on Breastfeeding World.