What is Parker’s Project?

Parker’s Project is about engaging youth, while collecting information about parenting experiences of young parents. 

Parker’s Project was inspired by Baby Parker. On July 28th 2005, the body  of a newborn baby boy was found in a Brantford Park. In an anonymous letter sent to police, the young mother indicated she didn’t know where to turn for assistance and was too scared to approach anyone she knew about her situation. Parker’s Project was born to empower parents to become change makers in their community. Parker’s Project is a parent-led group with the goals to activate youth voices, raise community awareness and to further the understanding of maternity and post-partum parenting needs of the parents in Brant.

Read the article by Michelle Ruby, The Brantford Expositor, August 12, 2022.

Why We Do It

Parker’s short life, and his mother’s heartbreaking letter to police, highlighted a need in the community. In 2016, a collaborative group was formed to oversee a needs assessment to investigate what pregnant and parenting youth identify as their needs in terms of support. Through a series of engagement sessions, one-on-one interviews and an anonymous survey, the researchers found that there was a need to have an available ongoing support, including financial, social, and emotional resources, to help young parents succeed. Although Parker’s Project started as a youth-led program, we welcome parents of all ages!

Where can I find additional resources?

To access resources shared by Parker’s Project, visit: https://www.parkersproject.info/resources-1 or download the Parker’s Project resource guide PDF at Parker’s Project: A Guide to Parenting in Brantford.