Community Connector – Newcomer finds out how to keep themselves and everyone else informed – Monterey Herald

MARINA – A spouse in the military with a husband on active duty in the Marines, Brandi Jones has been new to town many times. As the mother of two teenagers, who have placed her in her new community at every stage of her growing up, she had to learn the state of the country quickly enough to make her children feel at home. Again.

Just before the pandemic, the Jones family moved from Arizona to the Monterey Peninsula and bought a house in East Garrison pending retirement in the years that followed. Once again, when Jones started asking the standard questions of her new community – where are the parks, are dogs allowed, are there BBQ areas, are there art programs, who makes the best sushi, pastries, coffee; where are the gyms, what events are happening this month – she started to believe that maybe she isn’t the only one wondering what’s fun, festive, and family-oriented here.

As a result, Jones, 39, launched Macaroni KID Monterey, a free weekly local e-newsletter and website with events, activities, products and places for parents, children and families. Within a few months, an addition of curiosity and a desire to connect transformed Jones from visitor to virtual visitor center.

“The release of Macaroni KIDS Monterey is my dream,” she said. “I love reaching out to our local community and enriching our experiences by connecting libraries, schools, recreation centers, community centers, and all the wonderful organizations that create programs for children and their families.”

Make connections

Jones, who earned her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies including business education, social science, and creative writing, had taught a transitional kindergarten at Monterey Bay Christian School until COVID restricted the program on campus. She is currently pursuing her Masters in curriculum and teaching with an emphasis on early childhood education and plans to teach on behalf of future educators at the college level.

In the meantime, she is busy supporting the interests and activities of her son (14) and daughter (16) and developing Macaroni KID Monterey, not only as an information center for the community but also as a resource for companies and organizations to use to advertise their offers.

“It suits my personality to be creative, to network and connect people,” she said, “as I see new opportunities to promote local small businesses and bring people together. Why not talk about my amazing experience of discovering Sweet Reba’s red velvet cake at the Crossroads shopping center in Carmel? It’s a win-win situation for everyone. “

Jones didn’t develop Macaroni KID, but she does develop it in the Monterey Peninsula. And she didn’t make the name up, but she likes the alliteration when she adds Monterey. It’s a larger organization that she has been recruiting for local publishing, an opportunity she seized when she realized she was already doing this pretty much on her own.

“I knew this business model worked,” she said, “because I’ve been doing it since my children were little and I did research and published information about the crafting program in the local library and other ways for them to get involved.” . We’ve been inside for so long about COVID; That way we can stick our heads out the door and see what’s going on. “

At the start of the pandemic, Jones focused on her children’s needs and activities, going to school, attending the local spouse club and starting Macaroni KID Monterey. Since then she has turned her attention to her children and Macaroni KID.

“Macaroni KID Monterey is something we need after COVID. I can feel it, ”she said. “People don’t need another magazine, they need an up-to-date live resource that we can access with an iPad or phone. We need to be able to view event calendars, find event calendars, and connect with our community. “

At monterey.macaronikid.com viewers will find five great parks and playgrounds, the best ice cream on the peninsula, the perfect broccoli salad, pandemic logs and how to prepare for life after the pandemic, 31 calls for conversations with children and stories about the care trip, Safe Catch and Salmon, STEM challenges for children. For starters. Plus a library of other timely, relevant articles.

“This area has so much to offer and there is so much going on. I want to be the person this community goes to for information, ”said Jones. “Macaroni KID Monterey is a great place to ask questions, discuss your business, and find out what’s on the calendar. I have just attended my first chamber meeting and I am very happy to be here. “