Moxie Moms means friends, fun and fitness -- Boulder Weekly Buzz

"Young bohemians:
Boulder parents find fun, creative ways to stay active" (3/9/06)
By Vince Darcangelo

The Boulder Weekly, Buzz Column

When she got first got pregnant, Susan Lavelle had no idea that she would be the founder of an organization providing resources and purchasing power for young moms. Active and social by nature, she was simply looking for other young mothers to hang out with.

"I didn't really know anyone who was pregnant or a new mom, so creating a community was very important for me personally," says Lavelle. "I started organizing hikes and walks and lunches. I thought it would be great to have events on a calendar."

The result is Moxie Moms, a Boulder-based "network of moms for friends, fun and fitness" launched in 2003.

"We have everything from fitness partners to events on our calendar for moms, kids and families," says Lavelle. "We partner with businesses to get discounts for the moms and families, but also to help the businesses market to the moms.

"Wouldn't it be great if moms had buying power?" she continues. "And wouldn't it be great if businesses had a way to market directly to the moms?"

Moxie Moms, which boasts members in their mid 20s through their late 40s, was a perfect fit for Lavelle, who has a background in marketing and a passion for fitness. As a result, many Moxie Moms events include hikes, and partners include Outdoor Divas and Flatiron Athletic Club, with more than 100 partners in Boulder County alone. But Moxie Moms also includes events such as Mom's Night Out, Art Night Out and charity work, raising money for Emergency Family Assistance Association, the Parenting Place and the Sue Burke MS Youth Foundation.

"When I started Moxie Moms, we looked at what was out there nationally for moms," says Lavelle. "We found a lot of fitness partners and specific organizations that did all community service work, but nothing that encompassed it all. I thought, 'We could do all of it.' We can make it what the moms want."

Moxie Moms went national in 2005 and have found success in other cities similar to what they've found in Boulder.

"Moms are always looking for a community, and everyone's always looking to save money," says Lavelle.

And though Moxie Moms' events are focused on mothers, Lavelle says that, with her organization, everyone wins.

"The sky is the limit with all the different avenues that we hit," she says. "It's great for the family, not just mom. It's that theory: If mom is happy, everybody is happy. The whole family is saving money, and mom is cutting out and getting active."

Saving money is nice. Getting active is nice. Introducing your kids to the arts is nice. But on top of all of this, through Moxie Moms members of Boulder's lost generation are gaining a network to meet others of similar age and circumstance.

For these young parents living in a city that tends to cater to Gen-Yers and Boomers, it's just nice to be included.

"It's the most exciting work I've ever done," says Lavelle. "I just love meeting all these new moms and people that have been isolated who are no longer isolated."

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For information about Moxie Moms and upcoming events, visit www.moxie-moms.com.