Roppongi Cooperative Playgroup

TMG Spotlight on RCP Volunteers Katie & Bex

(Co-op parent volunteers/ guests pictured clockwise from left: Sato Kano, Jija Han, Victoria Close, Kaoru Arai- Colucci, Miwako Kobayashi).

Parents who visit our cooperative playgroup are definitely unique and interesting. We haven’t ended up in glorious Tokyo for nothing! We are singer-songwriters, actors, dancers, lawyers, diplomats, accountants, bloggers, business owners, journalists- you name it! Having this diversity of families is what makes the playgroup so special. And the contributions of each parent’s talents and skills makes the co-op thriving and successful. 

Being a volunteer at the co-op is a way not only to connect with families in Tokyo, but also to share what you love and give back.

Actually, some co-op volunteers have been highlighted this year on Tokyo Mothers Group’s blog! Stephanie, the director of TMG, has been a great supporter of the co-op. Here are recaps of some event collaborations between Roppongi Cooperative Playgroup and Tokyo Mothers Group:

And here are two TMG Mum Spotlights on some familiar faces from playgroup!

Photo by Ayako Ohkawa

Katie Sudo

Roppongi Cooperative Playgroup volunteer since August 2018 (check out the post: Co-op Renewal Summer 2018), Katie was featured as the May TMG Mums Spotlight. Originally from New Jersey, Katie has been living in Tokyo since 2006 with her husband, and they have a son, a daughter, and a cat with a curly tail. She has been teaching English and writing curriculum in public, private, and international schools to children, adolescents and adults in both the U.S. and Japan. She has two teaching certifications, K-12 English and the NJ equivalent of Special Education, and completed her MSEd at Temple University’s Japan campus in 2015. In addition to volunteering at the co-op, she teaches at Temple University Japan.

Bex Kelly

Bex led an active circle time and story at playgroup in August 2019 (check out the post: Recap! Circle Time Movement with Bex Kelly) and was featured as the January TMG Mum’s Spotlight.   Originally from the UK but grown up in Asia, Bex has spent the best part of her life across Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo, with a brief interlude across the oceans in Argentina. Her love of empowering others become strong in body, strong in mind has guided her through multiple yoga teacher trainings and alternative therapies, whilst her love of communication has been her motivation to become a multilingual mama of two small ones. Bex teaches prenatal and post natal yoga in Tokyo, and is currently on her way to become a certified Martha Beck Life Coach for those looking for that little push to get themselves on the road they know they want to be on – get in touch! 

Update: Bex has repatriated. We miss you, Bex! Come visit soon!

Are you curious about who else gets this playgroup up and running week after week? How about having our own “Featured Volunteer”? Who would you nominate?

Related Posts:

We would love to make visible the people who make our community vibrant. Being called “mom” or “dad” is an amazing honorific, but it’s not all of who we are. Let us celebrate YOU!

Want to exercise your writing chops and publish blog posts about some of our fabulous parents? Send us a message at cooperativeplaygroup12@gmail.com  to let us know you want to help. 

Roppongi Cooperative Playgroup is a grassroots community run by parents. Playgroups are held Tuesday mornings from 10:00 – 12:00. Check our calendar for meeting dates and topics. 

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Your attendance at Roppongi Cooperative Playgroup (RCP) meetings is entirely at your own risk and discretion. RCP accepts no responsibility for any loss or injury suffered by you or anyone else in connection with attendance at the playgroup.

Photos may be taken at meetings and posted on our blog and social media.

52 comments

  6. […] Katie, who had attended an open playgroup on the recommendation of a friend months before and had read the TMG post, stepped up to the plate. But it was clear that for the group to be successful, it needed to be re-energized. The equipment needed replacing. It was difficult to run as a co-op since there really were no current members. Katie was traveling to the States for summer. So a flurry of activity happened in early June, then picked up again in mid August. […]

  26. […] Ms Katie, the volunteer host for this meeting, introduced Kaoru to the group. There we learned a few things about the professional harpist. We learned that she does not only play classical music but that Ms Kaoru also holds various types of performances. Ms Kaoru introduced the children to the small harp instrument which resembles much like the harp you would sometimes see a cupid carry. It was very cool to check out & some of the children even had the chance to touch it. […]

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