Dear Members of the Menlo Park City Council,
My name is Mobashira Farooqi, and I’ve been a resident of Menlo Park for
just over two years. I moved here with my husband and our newborn son—only
six weeks old at the time—when my husband began his postdoc at Stanford.
While he had a few connections in the area, I knew no one. The transition
into motherhood, paired with the isolation of being in a new city without a
support system, made those early days incredibly challenging. I was also
working part-time remotely—often at night—which further limited my ability
to connect with others.
When I first joined the Menlo-Atherton Co-op Nursery School, I was honestly
skeptical about the level of parent involvement. As a tired new mom, I
questioned whether I could handle one more commitment. But as the months
went on, my perspective changed completely.
The Co-op has become more than just a school for me. I found friends,
mentors, and fellow parents who are trying to raise their children with
kindness, purpose, and community—just like I am. We share advice, meals,
babysitting, laughs, and sometimes even tears. When I had my second child
just one month ago, the support I received from Co-op families was
immediate and heartfelt.
Now, when I walk around Menlo Park and bump into fellow Co-op parents at
the park or the farmer’s market, I feel something I hadn’t felt in a long
time: a deep sense of belonging. This school turned a new city into a home.
I urge you to support a long-term lease renewal for the Co-op under its
current terms. This model only works because of its nonprofit, parent-run
structure—market-rate rent would make this beloved and historic community
institution unsustainable. The Co-op has served generations of Menlo Park
families and doesn’t cost the city a dime to operate. On the contrary, it
enriches the city by cultivating engaged, connected, and community-minded
parents.
Please give staff clear direction to offer the Co-op a 10-year lease at its
current terms, as has been afforded to other nonprofits within Nealon Park.
This is more than just a building—its the heart of a community that has
embraced me, and that I hope to give back to for years to come.
Thank you for your time and for your service to our city.
Warmly,
*Mobashira Farooqi*
Menlo Park Resident
725 Roble Ave Apt 11
586-354-6425
