In the Neighborhood: 'Camp Rosen'

The Rosen family balances raising their children with community activism and participation.

In this new section, Jmore profiles a local young family that is doing interesting things in our community.

Every summer, Laurie Rosen sets up a bounce house, swingsand inflatable pool in her backyard. She calls it “Camp Rosen.” Every night, sheand her husband, Dr. Michael Rosen, head outside for some family fun with theirkids, Ruby, 3, and Spencer, 1.

“Having my own dental practice allows for a wonderfulfamily, work-life balance,” says Michael, owner of the Center of Dentistry inLutherville.

And on any given summer night, if you drive by the Rosens’ home,you are sure to see a yard filled with family, friends and lots of love.

“I always knew I was going to live in this area because it’s where my family is,” Laurie says. “Pikesville is a big melting pot of Jews, and I couldn’t imagine raising my children anywhere else.”

A New York native, Michael chimes in, “I realized early on [whendating Laurie] that it was just a question as to whether I would be alrightstaying here, because I knew she wasn’t leaving.”

Now, the couple, who recently celebrated their fifth weddinganniversary, is completely immersed in the community and has woven Jewishtraditions into the fabric of their lives.

“We love that Ruby and Spencer our growing up with Jewishcustoms,” says Michael. “Ruby [who attends Beth Tfiloh’s preschool] looks forwardto Shabbat every week. We joke she’llbe reminding us to light Shabbat candles on Friday night.”

In addition to giving their children a Jewish education, Lauriehas volunteered for the past two years as a connector for the Macks Center forJewish Education.

“Despite living here forever, I never had any leadershiprole within the Jewish community before the CJE,” says Laurie. “My friend CarlyGreenberg, a former CJE connector, pushed me to do this and I’m definitelypassionate about it. I’ve made some of my strongest relationships through beinga connecter.”

Laurie has planned various programs such as “Shabbat in thePark” and parents’ nights out to engage young Jewish families and help bringJudaism into their lives.

“We live in a close-knit community where everyone knowssomeone,” says Laurie, who’s built a network of almost 500 Jewish families withchildren 5 and under. “I’m just connecting those dots and bringing peopletogether who probably already have a mutual friend.”

Both Michael, 32, and Laurie, 35, graduated from theUniversity of Delaware, but it wasn’t until they lived in Federal Hill that theirpaths crossed, thanks to JDate. At the time, Michael was attending theUniversity of Maryland School of Dentistry and Laurie was a teacher inBaltimore County Public Schools. In 2013, they moved to Florida for Michael’s yearlongresidency before planting roots here.

“I’ve never felt like an outsider in Baltimore,” Michael says.“But I will say it’s the only place I’ve ever been that when asked where I wentto school, people mean high school and not college.”

Michael and Laurie know what it’s like to have a lot ontheir plates, but working together as a team makes their journey one filledwith true happiness. The couple smile when discussing Michael’s idea to start adental practice while Laurie was pregnant with their son.

“The Center for Dentistry opened three days before Spencerwas born,” says Michael, who teaches part-time at the University of MarylandSchool of Dentistry and is part of the Maryland State Dental Association. “Itwas a race against the clock to see which would happen first, but it was goodmotivation to get the practice up and running.”

In April, Michael celebrated a year in business and isliving his dream. “The ultimate goal in dental school was to have my own practice,”he says. “The kids love visiting me at work, and it’s amazing for me to be ableto show them hard work pays off.”

For Laurie, the goal of raising her children in herchildhood community is especially meaningful.

“Whenever I walk into Starbucks or Target, I run into someonewho recognizes my kids,” she says. “That gives me a warm feeling. I always saythere is nothing like best friends having best friends.”