Moms First’s Post

✴️ Hey Boston-but-VIRTUAL! We know you're fed up and fired up. We know you want to be part of changing the status quo, and you want to do things differently. We do too. Chamber of Mothers is distilling our national efforts into local meetings and ya'll in Boston have been paving the way. We're in awe of your energy and enthusiasm. In the Boston area? (This one's virtual) RSVP at https://lnkd.in/eKa9nNDP and read below for more detail. -- We know it can sometimes feel like big-picture issues that moms are up against these days are too big. Our local chapter meetings are here to remind you that your voice matters. Your voice, your dollars, your advocacy at home, at work and in the community all matter and are needed. You can wield your power on a national and local level to fight for the America you want to live in and give to our children. Come to: 📍 Talk about your experience of mothering in America; 📍 Connect with other mothers and change-makers; 📍 Learn effective strategies for communicating your needs and opinions and advocating for change in a way that's productive rather than divisive; 📍 Be in a bold and protective space for change, where we'll devise concrete strategies for taking action. #themotherswillsaveusall #childcare #paidleave #maternalhealth #boston #bostonmoms

This #BarnaHighlight comes from our Motherhood Today report, created with The MomCo by MOPS International. Mothers play a crucial role in the faith formation of their children, which, in turn, can have a huge impact on the future health of our churches and communities. Obviously, it’s important to come alongside mothers in this important work, but churches also have an opportunity to support moms in the pursuit of their own goals—outside of parenting. When we studied over 1,000 U.S. mothers of children under 18, we learned that… Most moms (62%) say they personally haven’t felt held back because they are a woman. Instead, they feel they’ve been held back because they are a mother. Just over half of all moms surveyed (51%) say this. If you’re ready to get to know the state of motherhood today and better connect moms with God, their families and each other, we encourage you to pick up a copy of the new report. https://lnkd.in/eaZRkDh3

2024 Annual Voices of Children & Kinship Caregivers Contests What are the contests?  1. Voices of Children Raised by Grandparents and Other Relatives is a contest for children in Washington State, who are being raised (now or in the past) by a relative – other than their parents. 2. Voices of Kinship Caregivers is a contest for Kinship caregivers in Washington State, who are raising (now or in the past) a relative child not their own. How Do You Enter the Contest? 1. Children: Write a poem, or short essay, or draw a picture that describes how living with a relative (such as a Grandparent, Aunt, or Uncle) has made a positive difference in your life. 2. Caregivers: Write a poem or short essay that describes your positive experiences as a Kinship Caregiver. Entries will be judged in 4 categories: 5–7-year-olds; 8–12-year-olds; 13–19-year-olds; and Kinship Caregivers What are the Prizes? The Two Top Entries in each Child Age Division and the top 3 Adult Entries will receive $100 from Twin Star Credit Union Ready to participate in either contest? Fill out an application in English or Spanish. (links in the comments below) All entries must be submitted or postmarked by April 15, 2024.  Questions? Call (360) 754-7829 or email [email protected] #kinship #caregiver

Every child holds a dream for their future, but for the children of justice-impacted parents, those dreams are often clouded by the barriers their families face. Nearly half of our nation's children witness the struggles that come with having a parent with a record, which can reverberate through their lives, manifesting in challenges at school and beyond. At YWCA McLean County, we refuse to let the past dictate the future. Our Strive program is a testament to our commitment to breaking down these barriers. We offer justice-impacted women, many of whom are mothers, a chance to rebuild and reshape their careers through professional development. Children deserve to grow up in a world where their parent's past does not seal their fate. YWCA Strive is here to ensure that mothers can provide, prosper, and pave a hopeful path for the next generation Join us in this vital work. Discover more about YWCA Strive and how you can support or participate at ywcamclean.org/strive. Together, we can advocate for change and transform the narrative for families affected by the justice system. #ywca #ywcamcleancounty #YWCAisonamission #eliminateracismandempowerwomen #mcleancounty #blono #AdvocateForChange #JusticeForFamilies #SupportStrive #EmpowermentThroughEducation #FamilyReunification #BeyondIncarceration #BuildFutures #CommunityAdvocacy #TakeAction #RegisterNow

📢 📢 The Disabled Children's Partnershipis developing a new campaign to show the difference the right support from social care can make for disabled children and their families can make to their lives. They want to share the stories of families with disabled children, showing positive experiences with the care sector and giving the reality of how families navigate it. Their approach will focus on short “vlogs” – self-shot videos documenting certain day-to-day activities where social care helps in ways many people may not even realise. These activities can include, but aren’t limited to: - Your morning routine and how support helps - Your bedtime routine and how support helps - What it takes to take the family to the park or visit family and how support helps - Accessing support such as short breaks/respite Instances where care support helps your family that others may not be aware of Their goal is to capture your reality, an honest portrayal of your experience, and in doing so also illustrate the important impact that having support in place can have on these activities. You don’t need to worry about editing the videos etc – they will do that, and will make sure you are happy with the final version before sharing anything publicly. 🔗 If you're interested in getting involved you can send your videos to [email protected] or contact them for more information. 🚨 No videos will be shared publically without your permission🚨

Voting 🤝 Parenting Because parenthood is inherently advocacy. And when a quarter of voters in the U.S. are mothers, you better believe systemic change is within reach. Chamber of Mothers came by Parentaly to talk about their campaign, "Vote Like a Mother." What does "voting like a mother" entail, you ask? As Chamber of Mothers Co-Founder Raena Boston puts it: “It’s a rallying cry. Vote like a mother for climate change. Vote like a mother for parental leave or paid family medical leave. Vote like a mother for childcare. It's an empowered way to advocate and for moms to know the things they care about are important.” Hear the full episode below (and make sure you check your voter status!) ⤵

🌟 As the Policy and Advocacy Lead, I am thrilled to share the Pierce County Early Childhood Network's 2024 Legislative Agenda – shaped by the shared priorities and aspirations of Pierce County families, dedicated child care providers, 2-1-1 resource navigators, healthcare professionals, birthing individuals, and the greater community. These priorities align with 300+ partners in our PCECN's seven action teams: Child Care Voice, Equity, Family Voice, Health Provider Voice, Policy and Advocacy, and Resource Navigation and Analytics. Each serves as a platform for partners to collaboratively work towards improving, enhancing, aligning, and creating equitable changes for children and families. ❗ Did You Know: In Pierce County, child care expenses for a single mother with two children in 2017 amounted to 56% of the median income and has increased to 72% in 2023 countywide. For zip code 98444 (Tacoma, Parkland, Spanaway, Midland, WA), costs comprise 88% of the median income for a single mother with two children (PCECN 2023 Report). ❗These figures highlight the disparities and injustice in our current system! We must address challenges faced by single mothers and families, and advocate for better access to equitable, culturally relevant, and affordable child care. Moreover, high costs disproportionately impact communities of color and low-income families. Therefore, Washington State must address the growing need for affordable child care programs and raise outdated income thresholds for financial support to struggling families. These changes must include the needs of child care providers, supporting them with the financial means not just to survive but to thrive. Community economic, educational, and workforce success depends on the availability of quality child care and appropriately recognizing and compensating the community of providers serving families 🌟 💓 #PCECN2024 #ChildCareEquity #InclusiveSupport #equity #legislative #advocacy #advocacymatters #policyadvocacy

Motherhood shouldn’t isolate us. It should bring us together. 🤝 The Motherhood is a new community by moms, for moms. Together, we commit to taking collective action to reimagine our communities, our workplaces, and our culture. There are three ways you can show up in The Motherhood: 1️⃣ Moms Who Mobilize: This is the team who will shift the system through policy change, by educating and putting pressure on lawmakers 2️⃣ Moms @ Work: These are the moms who are determined to shift the workplace and redesign work environments so that they work for moms 3️⃣ The #MomsCollective: This is for anyone who wants to shift the narrative and disrupt the national dialogue about motherhood Interested in joining our community of moms (and everyone who cares about moms)? Join us and learn more about The Motherhood here: https://lnkd.in/ebd44y88