Join us in celebrating Mama's Day!
Strong Families is a national initiative led by Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice that will change the way we think, feel and act in support of families in the US.
This past Mother's Day, we commemorated Mama’s Day: a celebration of the mothers in our lives who are often overlooked during traditional Mother’s Day conversations. In particular, we want to give love to those mamas who are immigrants, single, young, queer or low-income. We know these mamas are often at the core of our families and communities, but are often overlooked or worse — they are scapegoated by policy-makers and right-wing conservatives. Watch the stories that unfolded on our blog. Download this image and others like it here.
We celebrated by holding a series of actions and events including parties, marches, blogging, a congressional briefing and the release of an original Mama’s Day music video.
Mother’s Day began as a call to action by mothers to protect their families from the violence that was engulfing the country. In that tradition, members of Strong Families and our friends are celebrating the many mamas around us. But we know that celebration is not enough. We will also be working for recognition, rights and resources for the mamas and families in our lives.
Events included:
Week of April 25, 2011
The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum and the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health and their partners published a series of articles about immigrant women and their families at RH Reality Check. They examined the impact of current immigration policy, attacks on women and family both through policy and vigilantism, and the current effort by the far right to undermine citizenship rights for babies born on the US.
April 30, 2011
Young Women United and Kalpulli Izkalli presented Mama's Healing Day. Together we invited mothers and community to free healing and treatments, including Massage, Platicas and Limpias, Reiki and Energetic Healing, Acupuncture, Ear Acupuncture for Detox and Destressing, and Crystaltherapy. Albuquerque, NM.
May 5, 2011
Released Mama’s Day music video, intended as a virtual Mama’s Day card celebrating and supporting young moms. Original song by Emily McLean.
Prayer Walk for Midwifery. Young Women United joined with Tewa Women United and the homebirth midwifery practice of Española Valley Women's Health to walk with prayers in the dust of every footstep...for all the mamas and midwives around the world, because midwifery is birth justice, and a way to better birth outcomes in our communities. Chimayo, NM.
May 7, 2011
Center for Young Women’s Development celebration and resource fair for young moms and their families at City Hall in San Francisco. California Latinas for Reproductive Justice, ACRJ and lots of other allies participated. Emily McLean performed.
Young Women United's Mama's Day Clothing Swap and Conversations. Young Women United hit the flea market! We invited women and families to bring pre-used and unwanted clothes, toys, etc...whatever they want to swap. All will walk away with some 'new' finds for themselves and family. We also shared our messages around birth justice work and connecting with Albuquerque women about their rights in birthing and invited them to access new Young Women United collaborations offering awesome prenatal care and labor/birth support services.
Black PFLAG in Portland, OR hosted a brunch to celebrate the LGBTQ mamas and families in their community, share stories and great food.
CAUSA Portland is hosted a march and rally for affordable housing and immigrant rights by Latina mothers.
POWER (Clark County) collected Mama's Day tributes to low-income mamas lobby outside the Columbia River welfare office.
