New Museum of Motherhood Art Annex Opens in St. Petersburg, Florida

WANT TO VISIT THE NEW M.O.M. ART ANNEX IN ST. PETERSBURG?

You can schedule a visit for yourself (and up to six people) on any Thursday or Friday between 11-6pm or Saturday between 2-4pm. If you are not local but want to visit, we also have a “spend a night at the museum” on Air B&B on Thursday-Sat. nights.

Each visit includes a general tour of the Art Annex, a personal tour of Alexia Nye Jackson’s exhibit “Mother The Job,” the opportunity to try on our Pregnancy Vests, and a chance to view films from our library, as well as  access research materials from our extensive Andrea O’Reilly Reading Room (including Demeter Press Collection).

At M.O.M. we aim to start great conversations, feature thought-provoking exhibits, and share information and education.

Visits are by donation. Suggested contribution is $15 but there is no required specific amount. Looking forward hearing from you!

Simply write MOMmuseum@gmail.com or call 207.504.3001 (877.711.MOMS)

538 28th St. N. St. Petersburg, Florida 33713 – SEE PHOTOS BY CLICKING HERE

W o r d s   o f   L o v e   E x h i b i t

“Unlike traditional art, the ‘Art Of Motherhood’ is formed amidst the chaos of family, between folds of time, directly impacted by the forces of creation itself.” ~ MJR

We are inviting you to become involved in this international exchange of ideas and text. The Museum of Motherhood is thrilled to collaborate in the 2015 Biennale of Contemporary Art. Won’t you or your organization become involved too? Add your name to this growing list of participants by sending us your “Words of Love.” This is an international collaboration celebrating the art of motherhood as it manifests through daily love and labor. Our aim for this exhibit is to share words of love across time and space. Together we help to establish a planet that honors all people and invites peace, safety, and harmony. Become involved by writing us at MAMAvoices@gmail.com. Or, share this information with your synagogue, arts group, or friends.

Healing “Words of Love” to be shared via our Twitter account: by emailing your words of love to us at MAMAvoices@gmail.com or by tweeting to @MAMAvoices #WordsOfLove

Please lend your voices to this international exchange and consider donating to our IndieGoGo page.

Project AfterBirth

NEWS RELEASE
Thursday 16 July 2015

We are delighted to announce Project AfterBirth’s:

OFFICIAL EXHIBITION SELECTION

Project AfterBirth presents the first ever international open art exhibition on the subject of parenthood. The exhibition will feature unseen and rarely shown artistic responses to lived experiences of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood, in a variety of visual, performance, literary, film & digital disciplines, by 30 international contemporary artists.

The selection panel spent many days over the past two months viewing the (more than 150) works submitted from all over the world in response to the open Call For Artists, reading through all application documents and deliberating over which of the many exceptional artists and outstanding works on offer to put through.

Due to the personal and intimate nature of the exhibition’s subject, many of the works and accompanying artist statements had a deep emotional impact. This, together with the quality, quantity and variety of the submitted works, made the selection panel’s task far from easy. However, as you will agree from the list of names below, Project AfterBirth promises to be a tremendous exhibition.

Most importantly perhaps, our experiences over the last two months have confirmed how much great contemporary, innovative work has been made and undoubtedly will continue to be made on the subject of pregnancy, birth & early parenthood in the 21st century. As the first ever open exhibition on the subject, Project AfterBirth will only scratch the surface of what is out there. It is therefore crucial that the lingering taboo status of parenthood in the contemporary art world and its perceived inferiority as an artistic subject, continue to be challenged at every opportunity.

It will take more than Project AfterBirth to change things, but through the exhibition and an anticipated (funding dependent) inter/national tour, community engagement programme and research project we are in the process of developing, we hope to make our mark and, along the way, inspire other arts professionals and organisations to adopt a more inclusive approach and develop opportunities for work on the powerful subject of parenthood.

So here, then, our selection of artists for Project AfterBirth’s exhibition:

1. Alison O’Neill (UK)
2. Amanda West (USA)
3. Belinda Kochanowska (Australia)
4. Carole Evans (UK)
5. Chris Anthem (Beirut/UK)
6. Clare Archibald (Scotland)
7. Courtney Kessel (USA)
8. Csilla Nagy (Hungary)
9. Danielle Hobbs (Australia)
10. Debbie Lee (UK)
11. Eti Wade (UK)
12. Geoffrey Harrison (UK)
13. Helen Sargeant (UK)
14. Hester Berry (UK)
15. Ione Rucquoi (UK)
16. Jana Kasalova (Czech Republic)
17. Jenny Lewis (UK)
18. Josie Beszant (UK)
19. Laura James Wray (UK)
20. Lu Heintz (USA)
21. Madison Omahne (USA)
22. Magda Stawarska Beavan (Poland/UK)
23. Marilyn Kyle (UK)
24. Rachel Fallon (Ireland)
25. Rocio Saenz (Mexico)
26. Ruth Gray (UK)
27. Sacha Waters Freyer (USA)
28. Sarah Sudhoff (USA)
29. Tareg Morris (UK)
30. Trish Morrissey (UK)

Project AfterBirth’s exhibition launches at White Moose gallery, UK, from 2nd October until 13th November 2015.

To keep up to date with all developments, please join the mailing list via the form below.

Project AfterBirth‘s exhibition selection panel members were:
– founders/curators Mila Oshin & Kris Jager (Directors, Joy Experiment, UK);
– Stella Levy and Julie Gavin (Directors, White Moose, Devon, UK);
– Martha Joy Rose (Director, Museum of Motherhood, New York, USA);
– Helen Knowles (Director, The Birth Rites Collection, Manchester, UK);
– Francesca Pinto (Head of Development, Photographer’s Gallery, London, UK).

#PrimeMind

A woman whose TED talk on authenticity was viewed 20 million times; a breast cancer survivor who left her career to create bathing suits with integrated prostheses; a raw food expert who saw a need for healthy airport food and did something about it; a woman who dedicates her life to speech therapy for the facially disfigured and a super model who believes Every Mother Counts and fights for worldwide maternal health. 

These are just a sampling of the extraordinary women whose essays and portraits are captured in the PRIME book. The search for engaged and passionate women started simply enough with friends and associates, but quickly expanded as many referred other inspirational woman creating a chain of connections that spread worldwide. The beauty of this organic selection process is that, from start to finish, the women of PRIME are inextricably linked. Support this project by clicking on the kickstarter campaign link. 

Also featured in the book is Mamapalooza and Museum of Motherhood founder, Martha Joy Rose. See her new Wikipedia page here.

Calling All Moms, Dads, Children, Monks and World Leaders

How will you ROCK the world in the new year? Will you be brave, bold, courageous and clear when  it comes to keeping our world clean, peaceful, kind, joyous and musical? We're here to remind you that together we can co-create a planet where respect and cooperation rule.

Let's support each other; neighbors, teachers, scholars, students, corporations, politicians, families, workers, farmers, plants and animals. Together with love and light we are STRONG!

Story of Mum at the Museum of Motherhood

Art and Community Making with "Story of Mum" founders Pippa and Penny Best, and Suzi Banks Baum of FeMail Art at the Museum of Motherhood in NYC.

MamaBlogger365 - Finding Old Friends In New Places by Joy Rose

How many times in life have you been surprised by old friends popping up in new places? One of the last things I expected at the Mamapalooza Festival in New York City last spring was for one of our vendors to morph into our new landlord and sponsor when we opened the Museum Of Motherhood.

I almost thought the Gymboree team members were joking when they volunteered their Upper East Side space for us to open our pop-up exhibit! But, they'd recently moved from the downstairs space to a new street-level First Avenue Gymboree location around the corner, and we were grateful for the opportunity.

Click here to read more.


The Museum Of Motherhood is the first and only facility of its kind, celebrating the “her”story of mothers around the world. We need your help -- please make your tax-deductible contribution today!



Visit the Museum of Motherhood

NOW OPEN in NYC - Tues.-Sun., 10:45-6:30

MamaBlogger365 - From Guatemala to Yale; a Busy Week at M.O.M. by Joy Rose

One of the most amazing weeks I’ve had so far at the museum. Monday was a Multicultural Motherhood Conference and I met so many caring and daring people: Afia, Aid For Aids, The BLK ProjeK, Jewish Heart For Africa, Clare Misquitta, Dr. Phyllis Chesler reading from her book Mothers On Trial to name a few. Thank you Marty at Food Emporium (upper East Side) for donating lunch. We talked about a $5.00 kit with simple items like a piece of plastic, a clean razor blade and a small bottle of Purel, that can save a woman and child’s life in Guatemala and Liberia.

Saving Mothers sends birth instructors, volunteers and kits do deal with the fact that 80% of Guatemalan women give birth without medical assistance or access to sterile equipment. Their next trip is early January. We’ll be putting 100 kits together at M.O.M., if you’d like to join us, or if you know a hospital that can donate up to 25 newborn swaddling blankets. Dates are TBD, call to find out more: 212.452.9816

Speaking of Liberia, how about those Nobel prize winners, the ladies three! I also spoke with Sonya Ossorio, about hosting upcoming NOW-NYC events here at the museum. It would be a real thrill for me to host the Susan B. Anthony Awards, since I was privileged to be honored in 2009.

On Thursday, thirty mothers and toddlers descended on the museum for a giant playdate. It was chaotic and fun. Sara Raff, early childhood education expert was on hand to give advice and share stories from multiple perspectives. Elizabeth Mangum-Sarach from BirthFocus offered up Doula services information as well this week during our ‘Meet The Expert’ series.

Thanks to Working Mother Magazine and Helen Jonsen for sharing a big box of mother books on everything from ‘how to’ to creativity and motherhood. We’ll be putting those up in our Andrea O’Reilly Library this week. The library is growing. If you’d like to help see this permanent library stocked with everything mother, available as a free resource to all, please consider a year-end donation at M.O.M.

Saturday, Marcia C. Inhorn, professor of Anthropology and International Affairs at Yale, brought her freshman class all the way down from New Haven to the museum. We toured, tried on the Infant Simulator vests by Realityworks, spent time engaged in meaningful dialogue in the Suffragette Sitting Room, and enjoyed the new foyer gallery installation by Amelia Gewirtz, who also sings with the band Parents With Angst.

Fran Capo, America’s Fastest Talking Mom (Guinness Book Of World Records) popped in, as did Paula Caplan, scholar and feminist writer, as well as, Jess Dobson who wanted to talk about the feasibility of bringing her Lactation Station here in the fall.

Whew, well I’ve got work to do with the holiday fundraisers for the museum fast approaching and homework left to do for my ‘Motherhood In The Mix’ class at Minnesota State University.

Looking forward to sharing more soon,

Joy Rose, Founding Director Museum Of Motherhood, President MAMAPALOOZA!



Support MamaBlogger365 and help the Museum of Motherhood secure a permanent home in 2011! Our end-of-year giving campaign is going on NOW! - visit our Members page to learn more.




Visit the Museum of Motherhood
NOW OPEN in NYC - Tues.-Sun., 10:45-6:30

MamaBlogger365 - Why M.O.M. Matters by Joy Rose

 Make history with M.O.M.

Join us for our Gala Opening event, Sept. 16th

People keep asking me, a “Museum Of Motherhood” – what is that and how did you get to this point? What I tell them is, We have mustard museums, marble museums and car museums, but until now, there have been no museums dedicated to this all important job of creating the next generation of human beings. This museum is a living breathing social change museum that will give all of us an opportunity to study and understand this most important job of ”mother.”

I can think of no other single thing that has gone largely unexamined for so long. While we give credence, education and dollars toward all manner of education, the role of mother, “the job” is ignored. We have plenty of books on how to be a better parent and the psychology, health and well-being of children, while newly pioneered work on “the art of motherhood” and the experiences of women is largely new within the last ten to twenty years.

The work of the museum is to amplify and examine those voices while connecting the “cultural family.” What is the cultural family? It’s humanity. It’s generations and centuries of how, when, where and what is the role of birthers, caregivers and family, and how their creativity (or lack of it) has influenced and informed society.

M.O.M.'s home! 401 East 84th St. (at 1st Ave.) in NYC

This has been a project of a lifetime. It has been years in the making and there has been, at any given time, a small group of dedicated individuals who have given generously of their time to make this museum happen. This first exhibit, as part of our Pop-Up museum, brings home to New York City years of conferences, exhibits and festivals around the world that we have either participated in or created ourselves.

The Village of Seneca Falls, birthplace of the women’s suffragette movement and home to the National Women’s Hall Of Fame welcomed us with street exhibits in 2010. But the first Pop-Up for M.O.M. happened in 2003 in Dobbs Ferry, NY, as part of “Mommy Girl Go-Go.” In between, 501c3s were formed, research was conducted, relationships flourished, and this year Gymboree rented space to us, at a greatly discounted fee, and with a partnership in place to support one another’s endeavors.

In New York City, from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31, 2011, we will take residence at 401 East 84th St. (at 1st Ave.) lower level and feature “Mother The Job,” an exhibit by San Francisco artist Alexia Nye Jackson, and on-going programming for school children through adults on “The Art Of Motherhood” with a healthy dose of ‘HER’-story and mother performance art. The space will feature a small boutique store of museum quality with a special emphasis on mom-made products and a ‘Grief-itti’ wall as a place to write your story – because motherhood is messy and not all our stories are happy ones. It is bookended with a play area where caregivers can enjoy the exhibit while their children explore in a safe space. M.O.M will also be available for event rental as well as parties, age 6 through adult. Other family adventures feature family yoga on Sundays with The Little Yoga Mat and book readings under the apple tree with Sitter Studios. Brooklyn’s Christen Clifford will curate art shows, featuring local mom-made art, each Tuesday. Saturday nights at 7PM, music, theater, poetry, film and performance art will be highlighted in the main space.

Workshops on the art of motherhood can be found online. Our Gala Opening Event is Sept. 16th, and Find Your M Spot Events happen throughout that weekend. Visit MOMmuseum.org

We truly appreciate your enthusiasm and accept press inquiries and online donations to support our work.

Support MamaBlogger365 and help the Museum of Motherhood secure a permanent home in 2011! Your tax-deductible donation in ANY amount will help us make our September POP-UP exhibit in NYC a permanent reality - visit our Members page to learn more.

MamaBlogger365 - On Motherhood and Transitions by Stacey Battat

I recently read MamaBlogger365 as I am excited to get involved in helping in my tiny way to be part of the Museum of Motherhood, opening September 1 in NYC. I was going through some of the same feelings of "passages," true to my form, complete with intense tears and laughter!

Click here to read more!

Support MamaBlogger365 and help the Museum of Motherhood secure a permanent home in 2011! Your tax-deductible donation in ANY amount will help us make our September POP-UP exhibit in NYC a permanent reality - visit our Members page to learn more.

The Museum Of Motherhood Pops Up

It's true - We have been working toward this successful evolution for almost 10 years!
The dream will become a reality this September when the Museum of Motherhood, or M.O.M., opens a pop-up space on the Upper East Side of New York City—which will includes exhibits, a performance space and teaching facilities. I am a mom to four, and my work is all about championing mothers. Oh yeah - I am the President and Founder of Mamapalooza, which produces large festivals across the country celebrating moms and was the guitarist and lead singer of a rock band called Housewives on Prozac. Thanks to NOW-NYC for the Susan B. Anthony Award in 2009.

I spoke spoke with Working Mother about the challenges of getting the museum off of the ground, what visitors can expect from the space and why it's about time mothers have a museum to call their own. Full Article.

MamaBlogger365 - Still More A MAY ZING 2011 by Amy Simon

Three Shows, Three Days, Two Cities, Three Venues – No Roadies

Amy Simon’s been kind enough to share her May journal entries with us – the travel! the shows! Mama Expo! and more! Want to find out more about her work? Visit ShesHistory.com!

Friday, May 27th

DID YOU HEAR? I HAD A BEER WITH LUCRETIA MOTT’S... great-great-great-great-granddaughter. I still cannot believe it. Who is Lucretia Mott? An extremely fabulous female who has a BIG part in my show and in women’s history! Huge! A founding mother, famous abolitionist, ordained Quaker minister - one of the first women in America to preach in public (Anne Hutchinson tried it in the 1600s and she – the mother of the first amendment – was literally run out of town). After a few emails, Lucretia Coffin Mott’s great-great-great-great granddaughter Marianna invited me to her home. I was so excited I could barely speak. When I emailed asking if I could I bring her coffee, she replied: “Too damned hot for coffee. Bring some chips. We’re having ale.”

Click here to read more!

MamaBlogger365 needs you! Tell us how you're re-framing motherhood and help the Museum of Motherhood secure a permanent home in 2011!

MamaBlogger365 - Still A MAY ZING 2011 by Amy Simon

Three Shows, Three Days, Two Cities, Three Venues – No Roadies

Amy Simon’s been kind enough to share her May journal entries with us – the travel! the shows! Mama Expo! and more! Want to find out more about her work? Visit ShesHistory.com and watch for part three next Sunday! (Missed part one? Click here!)


Tuesday, May 24th
Wake up all excited. SO excited. Shower, Pilates, forced some breakfast down and grab the suitcases, a latte, a cab and am on my way to Marymount Manhattan College on East 71st Street. It is almost 10AM and my cell rings. It is 7:00AM in L.A., and it is the 18-year old.

“Mom? I did not sleep – my throat hurts and I’m gonna kill the cat”.

She goes on for a while – I am not focusing as we are nearing the destination. “Honey, I can’t talk. Gargle with salt and warm water, make the ginger lemon honey drink. Feel better.”

I feel guilty as I pay the $10 fare. The helpful young gals at the reception desk have my badge and conference bag and I ask them if they know who the first woman to run for President was. As usual, no one knows – Geraldine Ferraro’s name is offered and I tell them a bit about the show and am escorted up to the room where I will be presenting.

It is a beautiful room. There is Joy Rose and six or so other women sitting in a circle. Their session before mine is still going on and it is the discussion of the ongoing activities and future of The Museum Of Motherhood.

“Come join us,” Joy invites me and I can hardly focus on what is a really interesting conversation about the goals and identity and branding of this fabulous museum. All I can think of is how long it will take me to set up the room. The session ends and I swing into action – setting up the projector, the laptop – the speakers... unpacking the suitcase and setting up the props and costumes.

Click here to read more!

Anna Fishbeyn, Elena Skoko and Amy Simon

About Amy Simon and She's History: Using theater, history, multi-media, lots of audience interaction, treats, and good old-fashioned story telling, She’s History! is chock full of stories, scenes and revelations; true tales of fabulous females, then and now. Going back and forth from the past to the present, poignantly and comically (her trademark) our Modern Mom, Amy Simon, finds the funny as she struggles with raising girls in today’s challenging world. Visit She'sHistory.com to learn more!

MamaBlogger365 needs you! Tell us how you're re-framing motherhood and help the Museum of Motherhood secure a permanent home in 2011!

MamaBlogger365 - A MAY ZING 2011 by Amy Simon

Three Shows, Three Days, Two Cities, Three Venues – No Roadies

Amy Simon’s been kind enough to share her May journal entries with us – the travel! the shows! Mama Expo! and more! Want to find out more about her work? Visit ShesHistory.com for more info and watch this space for part two next Sunday!


“Just get here, I’ll do the rest.” Joy told me back in January, when she asked me to bring SHE’S HISTORY! to the conference. So there I was – a “presenter” at the three day Conference - right smack in the middle of all these really fascinating and accomplished and cool cool cool women.

AND she got me an evening show the same night. I got TWO slots at the conference.... read more

About Amy Simon and She's History: Using theater, history, multi-media, lots of audience interaction, treats, and good old-fashioned story telling, She’s History! is chock full of stories, scenes and revelations; true tales of fabulous females, then and now. Going back and forth from the past to the present, poignantly and comically (her trademark) our Modern Mom, Amy Simon, finds the funny as she struggles with raising girls in today’s challenging world. Visit She'sHistory.com to learn more!

MamaBlogger365 needs you! Tell us how you're re-framing motherhood and help the Museum of Motherhood secure a permanent home in 2011!

Singing Unsung Motherhood and Find A Mom Who Rocks!

Whenever I see a family portrait, I feel like I should stop and offer up a moment of silence for all the work that SOMEbody, most likely the mom, had to do to get all those people together looking that good in one place without stains or tears marring the clothing or tearful or pouting faces revealing the stress that everyone lived through in the moments before the camera clicked.  I almost never think of the people in the picture.

I think of the mothers’ labor in the hour or so before the picture.  I think of the sibling fighting, perhaps the other parents’ uselessness in resolving that conflict, somebody’s frustration at what they have to wear for the photo, somebody’s hair which, moments ago looked great but now looks like they haven’t washed it in a year much less combed it, the mother’s desire to have the family pull together just for a moment so that the pic represents the family as a cohesive unit rather than as gathering of disconnected and disgruntled parts.  When I look at these portraits from my childhood as well as of my own children and family, I note the stress of photo day, particularly of the parent arranging it.  I think about the unsung labor of that person, and how such labor flies beneath the radar of how we understand family life.....MORE

*Special note: If you are interested in finding out about Moms who sing and Moms who rock check out Mamapalooza where songs range from topics like domestic drudgery to lullabies. Joy Rose and her band Housewives On Prozac started it all in 1997 with tunes like 'Eat Your Damn Spaghetti'.

MamaBlogger365 - The Feminist Boudoir

MamaBlogger365 is thrilled to feature a virtual tour of The Feminist Boudoir, a M.O.M. Exhibit by Joy Rose and paintings by Jo Jayson. It was part of the M.O.M. Conference at Marymount Manhattan College, Mamapalooza Festival and MAMAExpo, May 23-25 2011. Read more...

Share your art with us and support MamaBlogger365, a joint effort of Mamapalooza and the Museum of Motherhood to help the Museum of Motherhood secure a permanent home in 2011!

A Family Affair - By Joy Rose

To me this is the core of everything we do; Creating an environment for families to not only enjoy each other, but to encourage ongoing dialogue about motherhood, family dynamics, feminism, education and so much more. Passing the torch to the next generation so they see first hand the passion we bring to our individual and collective voice(s), while including them and encouraging them to participate in our endeavors exposes them to a lasting legacy of empowerment and support. Ultimately, for ourselves, and our children, our future belongs to feminist family values and a sense that ‘the family who plays together, stays together’. That is our greatest and most lasting success. Full Article

MamaBlogger365 - The Sweetness Factor by Shira Adler, Diva Mama

Looking for something inspirational to write about, my honey encouraged me to check out Neil Gaimanʼs outstanding and massively popular blog. I wish I hadnʼt. Iʼm still pretty raw dealing with my daughterʼs devastating emotional upheaval; no, she hasnʼt just gotten back from Afghanistan, but in her way and for all of us, her own private war still rages on. She has been home for four evenings and counting... so in reading the reflective postings of arguably one of our time's great authors, and watching Because the Origami, a Vimeo post by Ben Jacobson, I felt as sniffly as Mr. Gaiman. The story in the song could be my own one day, but thankfully, not today.

Instead, today I wish to give thanks for the wonderful Saturday spent at this weekendʼs Mamapalooza Festival in the shadow of the Kensico dam in Westchester County, New York. Despite the delicate dance between feeling all right one second and overwhelmed the next, worrying that something will tip my little girl back to the “other” side of safe and sound, I was able to settle in and meet an amazing group of like-minded souls -- and for this I am grateful. Read more...

Catch Shira's D.I.V.A program at the M.O.M. Conference and MamaExpo - May 23rd, 11-12:30 p.m.! Want to join Shira at Divas-Night-Out on May 24? For more information, download her brochure here.

BIO: By day Shira Adler is a cantor, spiritual vocalist, certified pastlife regressionist, voice-over artist, producer, performer, writer/blogger and mompreneur and by night... well, she is actually the same person at night though she does admit to wearing fuzzy socks when no one can see her and hiding a secret stash of Mallomars somewhere near her writing desk for those late night pick-me-ups. In, around, and between her various work activities, she is raising two beyond-the-spectrum children as a single mom (though lovingly gives a shout out to her best friend, editor and soulmate whom she considers the bees knees). Is it any wonder her website’s tag line is One Voice Many Paths? Seriously, look up the definition of a multi-tasking Mama and you will find her picture there. But when it comes to living a life of connection, faith and consciousness Shira is the gal to call -- or if you’re fresh out of Mallomars -- she’s always happy to give you one. For more information visit: ShiraAdler.com, read her blog at Diva-Mama.com; Social: Twitter (1DivaMama), Facebook (DivaMama1), Tumblr (not really sure, but the name is cute) and LinkedIn (because doesn’t everyone?).

MamaBlogger365 needs you! Tell us how you're re-framing motherhood and help the Museum of Motherhood secure a permanent home in 2011!

MamaBlogger365 - Celebrating MQs at Mothers Acting Up by Joy Rose

I was pleased to get a shout out from Mothers Acting Up this month, just in time for Mother's Month! That's right -- one 'Mother's' day a year is not enough. Since 2002, here at Mamapalooza, we've referred to May as 'Mothers Month' and kept the celebration going for 30+ days. This year is no different and we kick off a robust season of festivals that put women, mothers, and families at the center of each activity. So when Mothers Acting up created their MQ, I was only too honored to jump on board. Here's a description of what MQ is and a segment of my recent interview with them:

MQ: Just what is the MQ, other than a catchy title? The MQ is the Mothers Acting Up Questionnaire, promoting Mother Activism by sharing the passions and actions of mothers*. We’re living in an historic time of change, as mothers shape our world in powerful new ways, from economic decisions at home to international decisions about who and what gets protected, and who gets educated. As mothers (and others) realize that our children’s lives are entirely intertwined, a global community is uniting to secure the well-being of all children. Think a multi-hued, multi-sized, multi-linguistic, delicious sea of strength, wisdom, and generous conviction. Think voters, consumers, elected leaders. Think unstoppable.

The MQ is a celebration of this sea-change. May the MQs inspire and encourage you; calling you to action on that issue you’re passionate about. Read all the MQs below, and please write beheard@mothersactingup.org with ideas and nominations for whose MQ you’d like to read.

What about being a mother* brings you the most joy? (*mothers or others who exercise protective care over someone smaller) 


A: The creativity and awe of seeing them become their own people and grow into the world. The circle of love we share... that and cooking for them. Food is love.

Read more...

Support MamaBlogger365 and help the Museum of Motherhood secure a permanent home in 2011!

Go Green Expo Los Angeles, CA April 15-17 Join MAMAPALOOZA!

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