Mom activism.

Mom Activism: It's been going on a long long while, despite the (right on, by the way) recent'ish' trend toward it. The media is catching on. Witness, for example, this piece about organized mothers starring Moms Rising from the New York Times last week.

And yesterday, there was this tee-ninesy little blip about Lorraine Gordon being a mother moved to activism with Women Strike For Peace on this All Things Considered Feature about Gordon's new book. (Fascinating and multi-faceted woman, Ms. Gordon.)

Nancy Oleson at MOMbo Radio is an inspiration in Minneapolis and beyond; she did this intriguing show featuring a slew of activist mamas, including MAU's very own Beth Osnes.

In simpler but no less real Everyday Mom terms of writer Miriam Peskowitz, she writes about the "weird"ness and obstacles to being an activist mother. She closes this excellent blog entry with the commitment and encouragement to others to "try on the politically engaged vision of being a mother and a woman in our worlds."

Our job, as Mothers Acting Up and friends is to build that bridge between MOM activism and Mom activism. That is, activism on behalf of mama herSELF and activism on behalf of the world's children-- not just the ones in our home or on our block. What's good for moms is good for kids is good for families is good for communities is good for the environment is good for peacekeeping is good for global citizenry, and so on. We may each start at a different corner, yet cannot deny that we're all eating of the same pie and a bigger piece for your daughter is also a bigger piece for a far flung son and mamas both hip and everyday, from here to Timbuktu.

Meet MAU Maven Nicole Warne-McGraw!!

I am blessed to have a mother who cares – cares not only for me, my 4 siblings, our spouses and our children – but a mother who cares for the children of the world. She, particularly, cares passionately for women through pregnancy, labor and birthing and for babies and their families in those priceless early years. She taught me -- through watching her do it over and over again -- the difference a thoughtful letter or call to a government official can make. She taught me -- through conversations on local, national, and world events -- to pay attention, care deeply, and create the world in which I want my children and grandchildren to live.

And now I am giving my daughters the same gift of a loving mother whose love is huge enough to encompass the world's children. I hope they learn through joining me at rallies, sitting on my lap as I write my Senator, playing on the floor as I make calls to encourage voter turn-out, and through our discussions of our dreams for how the world can be when we join together to make a difference. And I look forward to many more generations of a family caring for the world's family. I can hardly wait to see the world they will create!

--Nicole Warne-McGraw, many generational Activist & MAU Maven

MAU All Star: Nina Utne.

Increasingly I find myself using the phrase, "I can’t not . . ." I can’t not speak up and make myself visible in service to what I care passionately about . . . We each are being drawn to listen deeply and to act out of our instinctual knowing. What is it you can’t not do? Nina Utne, Chair and Editor-in-Chief of Utne magazine, featured in the 2007 MAU Handbook, Mother Leadership Click here for more info!

Meet MAU Maven Frances Higgins.

It was one of the best days my life. As Americans we have the right to express ourselves. It was so powerful to go with friends and children to the source, and speak our minds and be heard. For the first time I was doing something as an American that made sense. That took advantage of our right to politically express ourselves. It really wasn’t so hard; we had an agenda and posters and roles and if you got nervous, there was an entire group there supporting you. I felt like it was a truly meaningful day; when are we doing it again?

Frances Higgins, MAU Field Trip participant to CO Senators & Representative Udall. Mothers of Mothers Acting Up, along with members of the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center and one devoted dad, filled a school bus with mothers, grandmothers and children of all ages. Amidst great chatter, earnest discussion and gales of laughter, the group split to go to the Denver offices of Senator Ken Salazar, Senator Wayne Allard and everyone visited Representative Mark Udall. At each office the exuberant group met with aides and presented material and asked questions about a 5-point agenda to “Invest in the global family, ensuring a secure future.”

Featuring MAU Handbook Portrait Ohki Simine Forest.

Ancient Native ways teach that there is nothing on Earth more powerful than a circle of decided women. In ancient Council ways, the circle of women is at the center of the community, holding the heart of all people . . . The Earth is calling for this return to Council ways, calling women to take up her Bow of Authority. Ohki Siminé Forest, Red Wind Councils, featured in the 2007 MAU Handbook, Mother Leadership

"Not Your Everyday Baby Shower."

MAU co-founder Beth Osnes is a woman of many hats, aprons and gloves; she includes in her wide array of spirited talents those of writer and performer. She is the author of Twice Alive: A Spiritual Guide to Mothering Through Pregnancy and the Child's First Year. Her article, Not Your Everyday Baby Shower, which originally ran in Issue 138 September / October 2006 of Mothering Magazine is currently the featured article on the esteemed mama-mag's website. The article is a wonderful resource for expectant mothers and host friends who want to create an uplifting and celebratory experience for the mother-to-be and her surrounding tribe.

The picture above is of my belly cast in progress at my very own blessingway -- a not-so-everyday-baby-shower given by my closest mama friends just a few weeks before giving birth to my son.

"Vote for Mom."

In response to this excellent article in last week's New York Times, Mothers Acting Up Co-founder Juliana Forbes (below) wrote the following letter to the editor:

Robin Toner’s article, “Vote for Mom” (1.29.07) asserts that Pelosi and Clinton have exhibited enough political strength to afford wooing voters by showcasing their motherhood. Perhaps also motherhood is seen now as a SOURCE of strength in political leadership. Mothers – traditionally the keepers of domestic issues – are recognizing that their children’s lives are at stake – and are claiming the “tough” issues of national security, the environment and international relations & development as their own Mother Agenda. Faced with sobering facts – today 1 child dies every 3 seconds due to mostly preventable causes and almost every other child in the world lives in poverty (UNICEF) – mothers are becoming a powerful lobby for children and view other mothers as most likely to protect children. The Motherhood Study reports that 92% of mothers care about the wellbeing of all children – not just their own – and 72% agree more mothers in political power in America would make life better for mothers and children. Maybe Pelosi and Clinton aren’t just being savvy; perhaps they truly see mothers leading a magnificent revolution to prioritize children’s lives.

Juliana Forbes
Cofounder, Mothers Acting Up
www.mothersactingup.org

MAU Maven: Anne Ross Lyon.

I’ve been writing my members of Congress and telling them,

“We, whose children are inheriting a world of pre-fashioned enemies, huge debt and un-kept promises to the world's children and mothers, have the opportunity to change that . . . MAU is not an organization with corporate structure, this is a movement – to make children central to the discussion of policy and politics and global concerns.”

I want to emphasize that the Mothers Acting Up movement expects a strong commitment to our children’s future from our elected officials. I tell them that I– with other mothers in America and around the world – am eager to work with our elected leaders to prioritize the lives of the world's children - our future leaders. P.s. I close my letters with a reminder that our children will be the ones picking good assisted care for us all one day!

--Anne H Ross Lyon, MAU Maven

Invisible Children.

Tens of thousands of children commute nightly in northern Uganda and an estimated 20-50,000 children have been abducted to fight as soldiers. We are demanding that our government help end the longest running war in Africa . . . Thank you for fighting for justice for people you may never meet, and knowing they deserve what you, and your own children would. Jason Russell, Laren Poole, and Bobby Bailey, Invisible Children, featured in the 2007 MAU Handbook, Mother Leadership

Click here for more info!

MAU Majora Carter on PBS's NOW!!

Hurrah!

2007 Mother Leadership Handbook portrait Majora Carter will be on the PBS program NOW, tomorrow, Sunday January 28.

Founder of Sustainable South Bronx, Majora's work is taking great strides toward environmental balance in her densely urban home community. Learn more about her appearance on NOW and tune in!

We're thrilled that Majora's efforts toward a better world for all of us are being celebrated.

MAU UK.

The MAU Mamas introduce to you: MAU UK!!

You can reach our MAU UK representative here to get involved with international communities, actions and Mother's Day reclaimations.

And you can join all of us with MAU UK in space right here.

We look forward to seeing you around, and to joyfully acting up globally.

MAU in space.

If you haven't checked us out and joined us here, come on OVER!

Featuring: Linda Armstrong, MAU Maven!!

A MAU calendar is on its way to President Bush! Unusual, yes! Why did I, a democrat and an absolute liberal, send Bush a Christmas gift? Well, I can easily go “negative” with today’s politics and the world situation, who can’t? I wanted to send some positive energy to our leaders. Maybe an impressionable support person will find it and reconsider their support of a child-unfriendly policy. Perhaps the bright colors will entice an aide to leaf through the pages and think, “This year, I can help stop AIDS in Africa!” Hey…I can dream, can’t I?

PS: I sent a MAU calendar to Bush last year, and received a lovely engraved thank you note. Now that’s acting up!!

Linda Armstrong, MAU Maven

Learn more about MAU from the Mothership

Marie Wilson: featured in 2007 Handbook.

Marie Wilson

Women in power have a chance to rewrite the meaning of the word, to have ambition for fairness, a just and safe world for our families and a more cohesive community acting for the common good . . . And we need not forfeit who we are and whom we love in the process.

Marie C. Wilson, The White House Project, featured in the 2007 MAU Handbook, Mother Leadership

Click here for more info!

Open letter and invitation to the 2007 Mama Party.

Calling all Joy Warriors!!

Mothers Acting Up enters the year 2007 ready to throw out the wide (hair)net, turn up the pink collars and tie the apron strings on tighter. If you're more a stilleto and power suit gal, or a designer diva, you're STILL welcome to the party; it takes ALL kinds for this magnificent revolution of mothers and others.

We're mobilizing the mamas this year around three major campaigns: 1) (the true cost of) war, 2) the environment, and 3) and the MDGs. We are working in coalition with groups and mamas like YOU to create vibrant kitchen table councils & communities in every state of the Union by year's end. Come on, come on.... And invite your friends, sisters, hip mamas, stitch & bitch buddies, bandmates, book group members, and prayer circles.

We're gathering on the internet en masse, to find our tribes up close and in person. Sign up on our website to be alerted to monthly actions, hook up with your local MAU communities, and gain access to a whole slew of simple recipes for ACTING UP. Join us on myspace! Comment here. And by all means, holler at us with questions, comments or proclamations of how you want to reclaim Mother's Day as a MAU in 2007, or create other community actions. We'd be thrilled and delighted to hear from you.

Mothers Acting Up is a mother-led, mother-fed movement of mothers and others advocating publicly and passionately for the world's children.

In spirited partnership,
Paige, for The MAU Mavens
Joellen, Juliana, Beth, Tina, Anjali and cohorts

Find Your Inner Grizzly.

If you've not given it a look, or need to cajole yourself or another out of wintry post holiday hibernation, give Find Your Inner Grizzly a look.

Grrrrrrrr.

Pie for all: New Year Greetings.

Give the world's children a bigger piece of the pie!! Inspired by the MAU Handbook, Fusako de Angelis, a Berkeley Mother Acting Up, created this New Year card utilizing the discretionary budget pie chart for the year 2006. Whoa. Click on the illustration above to see it larger.

Fearless Voices.

MAU co-founder and mama supreme Beth Osnes was chosen and announced as one of the Fearless Voices: Mothers Who Spoke Up in 2006 in the Huffington Post. Wa-hoo!


Who are YOUR nominees for mamas making a difference?

Give your values voice: Vote!!

(Cross posted both to / from Nashville Mothers Acting Up and Ms. Booty Homemaker Explains It All To You.)

If you haven't yet done so, please exercise your civic responsibility and give your values a voice by voting.

If your traveling sideshow of children and others isn't being hosted or supervised by volunteer mamas, school or another caregiver, consider taking your child(ren) with you to vote.

Yes, the lines may be long, but there's so much to take in, from neighbors you don't see often enough to ingraining the process and the importance of same early on.

Both my Mister and I hit the polls this morning here in East Nashville-- our thirteen month old came along for the experience and I am so glad he did, even though we waited for over an hour to mark our ballots.

One of our most powerful parenting responsibilities is instilling in our children the spirit of acting on values and following one's moral compass. As Mothers (and Others) Acting Up, we're in for the long haul. Leading the next wave onward by example and immersion in community is critical to the growth of the world we want our smallest citizens to inherit and inhabit.

We call for just and accurate representation!

As family and community leaders, with our partners, neighbors and tribes, we have a big job ahead of us with election day coming tomorrow.

No matter which way you look at it, we have a lot to invest in, and foremost we must create the language to speak of our Mother Agenda 'til it becomes Mother Tongue easy.

What does that mean in the practical sense? Read up on the candidates in your area. Check out the scorecards for how folks vote, and let your values speak as you pull the lever. And once the votes are tallied, consider writing letters of congratulations AND accountability to your representatives to let them know that healthcare, peace and an end to poverty are critical to our childrens' wellbeing. In 2008, these issues must be at the very top of the Mother Agenda, in which we will all be conversant. You betcha.

As to tomorrow, it is said that one of the principle keys to the elections this year and tipping the balance of what values play themselves out is married moms. That's a lot of us. Nancy over at Muckraking Mom points to this Steve & Cokie Roberts article.

If you didn't participate in early voting and think it might be difficult to get to the polls with your wee ones in tow, consider following the lead of Charleston, South Carolina MAUs who will have two homes open for childcare so that mamas share the load, build the tribe and act on their civil and domestic responsibilities with care and mindfulness. Brilliant, gals.

If any of you readers come up with other practical or clever ways to impact our voice, holler.

Soon...