| Some years ago, two mothers met with a
senator, urging his support on a bill to boost Head Start
funding. He was an ardent fan of Head Start but said,
"I can't vote for funding because we just passed
a tax cut." The friends sat there and thought, "Hmmm…if
there were hundreds of mothers crowded in this office,
his answer would be different..."
Many earnest
attempts at organizing that throng of mothers followed;
snowy vigils which only their best friends and relatives
could stand to witness, letters to the editor and even
a Website. All of this eventually led the growing gang
of mothers (the founding four) to write the Mothers
Acting Up mission statement, "We recognize we live
in a world that does not prioritize or protect our children's
well-being and this will not change without each of
us finding the courage and commitment to speak out on
their behalf."
They began to talk with other mothers, people who perhaps
didn't consider themselves political but were passionate
enough about their children to publicly take action.
Then they discovered Julia Ward Howe's Mother's Day
Declaration! This gift from an Internet search became
the inspiration to reclaim Mother's Day as Julia originally
envisioned it: a day set aside for mothers to unite
for the well-being of mankind. So after a mad dash to
the locally owned hardware store for all the hot glue
guns in aisle 9, the first Mothers Acting Up Mother's
Day Parade of the 21st century was launched. Over 100
people, some walking on stilts, celebrated mothers as
a powerful political force to protect the rights and
well-being of children all over the world. By the Spring
of 2004, there were 10 parades across the country and
the numbers continue to grow...
Today, Beth, Joellen & Juliana and other amazing
women write the Website, research issues, plan &
support Mother's Day Parades & events, produce the
MAU Engagement Calendar, answer emails and encourage
other MAU Mavens to ACT UP however the spirit moves
them.
And the rest is history...that you, that we, are making.
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