N A P T I M E AC T I V I S M
FINDING YOUR CAUSE In previous articles, I’ve written about giving back to the larger community by getting involved in a worthy cause and I’ve suggested that you do so only to the extent that your time and resources allow. But, what is your worthy cause?
Some mothers, like Candace Lightner, who founded Moms Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) in 1980, are propelled to activism by personal tragedies. You can use your voice as a woman and a mother to denounce injustice and promote positive political change. First, explore groups in your local community that need help.
For some people, their cause BY PEGGY O’MARA is obvious; it gets right in peggyomara.com their face and they get involved without realizing that they’re even doing so. If you’re not one of If you don’t find something local, here are these and feel overwhelmed by the numerous some mother-centric national groups to conworthy causes and your own limited time, re- sider: member that women and mothers are behind many of our most beloved organizations. G RO U P S T O C O N S I D E R Look for ways to get involved in community work that help to improve the lives of your own family members and neighbors. For example, historically, women have been involved with improving access to education, protecting the environment, ensuring affordable healthcare, advocating for housing, and working to prevent drug abuse, alcoholism, and violence. Negative experiences with racism, classicism, and sexism have sparked mothers of color to advocate for accessible childcare, voter registration, and elder care.
Another Mother for Peace is a non-profit, non-partisan organization founded in 1967 “to educate women to take an active role in eliminating war as a means of solving disputes between nations, people and ideologies.” —anothermother.org Black Mamas Matter Alliance envisions “a world in which black mamas have the rights, respect, and resources to thrive before, during and after pregnancy.” —blackmamasmatter.org
