Potluck Social & Salon Summer Series!!

Nashville's Mothers Acting Up community hosts a potluck social & salon the third Friday of each month. Salon topics below description.

Who: Nashville MAU & friends -- bring the family!!

What: Potluck Social & Salon

When: 3rd Friday of each month; 6 - 8 PM

Where: Nashville Friends' (Quaker) Meeting House
530 26th Ave North

$2 suggested donation per family goes DIRECTLY to the Friends' Meeting House for upkeep and utilities.

Mothers acting up is a mother-led, mother-fed movement of mothers (and others) passionately and publicly advocating for the world's children.

Nashville's Mothers Acting Up community celebrates all families and all children. We heartily welcome you to join with us in fellowship. We'll gather to sup, laugh, and build community.

Please bring a dish to share. Drinks will be provided. In the spirit of community work together and of being kind to the earth, we'll use real dishes and wash them afterward.

Bring the family! Bring friends. Our gatherings are always nursing friendly and open to ALL kinds of families: old, young, rich, poor; all colors, faiths and orientations; all styles of parenting.

Sign up for monthly actions and get the good scoop here: http://www.mothersactingup.org
National blog: http://mothers-acting-up.blogspot.com

Nashville MAU here: http://www.nashvillemau.blogspot.com

Questions and RSVP (not strictly necessary, but helpful for planning to presenters): paige@mothersactingup.org

Upcoming salons:


June 15: Talk on Non-Violent Communication (NVC)
Murfreesboro mother, attorney and peace and justice worker
Liz Sodergren will facilitate a talk / family-friendly workshop on Non-Violent Communication (NVC), an excellent tool for parenting and for mother activism. Learn more about NVC here: http://www.cnvc.org/


July 20: TBA


August 17: Screening of Kilowatt Ours
Nashville film-maker Jeff Barrie will be present!!
Learn more here: http://www.kilowattours.org/

Nashville MAUma and family open Farmer's Market!

Girlcott! Let us have a strong MAU presence for the season to promote the VanWinkle's efforts at sustainable living, something that benefits ALL of us, and is in alignment with the Mother Agenda.

See below for the news from Nancy:


Greetings Fresh Food Enthusiasts!

I am very pleased to announce the opening of the White's Creek Organic Farmers Market.

WHAT: A New Organic Farmers Market in North Davidson County, starting this summer

WHEN: SATURDAYS FROM 8AM TO 12 NOON, STARTING JUNE 2

WHERE: Earthman General Store, 4409 Whites Creek Pike, Whites Creek, TN 37189

FEATURING: Fresh, organic produce from these local farms: Eaton's Creek Organics (Joelton), Hungry Gnome Farm (Whites Creek), Sonfarm (Joelton), Bramble Hill Farm (Goodlettsville).

Mark your calendars, it's just a little more than a week away. Our first market we'll be offering a variety of early season produce, including: lettuce and various greens, fresh herbs, beets, turnips and other root vegetables, onions, squash and other surprises as the weather allows. As the Spring has been dry, we are all hoping for lots of rain in the near future!

Earthman General Store is located just south of the intersection of White's Creek Pike and Old Hickory Boulevard just 15 minutes from Downtown Nashville. You can get there by taking I-24 to the Old Hickory exit (go west to the 1st stop light, which is White's Creek and take a left- store will be on your left) or take Briley Parkway to the White's Creek exit and go North on White's Creek (the store will be on your right just before the Old Hickory intersection). The market will be in the lawn next to the store. For more specific directions, just e-mail me or call and I'll be glad to help.

Also, note that Earthman General Store just opened this past week and I encourage all of you to check out this beautiful historic building that features a lunch menu, various crafts and antiques and houses the office of a local newspaper. The grand opening of the store will be on Friday June 1.

The four farms (above named) involved in this market are also in the planning stages of forming a future cooperative - maybe a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) of sorts, or a weekly order opportunity for subscribed customers. Please give us your opinion and tell us what you would like to see.

PLEASE forward this information to anyone and everyone that might be interested in the market or a future cooperative. I will be sending out updates regularly and am happy to add anyone to my e-mail list who is interested. If you are not interested in recieving these e-mails please reply with "unsubscribe" in the message.

We're looking forward to a great season and hope to see you at the market!

Thank You,

Nancy VanWinkle

Bramble Hill Farm

(615) 876-3947

Nashville MAU's Parade on Music City Moms.

A dozen photographs from Nashville's 2nd Annual Mother's Day Peace Parade can be seen here on Music City Moms online.

Scroll to the page's bottom.


And if you're looking for mom to mom support and conversation about subjects ranging from breastfeeding to neighborhood playgroups, you might wish to check out the forums on this new site which is part of the Tennessean.

Ms. Booty Homemaker Explains It All To You.: On the radio.

Ms. Booty Homemaker Explains It All To You.: On the radio.

Potluck group photo!

Bring the Family Potluck Social & Salon: Tonight!!

Nashville Mothers Acting Up (MAU) hosts its monthly Bring the Family Potluck Social & Salon tonight-- 6-8 PM at the (Quaker) Friend's Meeting House at 26th & Torbett (off Charlotte).

Bring a dish to share.

All kinds of families are warmly welcome to revel in Mother's Day and our community's one year anniversary. (My very own mother will even be present!!) We'll share photos and recollections of our Mother's Day Peace Parade, sign thank you cards to sponsoring entities of the parade, and even bust out the moves for a family dance party.

Everyone is welcome, including those who did not attend the parade-- this is a perfect opportunity to learn more about MAU live and in person.

Nashville MAU tshirts will be available (suggested donation of $8 per), as will copies of the 2007 Mother Leadership Handbook & Engagement calendar (free in exchange for completing a simple one page survey which will help MAU's Mothership gather important data for grant writing and that we might best serve our communities nationwide.)

Come one, come all!


***Suggested donation of $2 per family goes to the Friend's Meeting House and will be put toward upkeep and utilities.***


www.nashvillemau.blogspot.com

--
Paige La Grone Babcock, National Outreach Coordinator & Community Organizer, MOTHERS ACTING UP: celebrating Mother Leadership in 2007
www.mothersactingup.org
PO Box 1244
Boulder, CO 80306
303.474.1286
paige@mothersactingup.org
Nashville office 615.750.3780
Mobile mama 615.495.1879

MAUs are reclaiming Mother's Day across the land.... join the festive revolution!! www.mothers-acting-up.blogspot.com

Code Pink Granny for Peace & MAU Supporter in Tennessee Voices.

From the Tennessean

Sunday, 05/13/07

Honor mothers today by speaking out for peace

By ELIZABETH BARGER

Tennessee Voices

As we celebrate Mother's Day to honor the most important person in our lives, let us not forget the history behind its origin in our country. In the years after the Civil War, a young Appalachian mother named Anna Jarvis worked to heal both the physical and emotional wounds of families on both sides, calling for a Mother's Work Day to improve living conditions for all and build reconciliation between neighbors.

Inspired by the work of Anna Jarvis, Julia Ward Howe, author of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, took up the cause. When the Franco-American War began in 1870, Howe used her fame to send a call to women of all nations to recognize their common humanity, seek peaceful resolutions to conflicts and take a firm stance against any and all wars.

She issued a proclamation calling for a Congress of Women, stating, "Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience."

Across the years, Julia Ward Howe's words speak as true today as they did then. The conflict in the Middle East affects Tennesseans deeply, with tragic loss of precious Tennessee soldiers and the terrible reality of the wounded in body and soul who come home to the lack of proper medical and psychological care.

Five years ago, a group of Tennessee women, led by founders of PeaceRoots Alliance and More Than Warmth, came together with Middle Tennessee women to honor Julia Ward Howe, and remember that Mother's Day began as a call for our children's future and a call for peace.

Today, Mothers Acting Up (MAU) will bring mothers and their children together in Nashville with church and civic groups and a growing number of families to oppose the war and work for peace.

"My hope is to fully embody the inclusive message of peace for all," says organizer Paige La Grone Babcock, national outreach coordinator for MAU. "The action will be aimed at appealing to the Speaker of the U.S. House Nancy Pelosi to be an advocate for the mother of all agendas: dealing with poverty, global warming and striving for peace."

Honoring our mothers is a good thing. Honoring the strength and fortitude of mothers who demand peace and stand for the protection of all children and families is the true meaning of Mother's Day.

###

Tennessee: Reclaim Mother's Day!!

Nashville Mothers Acting Up (MAU) hosts Nashville's 2^nd Annual Mother's Day Peace Parade TOMORROW!

Sunday May 13, 2007

12:30 - 3:30 PM

@ Fannie Mae Dees (Dragon) Park; 2400 Blakemore Ave.

Reclaim Mother's Day with Nashville MAU & Friends.

Festive dress, big hats, aprons, colorful costumery, stilts, unicycles, handheld instruments, joyful signage celebrating peace and mother leadership are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED. Please bring friends and family members with you. This event is wholly appropriate for EVERYONE.

12:30 - 1:15 readying for the parade w/ trike, stroller, wagon & wheelchair decorating; face painting; sign making.

1:15 Julia Ward Howe (on stilts!) delivers the Mother's Day Proclamation

1:30 Parade!! (3/4 mile sidewalk parade through the heart of Hillsboro Village)

2:00 Brief address to kick off postcard action to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and presentation of the Julia Ward Howe Award.

Free cake! Juice! Cookies! Picnicking and play on the lawn & playground…. Big bubbles, children's crafts, acoustic jam session for those who bring instruments.

Activities, literature & sponsorship provided by local MAU supporting and partnering businesses & organizations including Bramble Hill Farm, Baby Bear Shop, the Artsy Mamas, Earth Matters TN, Nashville Peace & Justice Center & the Peace Coalition, More than Warmth, Code Pink, etc.

Thank you to Publix, Kinkos, Village Realty, Posh Boutique, Pangaea, Walgreen's, Target, Costco, Wild Oats, Tennessee Environmental Council, & Red Rover for sponsorship.

Limited edition Nashville MAU T shirts available in a variety of sizes, colors & styles. Suggested donation $8 each.

www.nashvillemau.blogspot.com

--
Paige La Grone Babcock, National Outreach Coordinator & Community Organizer, MOTHERS ACTING UP: celebrating Mother Leadership in 2007

www.mothersactingup.org

PO Box 1244

Boulder, CO 80306

303.474.1286

paige@mothersactingup.org

Nashville office 615.750.3780

Mobile mama 615.495.1879

MAUs are reclaiming Mother's Day across the land.... join the festive revolution!! www.mothers-acting-up.blogspot.com

Join the Magnificent Revolution.

“Having never organized anything before in my life, I have to say that I hope that I am emblematic of a piece of some mothers/others can take away from this event: I'm doing this, essentially, by myself. And if I can do this, in the name of trying to step in the right direction on behalf of my two little girls, anyone can do it. I believe that these times provide fertile ground for the type of activism that MAU gives us the opportunity to be a part of, and I'm hopeful that I can help be a part of that work.” Helen Maye, (brand new!) Community Organizer and Mother’s Day Reclaimer: Portland, ME

Dear Reclaimers of Mother’s Day,

From the tips of the toes through the shimmy of my hips and on up up up…. I want to dance when I read Helyne’s words of empowerment, above. Yes, and yes, and yes!

To paraphrase Beth, one of the co-founding MAU mavens, never doubt that YOU are the perfect and most right one to speak out (and joyfully so!) on behalf of your children and ALL of the children.

So hold this kernel of knowledge in your hearts, sock it away in your bosom and add a little pep to your step as you heed Julia’s call to take it to the streets this weekend! Your town and her town and my town: we are one large wave of community, a force of mobilized mamas to be reckoned AND LAUGHED with. For we are Joy Warriors engaged in a magnificent apron string revolution to honor the promise of our children’s lives.

This Acting Up, it is serious business, and is most potent and most lasting when done from a place of enjoyment and togetherness. Throw your head back and sing, sing it loud, and with abandon, as in community we sow the seed our song in the fertile ground of hope.

Oh, and take pictures, will you? Write down what you see and feel and observe? And share it all with us later? Because we think not only do you look smashing, but know you are dizzyingly beautiful when you own your Mother Leadership. Really, we do. And that is something to celebrate all year long, and into next.

That the great human family may live in peace….

Paige for the MAU Mavens

--
Paige La Grone Babcock, National Outreach Coordinator & Community Organizer, MOTHERS ACTING UP: celebrating Mother Leadership in 2007

www.mothersactingup.org

PO Box 1244

Boulder, CO 80306

303.474.1286

paige@mothersactingup.org

Nashville office 615.750.3780

Mobile mama 615.495.1879

MAUs are reclaiming Mother's Day across the land.... join the festive revolution!! www.mothers-acting-up.blogspot.com

In peace.

Parenting & Politics Breakfast, this morning.

MAU is non-partisan, and does not endorse candidates.

It does, however, endorse active mother involvement in linking the personal and political. Here's a great opportunity to do just that.

Why does being political matter? How can I juggle civic commitments and parenting? How does parenting inform my politics?

Please join us for a discussion of Parenting and Politics on Wednesday, May 9
10:00-11:30 a.m.
1808 West End Avenue
(there will be signs in the building directing you to the event)

Former Tennessee House Majority Leader and Senior Advisor to Governor Phil Bredesen
Kim McMillan will join us in reflecting on her own challenges in rearing two children while working in politics

Ms. McMillan will then be joined by a panel of other active parents to discuss their own Parenting and Politics

Kristine LaLonde will moderate the discussion

Coffee, pastries, juice boxes, and fruit will be provided.


There will be childcare available, including arts and crafts.

The event is free and open to everyone. We are, however, soliciting sponsors for the event. For $25 you can help defray the costs of this activity; your name or the name of your organization will be recognized on the program.

Although RSVPs are not required, they will be helpful (please include the number of children and their ages).

Just email me directly at kristinelalonde@yahoo.com to let me know that you can come. Please forward this to any interested parents.


Sponsored by the Davidson County Democratic Party

Ms. Booty Homemaker Explains It All To You.: MBH Explains All on Mothering Chat tomorrow.

Ms. Booty Homemaker Explains It All To You: MBH Explains All on Mothering Chat tomorrow.

Local MAU and family highlighted for organic farming.

One of Nashville's own Mothers Acting Up, Nancy Van Winkle and family embrace the Mother Agenda's For Kids' Sake campaign, creating sustainable and organic agriculture that nourishes bodies and knits both family and community ever closer. The VanWinkle's Bramble Hill Farm was recently featured in the Tennessean, along with several other farming families up in the northern corner of greater Nashville in the White's Creek area.

Nancy, who has taken on the role of Sponsorship Maven in planning Nashville's 2nd Annual Mother's Day Peace Parade, will be on hand the day of the festivities with her family and sharing information about their beloved Bramble Hill Farm.

Playgroup / Senatorial visit / rain plan!!

Since we’re leaving for the Senatorial visit at 11, we’ll meet at Centennial Park Playground at 10 —we’ll be beneath the little gazebo if it’s raining.


I have posters and handbills, beautifully printed out by our sponsors at Kinko’s to pass out. Thanks to Kate for the handbill design and to Megan for hooking us up with the glorious color prints!!


IF you don’t come to playgroup, but want flyers / handbills, holler at me.

Earth Day.

Nashville MAUs on the news at Nashville's Earth Day Festival.

Photos of the day to come!!

MAUma to girlcott.

The Baby Bear Shop mama is a MAUma. We support the wonderful work she is doing in the community and in the world, by taking on advocacy for her own child to creating a cottage industry of ethical authority to serve all our children and to make a family living.

Baby Bear Shop is a luxurious way to pamper (and support!) activist mamas across the land....
TA DA! INTRODUCING NEW ORGANIC GIFT SETS! by BABYBEARSHOP™, a purely organic skincare line ‘just right’ for mothers, babies, and grown-ups alike who care about their health, the environment and having lusciously soft and healthy skin.

Indulge her with our Organic Gift Sets for the Boho Chic Mama and a little something for Baby. High design meets quality organic ingredients. Earthy, amber-hued bottles with vintage story-book illustrations, packaged in recycled kraft paper box with brown polka dot bow. Includes multi-use, completely natural and organic products to pamper Mama and Baby.

Look for Cheeky Baby Butter at Spa Nordstrom this month or check us out at Babiesrus.com!

Enter SWEETMAMA for free shipping now through 5/7. 10% off all wholesale orders through 5/7 - please fax orders to 650-327-1488 or email to shop@babybearshop.com.

Don't forget your sweet mama - order now for delivery by May 13th!

Scroll down to see an array of scrumptious gift sets and visit us online at www.babybearshop.com to make your purchase!

XO
BABYBEARSHOP
www.babybearshop.com
www.allthebettertokissyouwith.com

Hate crimes bill and mothers.

I called my representative about Hate Crimes... and the bill that goes up for a vote on Thursday.

I spoke with a staffer called Elizabeth and told her that as a citizen and mother, I felt strongly about the protection for ALL our citizens. I asked her how Representative Jim Cooper was going to vote, she said she did not know, but would take down my name, address and position on the issue.

Very simple.

I will continue to encourage folks to do the same. Go here for talking points and direction on how to act.

Everyone has a mother. Mothers protect their children and ALL our children. It's what we do. And keep doing.

Ms. Booty Homemaker Explains It All To You.: Mothering chat.

Ms. Booty Homemaker Explains It All To You.: Mothering chat.

Mothers Acting Up: As You Are.

Mothers Acting Up: As You Are.