Upcoming MAU events.

Monday, January 28, 6:30 PM: MAUmas Night Out - Portland Brew, East Nashville: 1921 Eastland Ave. Start a folder or a list now with ideas you'd like to talk about, actions you're interested in participating in or leading, etc. Come prepared to talk about the primaries (Super Tuesday fast approaches!!) Bring laptops or knitting / crafting projects if you like.

Bring your 2008 MAU Handbook & Engagement Calendar (or other datebook) to set the date for the Feb Mom's Night Out.


Feb TBA: MAU Now: Mobilizing the Mamas-- The Joy of Activism Workshop offered for FREE here in Nashville. Date TBD at MAUmas Night Out (see above). Do you want to act up but feel timid or uncertain? Would you like to be a Nashville community organizer? Would you like to learn to table and talk the Mother Agenda comfortably and in general get really familiar with MAU principles? Join Paige for this workshop (free!!), wherever you are in your mothering and activism journey. For details: paige@mothersactingup.org


Monday Feb 4, 12 Noon: Join Go Green Nashville at 2nd Presbyterian: 3511 Belmont Blvd. The much loved Hector and Susie Black of Cookeville (blueberry farmers, earth stewards and Hidden Springs Nursery residents) will give a presentation on their 5 decades of green living and simple abundance. NOT TO BE MISSED. Children welcome; bring quiet activities, bag lunch or something yummy and nutritious to share. Contacts: Susan McBride shmcbride@comcast.net 615-258-2672 and Sara Sharpe saralsharpe@aol.com 615-210-0212.


Wednesday Feb 27: Join Stand for Children for their annual Day on the Hill. Contact: Nashville SFC Organizer Francie Hunt hunt@stand.org



Additional dates to add to your calendar:

Saturday March 2008: Earth Hour

April Date TBA: Nashville Earth Day Festival To volunteer to woman MAU's booth, contact Paige: paige@mothersactingup.org

Sunday May 11: NASHVILLE'S 3RD ANNUAL MOTHER'S DAY PARADE!!
Contact Paige to get involved: paige@mothersactingup.org

Friday May 16: Bring the Family Potluck Social & Salon; gather to celebrate successful parade, share pictures, feast!

Friday August 15: Bring the Family Potluck Social & Salon

Friday October 17: Bring the Family Potluck Social & Salon


Discussion takes place on a variety of related subjects and impromptu activities come together on the Nashville MAU yahoogroup: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nashvillemau/. Check the blog for other updates: http://nashvillemau.blogspot.com/.

Join the national website for monthly actions and inspirational missives: www.mothersactingup.org

And jump into what promises to be spirited discussion this election year to talk about mother, children's and family issues at the brand new national MAU list serv: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MothersActingUp/

Peaceful Family Friendly Activities This Weekend and Beyond.

Friday evening Jan 18
6-8 PM

Potluck Social & Salon at Nashville Friends' Meeting House.

Bring a dish to share and $3 per family for the Meeting House.

We'll be making hats for moms, kids, dads, friends to wear for
Mother's Day and other high MAU holidays. Bring hat ideas, materials
for crafting, etc!!

Friends, neighbors, extended family welcome. Child and all family friendly.

Other upcoming MAU events include:

Monday Jan 21: participation in MLK March; 10 AM meet at DB Todd Ave & Jefferson St.

Monday Jan 28: Mama’s Night Out—details TBA

Monday Feb 3: participation in Go Green Nashville’s Lunch and Learn; noon @ 2nd Presbyterian @ Graybar & Belmont

Wednesday Feb 27: participation w/ Stand For Children at Day on the Hill

Contact Paige w/ questions: paige@mothersactingup.org

Office 615-750-3780

Mobile Mama 615-495-1879

Arise Nashville Mamas! Bring the vision to OUR community.
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The MAU Vision: We realize that we live in a world that does not prioritize or protect our children's wellbeing and that this will not change without each of us finding the courage and commitment to speak out on their behalf. By mobilizing our gigantic political strength, we can ensure the health, education and safety of every child, not just a privileged few. Let us: whisper this to each other, sing it out in the streets, yell it from our rooftops, declare it in our houses of government: we will protect our children with our personal and political strength, wherever they live on earth! www.mothersactingup.org

Earth Hour 2008.

Can One Woman's Passion Change the World?

From Boulder MAU's Janna Vance:

I started to discover my passion when I left the hospital three days after my daughter, Lillian, was born. I had to leave my sweet baby girl in the nursery. My heart broke. I knew that there were many, many people in this world that had to leave their sweet babies in the nursery for much longer and I felt for them. But, that time away from Lillian was among the most horrible and heart-wrenching of my life.

Then, a strange thing happened. Lillian was released from the hospital. But as my husband drove us home, I gazed out the window at the people walking on the streets, the parks, the world. All of it moving so fast, none of them thinking about the safety of my baby girl. And I thought, "What is this world that I'm bringing my baby home to?" She was so incredibly safe in the nursery. Even I and my husband had to go through security measures to get in to see our baby. Now, all of that would be gone. The only thing standing in between my daughter and the cruel world... was me!

And what of the other children in the world? Was there someone to stand up for them? Would they be safe? Would they all have the support to grow up to be the people that I would want my daughter to share the world with?

That is precisely why I am joining the Parade Magazine America's Giving Challenge. I am competing to gain the most new supporters for my charity, Mothers Acting Up. If I win, I will receive $50,000 for the charity of my choice! But the challenge ends in just 17 days, so the time is now.

Mothers Acting Up works to ensure that someone does look out for the world's children, and so much more. I have had the opportunity to spend a little time with the MAU team in Boulder, CO and they are the most amazing, passionate and inspiring people I've ever met. MAU works in the local community to increase awareness of all issues related to children and the world we will pass along to them. MAU works to ensure that our children will have a planet that is environmentally balanced, politically fair and joyful in its diversity.

I am not sure that my passion can change the world, but I know that my passion and your support can help sustain this wonderful organization to foster world change!

I am asking you to please give $10 to Mothers Acting Up and help me toward my goal of winning the America's Giving Challenge. The challenge awards the person who reaches the largest number of new supporters. Therefore, if you can inspire your family members, friends and colleagues to give I stand a real chance of winning this challenge. So, please pass it on. And thank you for caring.

Click here to give: http://www.networkforgood.org/pca/Badge.aspx?BadgeId=109713

Find more about MAU at www.mothersactingup.org And keep up on my progress on the Boulder MAU Blog.

In great appreciation,

Janna Vance

Political Moms Make Family Values Their Baby

Political Moms Make Family Values Their Baby Run Date: 01/09/08 By Alison Bowen WeNews correspondent Mothers' groups are talking to presidential campaigns about family values. It's time, says a founder of Moms Rising, to focus on paid sick days for workers, equal pay for women and affordable health care for all. (WOMENSENEWS)--Wobbling forward on stilts is one way to gain attention. That's why four founding members of Mothers Acting Up have been visible high above the crowds in more than 80 events since the group launched on Mother's Day 2002. "It became such a perfect metaphor for Mothers Acting Up," says Juliana Forbes, communications director for the Boulder, Colo., group focused on political advocacy for children around the world. "One of the biggest hurdles is really becoming public and visible in your community. If you're up on stilts, you are so visible. Everyone's looking at you." Building on their strategy of mobilizing active members to