Nashville MOTHERS ACTING UP

Mother's Day wrap up!

2008-05-22T10:18:00.000-05:00

Dearest Joy Warriors & Apron String Revolutionaries;

The MAU Mother's Day stories and photographs keep rolling in! Thousands of mothers acting up gathered in cities and hamlets across the nation to celebrate the day in the spirit of Julia Ward Howe: advocating for the world's children. We've gone public with press aplenty, witnesses to the powerful force that is mother leadership! And in a year when many events partnered with 1Sky on their collective Mother's Day Action, it's no surprise that the weather played a large role in the festivities. Here are a few reports:

From Teresa in Snohomish, WA: Our Mother's Day Gathering for Peace was a huge success! We had well over 125 people and it didn't rain! Our tradition is to have a girl/woman from every decade read a portion of the Mother's Day Proclamation by stepping up onto a tree stump. We even had our spry, mid-70s grandmother step proudly up on the stump!

From Kate in Northern Michigan: A great group of area women came together to celebrate and collaborate during our annual Northern Michigan MAU Mother's Day event. This year, we focused on a simple recipe for success with our theme, "Just Add Water." We honored five local women who have been passionate advocates for our lakes and rivers, and were fortunate enough to hear their inspiring stories of activism. Our bazaar brought in $8,000 -- a fantastic kick off toward our $14,000 goal to bring a PlayPump well system to a village in Tanzania.

From Paige in Nashville: Gale force winds (up to 30 miles per hour) radically altered our plans for our 3rd Annual Peace Parade. Two trees fell while we were at the park to set up. Mother Nature was to be respected and lived with in all her wonder. We opted to go out for coffee instead of setting up, then gathered for our parade and cake and a spirited reading of the proclamation. We had a surprisingly large crowd, given the weather. It was wild and great and we went from one stilt walker last year to two this year. We nearly blew away. But didn't.

From Juliana in Boulder: Mother's Day began the week before in Boulder with Girlcotts celebrating local fair trade stores, a performance of (M)other and Janna on TV! Then on Sunday, the Raging Grannies led a parade of stilt-walkers and strollers to gather for music, kids activities, cake and a thousand fair trade roses from Transfair/USA. Eight other organizations joined MAU in the celebration; talking with participants and hearing the eloquent words of MAU Co-founder Erica Shafroth and Jen Parsons. The entire crowd enjoyed stirring music from Danea Shanti and Ancestral Voices, including a troop of belly dancers! A festival atmosphere prevailed, culminating in an hour-long interview with Dr. Daddio!

From Kate in Bend, OR: I am very inspired and unbelievably satisfied: we had a splendid Reclaiming Mother's Day event. Our first annual MAU celebration of Julia Ward Howe's original vision started off with gusts of wind, snow and chilly temps. No matter though: families still came to picnic, play and participate in the movement.

David in Oklahoma City: In the midst of a rainy month we were blessed with an absolutely beautiful sunny afternoon and had a crowd of 75-100 people -- women, men and children -- who enjoyed being on the grass and even under a large shade tree, so everyone stayed comfortable. [We had] a wonderful speech by State Senator Connie Johnson, whose birthday it also happened to be. Our two elementary-school essay contest winners read what they had written on the subject, "I Want To Live In a World In Which . . . " and they each received $40 in gift certificates for their efforts.

Laura in Austin, TX: Adorned in colorful tutus, feathers, and flowers, Austin mamas marched across the pedestrian bridge, which spans our beautiful Town Lake, declaring, "There ain't no power like the power of the mama, and the power of the mama don't stop!"

Cheers to mamas, papas, mini-MAUs and all who answered Julia's call to "Arise!"

Yours for the JOYFUL revolution,
The Mavens at MAU Central

P.S. MAU Central gives a huge shout out to Paige for all the encouragement, support and guidance she dispatched along the planning route to Reclaiming Mother's Day. On June 1 MAU Central will say goodbye to Paige as Outreach Coordinator, sending love and blessings to her next adventure. On behalf of all MAUs who have been touched by her spirit, we thank Paige for her incredible leadership, passion, exuberance and her wonderful laugh! We hope to hear it often in the years to come...

Potluck social & salon AND Compass Conference this weekend!!

2008-05-15T14:14:00.003-05:00

Dearest Nashville area MAU families,

Thanks to the many of you who came out to enjoy 2008's Mother's Day Peace Parade-- our 3rd Annual local reclaimation celebration!! It was a very beautiful event.

Gale force winds (up to 30 miles per hour) rather radically altered our plans. Two trees were felled during the time we were at the park to set up. We opted not to put up any of the tents or do our carefully planned actions, and we also put off the children's activities and presenatation of the 2008 Julia Ward Howe Award. All of that was fine: Mother Nature was to be respected and lived with in all her wonder. We opted to go out for coffee instead of setting up, then gathered for our parade and cake and a spirited reading of the proclamation. We had a surprisingly large crowd, given the weather. It was wild and great and we went from one stilt walker last year to two this year. We nearly blew away. But didn't. The remarkable Contrarian Ensemble played anyway, just for love and cake and lemonade. It was a really wonderful day. We'll do the actions and award ceremony and our raffle and everything else on Friday night at our post parade potluck instead. Free raffle tickets for all mothers who attend!!!

YA'LL COME!! Bring your mothers, friends, sisters, children, neighbors....we'll be celebrating, feasting, and acting up....

Friday May 16, 6 PM: Post Parade Mother's Day Potluck Social & Salon

at the Nashville Friends Meeting House, 530 26th Ave N

Bring a dish to share, wear festive attire (parade hats encouraged!) and prepare to revel in our community. Sherry Knott will receive the 2008 Julia Ward Howe Award, actions and activities will take place. We're a welcoming community for ALL kinds of families, including those with or without children. $3 suggested donation goes to the Meeting House for utilities and upkeep.

And....

Saturday May 17 is People's Day at Compass!! (Early registration deadline and pricebreak has been extended to today!!)

Nashville MAU Organizer and MAU National Outreach Coordinator Paige La Grone Babcock will be on the afternoon panel for the Democracy in the Media Track where she-- along with a group including Liberadio's Mary Mancini, Stand for Children's Andy Spears, and Gathering to Save Our Democracy's Bernie Ellis-- will address the topic Crafting Your Message And Making It Heard.

A great event, not to be missed, Tennessee Alliance for Progress puts together the annual Compass Conference as a means to mobilize, inform, and network our state and region's progressive community. As they say: We're all in this together.

See you this weekend!!

The Nashville MAU Mavens

Healthy Child, Healthy World.

2008-05-15T11:42:00.001-05:00

No one organization will make the changes we need to be and see in order to have the world's children best cared for. That's why it's so very important to know the truth of We're all in this together! It will take all hands on deck from domestic to international efforts, sometimes one baby step at a time, to co-create the kind of world and social environment that we want for our children. ALL our children.

Here's but just one such domestic organization's message of hope.

Nashville MAU participates in 1Sky collective action.

2008-05-15T11:27:00.003-05:00

Click here for more information about how Nashville MAUs (and other local MAU groups from Portland, ME to Chicago, IL) are part of over 455 groups in this country and beyond to participate in massive collective actions about global warming and climate change through the combined efforts of leaders in action Green Peace, True Majority, and 1Sky!!

Nashville's 3rd Annual Mother's Day Peace Parade.

2008-05-14T07:26:00.001-05:00

video courtesy of Chris Lugo. Thank you, Chris!!

Nashville MAU's Mother's Day events in Nashville Parent.

2008-05-11T10:14:00.001-05:00

Top Ten Ways to Reclaim Mother's Day.

2008-05-10T13:32:00.000-05:00

What is the sound of mothers Arising?

This Mother's Day, MAU Mavens across the country will be strapping on stilts, baking pies for elected leaders, hawking fair trade roses and singing in the streets! Reclaiming Mother's Day events - now in their sixth season - celebrate Julia Ward Howe's 1870 Mother's Day Proclamation. This year, MAU invites YOU to celebrate her call to Arise by gathering your family and community together through cakewalks, letters to the editor, Standing Women events, mama's open-mic nights, or . . . the sky and your imagination is the limit! When mothers* publicly express our commitment to children, our communities, media and government sit up and take notice. Let's sing it out in the streets, "We will protect our children with our personal & political strength - wherever they live on earth."

Thanks to MAU Mavens and partner organizations, MAU is excited to present the very 1st ever "Top 10 Ways to Reclaim Mother's Day":

1. Holy Symbolism! Step outside your comfort zone, and get up on stilts. Parade, prance and promenade with a loyal spotter by your side. When we lift our voices AND our bodies together on behalf of the world's children, we become a GIGANTIC force to be reckoned with.

2. Dare to be a Joy Warrior! Deliver pies to your local members of Congress as part of the Department of Peace's 4th Annual Mother's Day National Action: Peace Wants a Piece of the Pie Campaign.

3. Posies with a purpose: Ask for or send fair trade flowers through Transfair/USA. Fair trade benefits every person along the path, from seed in the ground to blossom in the vase.

4. Review Save the Children's State of the World's Mothers Report (2008 report availably May 6). Learn simple solutions to stop the deaths of nearly 10 million children a year; educate your community with a letter to the editor on this topic.

5. Part your purse strings, because giving matters. Donate to MAU, inspiring and mobilizing mothers* to advocate on behalf of the world's children. Your donation, in honor of a mother or other, allows MAU to reach out to a million mamas with templates, tools and recipes for actions that prioritize the lives of our children.

6. Press the candidates for Prez to take action for the world's children. Take a photo of your family at brunch this Mother's Day and send to the presidential candidates, letting them know you are a Mother Acting Up who wants Global Action for Children.

7. There is an elegant beauty to simplicity. Stand with Standing Women at 1 pm (your local time) on May 11 in support of a better world for our children.

8. Host a 1Sky climate change event, make a banner calling for serious climate action and then upload pictures and drawings of your children and families alongside the banner as part of a national call to action to Congress.

9. Join with CodePink mamas at the Mother's Day Picnic for Peace in Washington, DC's Dupont Circle, walk across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, or gather at Merchant's Gate at Columbus Circle in Manhattan for the 2nd Annual Mother's Day Peace Stroll.

10. Find a MAU Mother's Day Reclamation event near you, and revel in it, mama! Gather round, hand out Julia Ward Howe's Mother's Day Proclamation, eat cake, birth strategic plans to act locally and think globally. Together, we can change the world.

Most important, report word of your reclamation activities to MAU Central!

Arise, all women who have hearts!

Weather and preparation....

2008-05-07T10:45:00.000-05:00

Weather for Sunday, May 11 -- MOTHER'S DAY-- calls for scattered thunderstorms. On our Third Annual Mother's Day Peace Parade, it's essential to be prepared for the elements. Bring sunscreen, bugspray, AND umbrellas and slickers....

Additionally, one might also think about bringing:
camping / lawn chairs
blankets
lawn games
harmonicas / finger cymbals / drums / tambourines
picnic goodies
water canteens
hula hoops
peaceful positive message signs or banners or flags
festive hats, boas, aprons, fairy wings and other costumery
strollers, wagons, trikes, bikes, unicycles, pogo sticks, etc.

Nashville’s 3rd Annual Mother’s Day Peace Parade

2008-05-07T10:37:00.001-05:00

Nashville’s 3^rd Annual Mother’s Day Peace Parade

Hosted by Nashville’s Mothers Acting Up community

Sunday May 11; 2-4 PM @ Dragon Park, sign making and stroller / wagon / trike decorating begins at 1:30!

MUSIC from Nashville’s very own Contrarian Ensemble!!

Raffle for beautiful handcrafted items, movie tickets and other goodies!! FREE raffle tickets for all attending mothers!!

Bring lawn chairs, blankets, picnic lunch or supper, come early, stay late.
Children’s activities! Music! FREE CAKE and other refreshment! Mamas on stilts, belly dancing, and hooping!!....
Wagon, stroller, and tricycle decorating supplies provided.
Bring drums / harmonicas / penny whistles and finger cymbals, hula hoops, signs / flags and banners with peaceful messaging, bubbles, and joyful spirits.
Costumes and festive hats highly encouraged.

Known and beloved to many in greater Nashville, Sherry Knott -- mother, active Nashville and Bells Bend community member, and Director of Abintra Montessori School-- will be honored by Nashville MAU and presented with the 2008 Julia Ward Howe Award at the Mother’s Day Parade! Come out and support Sherry and join with us in celebrating exemplary mother leadership right here in our home city!!

The Mother’s Day Parade is fun for the whole ding-dang family (all ages, stages and formations thereof!). Nashville MAU casts a wide net: if you aren’t a mother, you HAVE one. When mothers lead, generations follow!

For more info, contact paige@mothersactingup.org

Nashville to Reclaim Mother's Day.

2008-05-01T10:18:00.001-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Paige La Grone Babcock, paige@mothersactingup.org, 615-495-1879

Reclaiming Mother’s Day: UNITING OUR COMMUNITY FOR OUR GLOBAL FAMILY
Grassroots Movement Mobilizes Mothers* To Move From Concern To Action

(Nashville, April 30, 2008) Nashville’s Mothers Acting Up community announces Nashville’s 3rd Annual Mother’s Day Peace Parade. Mothers Acting Up (MAU) is a mother-led, mother fed grassroots movement of mothers (and others) publicly and passionately advocating for the world’s children, beginning right here at home.

The MAU hosted Peace Parade & Reclamation Celebration will take place on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 11 from 2-4 PM at Fannie Mae Dees (Dragon) Park. Stroller and wagon decorating and sign making (supplies provided!) begin at 1:30 PM. As in previous years, gaily dressed, apron-wearing participants will utilize the sidewalk to parade — on and by foot, wagon, stroller, tricycle, wheelchair and stilts!! — from Dragon Park (at 2400 Blakemore Ave.) down Blakemore, through the heart of Hillsboro Village, and back up Belcourt, ending at the Park where there will be family friendly activities, music provided by the Contrarians Ensemble, refreshments and FREE CAKE.

Nashville’s MAU community has been going strong for two years with regularly occurring play and action groups, potluck social and salons, and congressional visits with babes and children in tow. As its proudest community achievement, the local group of mothers* successfully led the call to fully reinstate 2007’s severe proposed budgetary cuts to the Nashville Public Library, a fate that would have diminished much of our city’s finest family offerings by way of the main branch’s stellar children’s programming.

Around the world, mothers and others are uniting into a gigantic, educated, noisy and powerful lobby to reclaim the original peaceful purpose of Mothers' Day and mobilize for the wellbeing of all children all year long. Nashville Mothers Acting Up invites you to be part of this exuberant revolution.

Reclaiming Mother’s Day events are inspired by the life, words and actions of Julia Ward Howe. In 1870 she wrote a Mother’s Day Proclamation and called for a day when the world would honor what mothers hold most dear: the lives of our children, of all children. The events celebrate the vision that Julia spoke of 100 years ago: mothers everywhere rising up together around that which unites us rather than divides us — our global family.

Known and beloved to many in greater Nashville, Sherry Knott -- mother, active Scottsboro / Bells Bend community member, and Director of Abintra Montessori School -- will be honored by Nashville MAU and presented with the 2008 Julia Ward Howe Award at the Mother’s Day Parade. Join with us in celebrating exemplary mother leadership right here in our home city!!

Arise!! Our Mother’s Day collective action piece sees Nashville MAU affirming the need for protected greenspace over development of a mini-city in the Bells Bend community, preserving this local piece of Mother Earth for the children of both today, and tomorrow! Families of ALL kinds and in all stages welcome. Free raffle tickets with fantastic prizes for all attending mothers. Folks are invited to pack a picnic to come early, and stay late. Costumes, festive hats, stilts, hula hoops, skates, and trikes highly encouraged!

When mothers lead, generations follow!

For more information about the celebration, contact: Paige La Grone Babcock, paige@mothersactingup.org, 615-495-1879 or Kate Wingate, kzwingate@gmail.com, or visit www.nashvillemau.blogspot.com

About Mothers Acting Up: Mothers Acting Up exists to inspire and mobilize mothers* to advocate on behalf of the world’s children. MAU was founded in Boulder, CO. www.mothersactingup.org

* mothers and others, on stilts or off, who exercise protective care over someone smaller

Local MAU and young farmer Nancy VanWinkle in the Tennessean....

2008-04-29T05:44:00.003-05:00

Young farmers embrace life on the land

For many young adults, farming is a calling

By JENNIFER JUSTUS • Staff Writer • April 26, 2008

As college students, Nancy and Tony VanWinkle met in a coffee shop where they talked all night about Thoreau, the rural life and moving west. Young, educated and eco-friendly, they pursued degrees in therapeutic recreation and anthropology, yet made lists of vegetables they hoped someday to grow, even dreaming up a name for their imaginary farm.

Nearly 10 years and several backyard gardens later, the VanWinkles — now in their early 30s — own a 5-acre piece of land in Goodlettsville and find themselves among a groundswell that could change the look of farming from weathered and windblown to young and fresh-faced.

As the average age of farmers hovers near 60, younger people in Tennessee have been signing on to farm apprenticeships, attending.... (read more here)

This morning! MAU co-founder on public radio call in show.

2008-04-18T08:59:00.000-05:00

Mothers Acting Up co-founder and communications director Juliana Forbes is on Central Ohio Public Radio THIS MORNING,

Friday April 18, 11AM-noon EST/ 9-10 AM MT, with host Fred Andrle on Open Line.

Tune in online at the URL below!!

You can even call in to make a comment or ask a question!

Call Open Line at 614-292-8513 or write to Open Line at openline@wosu.org

The topic to be discussed: We’ll hear how mothers can advocate for the future of children worldwide, with Mothers Acting Up Communications Director Juliana Forbes.

Open Line is a live, public affairs talk show, with listener phone calls, on WOSU public radio.

Open Line is streamed live and archived for two weeks at www.wosu.org/radio/radio-open-line

Save the Date: 3rd Annual Mother's Day Peace Parade.

2008-04-14T11:46:00.001-05:00

Nashville’s 3^rd Annual Mother’s Day Peace Parade

Hosted by Nashville’s Mothers Acting Up community

Sunday May 11

2-4 PM @ Dragon Park

Bring lawn chairs, blankets, picnic lunch or supper, come early, stay late.
Children’s activities! Music! FREE CAKE and other refreshment! Mamas on stilts, belly dancing, and hooping!!....
Wagon, stroller, and tricycle decorating supplies provided.
Bring drums / harmonicas / penny whistles and finger cymbals, hula hoops, signs / flags and banners with peaceful messaging, bubbles, and joyful spirits.
Costumes and festive hats highly encouraged.

The Mother’s Day Parade is fun for the whole ding-dang family.

Nashville MAU casts a wide net: if you aren’t a mother, you HAVE one.

When mothers lead, generations follow!

For more info, contact paige@mothersactingup.org

Mothers Acting Up exists to inspire and mobilize mothers* to advocate on behalf of the world’s children.

*mothers and others who exercise protective care over someone smaller

MAU: the First Principle.

2008-03-07T09:04:00.001-06:00

The following is the first of a series of essays which discuss the 5 founding principles of Mothers Acting Up, a national non-profit organization which exists to inspire and mobilize mothers to advocate on behalf of the world’s children.

Cross posted from the Mothers Acting Up blog.

From all over the country, people are taking the MAU Pledge to bring the security of the world’s children into the forefront of all discussions – from conversations with family and friends, to our wider communities and certainly with candidates and elected officials.

How to do this effectively? To answer that, let’s begin at the very beginning, with the first of the 5 MAU Principles:

Be exuberant: Since we're ACTING UP for the rest of our lives, our activism has to be joyful. No one wants to rally around anger; studies show that negative advertising causes women to politically disengage. This movement is about the JOY of standing up for what you believe & publicly declaring your priorities. Let's gather in the streets, not with bullhorns, but singing.

With its roots in the lavish abundance of growing and being fruitful, the quality of exuberance smacks with the juicy goodness of mother nurture, Mother Nature and Mothers Acting Up.

As of this writing, we at MAU Central are nodding our heads in collective understanding as to precisely why one presidential nomination candidate’s message of hope and of change has engaged, inspired and ignited citizens across lines of gender, race, class and socioeconomics. While we do not organizationally endorse any candidate, we know from our studies that research shows proof positive that women as a whole, and mothers in particular, disengage when activism and campaigning turns nasty – not just in the presidential race to the nomination, but in life itself! It seems no wonder then, that a swell of support favors positive messaging, declaring that we are not to be saved by any one elected leader alone, but that yes, WE can make the difference all together. Yes, WE can be scrappy and strong and sassy and also sublime when we collectively hold corporate and government leaders accountable for policies that uphold values and services and for the great human family rather than a few select someones. We the mamas, say YES.

Exuberance in practical application means saying, for instance: “Thank you, Delta, for revising your policies in support of breastfeeding families,” instead of, “Hey, Frontier, you messed up and breastfeeding moms are angry!” or by saying “Children Deserve a Bigger Piece of the Pie” instead of “Bush Hates Kids.” But this is not about being sunny for sunny’s sake. This is about focusing on WHAT WE WANT rather than looking back at what we reject. It’s moving towards, rather than against.

While perhaps Pollyanna in part, this primary MAU principle is neither easy nor simple. Sustaining exuberance is a tough row to hoe, a perennial crop whose nutritive value staves off depression, indifference and offers a real life solution to overwhelm and fear. Kind of like mother’s milk for the great human family itself, exuberance promotes real security.

Go forth and be exuberant mamas. Live in liberation of what others’ think of your choices. Model this joyful abundance because it feels good, because your kids will enjoy it far more than staying holed up in fear and loathing, and because you’re likely to inspire others to sing along while plucking up the fruits of your labor.

Try sowing seeds of exuberance by sharing this essay with two friends and asking them to declare themselves Mothers Acting Up. Try bolstering your own activism by writing YES on a mirror with lipstick so you see it each day; the affirmation a reminder of your call to duty and your sheer brilliance in carrying out your mission.

Holler at me with your comments, questions and desire to act up!

Upcoming MAU events.

2008-01-24T11:10:00.001-06:00

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.

2008-01-17T13:31:00.001-06:00

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.
***************************************************************************
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.

2008-01-17T12:27:00.000-06:00

Can One Woman's Passion Change the World?

2008-01-16T10:13:00.001-06:00

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

2008-01-09T13:23:00.001-06:00

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

Upcoming Nashville MAU....

2007-12-17T09:51:00.000-06:00

FRIDAY January 4, 10-NOON: @ Shelby Bottoms Greenway in East Nashville. Meet at main entrance. New Year kick off!! We'll chalk peaceful messages of hope for 2008 and walk / stroll / hike with trash / recycling bags to clean up our city's wonderful oasis in the metropolis. Dress for weather, bring snacks to share and / or lunch for you and yours. Rain plan will be to join the Shelby Park playgroup at the Shelby Community Center, and focus our clean up efforts nearby.

Monday January 7, Noon: @ 2^nd Presbyterian on Belmont & Graybar. Join Go Green Nashville for Lunch & Learn. Details TBA.

Friday January 18, 6-8 PM: @ Friends Meeting House on @ 25^th & Torbet. The first of 2008's quarterly BRING THE FAMILY Potluck Social & Salon series. The inaugural one will be a New Year feast and Mother's Day Hat Making meeting. Save up your holiday wrapping and ribbons for recycling into fancy funny fearlessly over the top or beautifully decorous hats for wear at Nashville's 2008 Mother's Day Peace Parade. Dads, partners, kids and grands can make hats, too! Mamas with complex haberdashery dreams, we can do work on these each month at Moms Night Out, or on additional gathering times. Start sketching and scheming your hat ideas now!! Bring a potluck dish, $3 per family for the Meeting House, and any art supplies you want to share.

Monday, January 28, 6:30 PM: MAUmas Night Out - details TBA. 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.

Discussion takes place on a variety of related subjects and impromptu activities come together on the Nashville MAU yahoogroup. Check the blog for other updates. And holler with any news you think we all need to hear!!

With wintry greetings and fondest wishes,

Paige, for Nashville MAU

One Hot Mama Gift.

2007-12-15T16:07:00.000-06:00

Changing the Story: YES!

2007-11-20T12:01:00.000-06:00

It's time to shop, reflect, give thanks, eat! During the upcoming feasting and holiday celebrations, may we celebrate in particular the individuals who are changing the world's story with the strength of their commitment; a story in which currently every other child lives in poverty, almost half of all war casualties are children, and global warming threatens every child's future.

Let's take time to honor mothers like the late Dame Anita Roddick who said, "I want to connect with people who share my outrage…But I also want to tell — and hear…stories that lift our spirits, that celebrate how glorious our planet is. Outrage and celebration — let's run this gamut together." Inspired leaders like Greg Mortenson who says, "When I look into the eyes of the children in Pakistan and Afghanistan, I see the eyes of my own children full of wonder. I hope that we each do our part to leave them a legacy of peace." Mamas and community builders like Tiffany Bellah, who says, "Having a baby changes everything. Since that wonder-filled day 6 years ago when Grace entered this world, I have been reaching out of my comfort zone. She has made of me a responsible revolutionary, and my role as her mentor and mother has propelled me to take an active part in forming the world she will be inheriting."

People who, when our common family is threatened, find the courage and strength to change the story. This holiday season, Mothers Acting Up* cheers, stomps, whistles and in every other way honors the individuals around the world who are taking action on behalf of our future generations. YES!!!!

Purchase the 2008 MAU Handbooks for story-changing individuals,
information and actions: www.mothersactingup.org

*mothers and others, on stilts or off, who exercise protective care over someone smaller

Mamamade 2007!

2007-11-16T11:06:00.001-06:00

I'll be on hand all day tomorrow at Mamamade 2007 to sell MAU Handbooks (think of it as the Passport for the Movement, honoring the promise of our children's lives!). I'll have Nashville MAU aprons and recycled tees (see photos here for examples-- each is different!) and I'll have MAU bumperstickers, too: they're green and round and look great on strollers, water bottles, guitar cases, and wagons (both the Volvo and the Radio Flyer version). You can go home with a bumper sticker for a buck and a pledge (of your choosing) to lessen your carbon imprint and do something to green up your family's life.

With me through the day will be my boy, Ziggy, and a few of the Nashville MAU mamas; we'll be ever so glad to answer questions about our local community, help you fill out voter registration cards, sign you up for national and local action and news of community building, and in general, cheer you on... You go, mama!! Remember, being one of many Mothers Acting U p takes on many forms and is not so much one more dang thing to do, but just part of the fabric of how we live....

The 2008 Mothers Acting Up Handbook: YES!

The world's children have found a brilliant new advocate: mothers*. We're stretching our traditional roles to include publicly advocating for children and the world's children shout YES!

The 2008 Handbook includes the inspirational voices of Marion Wright Edelman (founder of the Children's Defense Fund!), Anita Roddick (The Body Shop), Harry Belafonte, Dolores Huerta, Ann Crittenden, Joan Blades (Moms Rising), Patricia Foulkrod, Muhammad Yunus, Representative Jan Schakowsky, Massouda Jalal and a whole cast of mothers* sharing their personal insights. Designed to uniquely appeal to mothers, the Handbook addresses two of the biggest challenges to mother activism: lack of time and how overwhelming the problems seem. By offering a daily entry point (with simple actions and accessible information set in a beautiful, inspirational and lively format) the Handbook provides tools in a language that engages everyone, policy wonk and new activist alike!

Full color, 6.5 X 9 inches, soft cover & spiral bound, two year-at-a glance section.

Price: $20.00

Listen Up.

2007-11-04T14:29:00.001-06:00

Nashville MAU gets voice on Liberadio(!).

Upcoming actions and events.

2007-11-01T02:17:00.000-05:00

Nashville area Mothers Acting Up upcoming actions and events:

***Nashville MAU has agreed to adopt two foster children for holiday giving through Centerstone and to do a toy drive for St. Luke’s Community House; contact Paige for details on how to contribute paige@mothersactingup.org

Friday Nov 2, 10-NOON Mobilize the Mamas weekly play & action group @ *Centennial Park Playground – meet MAU co-founders Joellen Raderstorf & Beth Osnes!!

Friday Nov 2, 7:30 PM MAU Live! Theatre for Empowerment (M)other performance @ First UU Nashville, followed by discussion and refreshments

Saturday Nov 3, 9-Noon Workshop for Activism facilitated by MAU co-founder Beth Osnes @ First UU Nashville, followed by brown bag lunch AND….

Saturday Nov 3, 1 PM Girlcott of Bongo Java on Belmont—bring the family!!

Monday Nov 5, NOON Join Go Green Nashville for Lunch and Learn @ Second Presbyterian on Belmont with a talk given by earth stewards Hector & Susie Black of Cookeville, bring your own lunches

Friday Nov 9, 10-NOON Mobilize the Mamas weekly play & action group @ *Centennial Park Playground

Sat Nov 10, Tennessee Statewide Church Women United Conference @ Alex Haley’s Farm in Norris; MAU Now Workshop will be presented

Sun Nov 11, 11:11 AM Worldwide Meditation for Peace with Nashville Peace Coalition and Veterans for Peace @ Centennial Park by the Parthenon

Fri Nov 16, 10-NOON Mobilize the Mamas weekly play & action group @ *Centennial Park Playground

Fri Nov 16, 6-8 PM Bring the Family Potluck Social & Salon Celebrate Thanksgiving by feasting and visiting @ Nashville Friends Meeting House, 26^th & Torbett. With our children, we’ll be making Holiday cards for peace to send to our Members of Congress and Senators.

Sat Nov 17, 9-2 PM Mamamade 2007 @ New Song Christian Fellowship Church, 2949 Nolensville Pike Nashville MAU will be selling 2008 MAU Handbooks as well as handmade aprons and Nashville MAU recycled tees!

Fri Nov 23, NO MOBILIZE THE MAMAS PLAY AND ACTION GROUP THIS DAY!

Tues Nov 27, 9:30 Downtown Public Library Story Time, followed by a visit to Congressman Cooper’s office downstairs

Fri Nov 30, 10-NOON Mobilize the Mamas weekly play & action group @ *Centennial Park Playground

*inclement weather meeting place for Mobilize the Mamas groups is the Downtown Public Library, 2^nd Floor, children’s area

Nashville MAU blog: www.nashvillemau.blogspot.org, sign up there for our list serve!

MAU on Liberadio this week.

2007-11-01T00:17:00.000-05:00

Stay tuned for the podcast and syndicated showtimes, and in the meantime, check out the Mary Mancini's post here about MAU and this weekend's Nashville activities.

(M)other gets Critic's Pick in Nashville Scene!

2007-11-01T00:15:00.001-05:00

Maternal Devotion

(M)OTHER Tennessee Women’s Theatre Project co-sponsors this one-woman show by Beth Osnes, co-founder and program coordinator of the Colorado-based national organization Mothers Acting Up (MAU). Osnes explores issues of mothering in a cross-cultural context, with focus on a fictional UN program called “Baby Swapping,” in which mothers from seven nations exchange their six-month-olds for one month. The result is an intimate look at the maternal experience across international boundaries, including an analysis of the interconnectedness between the women, their children and their countries. In conjunction with her performance, Osnes presents a Nov. 3 workshop that uses theater as a tool to empower maternal voices for public expression and civic participation. For more information, contact Paige La Grone Babcock at paige@mothersactingup.org. 7:30 p.m. at the First Unitarian Universalist Church —MARTIN BRADY

Mothers Acting Up works to ensure the health, safety and education of the world’s children by mobilizing the political strength of *mothers.

*mothers and others, both on stilts and off, who exercise protective care over someone smaller

Mothers Acting Up: Mobilizing Mamas Project in Top 100 for Case Foundation Grant!

2007-11-01T00:14:00.000-05:00

Mothers Acting Up: Mobilizing Mamas Project in Top 100 for Case Foundation Grant!

Oh my heavens!

2007-10-23T02:19:00.000-05:00

After today's Roadway arrival, the note I sent along to Juliana Forbes: mentor, coworker, Mothers Acting Up co-founder and Midwife Maven to the Annual MAU Handbook:

My truckload of 20 boxes of 2008 MAU Handbooks has just arrived in the rain… they now sit on my front porch, save for the one box I brought into the house and ripped into immediately to take a look. And I’m just BAWLING…. THEY. ARE. SO. BEAUTIFUL. I’d love to call and tell you so, but I don’t think I can speak for being a blubbering mess of gladness.

Love and lots of it.

XX

Paige

(I have always been of the sensitive persuasion, but since having become pregnant with my son, and then these two years after his birth, even, I am just a walking jangle of happy-sad-beautiful-crazy human-ness, both tender and tough, with a penchant both for laughing and weeping uncontrollably. The already wonky world goes a bit madder in motherhood, I find.)

Children deserve a bigger piece of the pie.

2007-10-17T12:37:00.001-05:00

It's time for the mothers to decide!

2007-10-09T17:30:00.000-05:00

Learn more about how to act up right here!

See MAU Live: BUY YOUR TICKETS now.

2007-10-09T10:48:00.000-05:00

MAU Live is coming to Nashville November 2 & 3!

Tickets can be purchased for (M)other and for the Saturday morning workshop / girlcott right here.

Get tickets today!!

Celebrating Mothers.

2007-10-06T02:25:00.001-05:00

A PROJECT OF MOTHERS ACTING UP, Celebrating Mothers: Global Portraits to Inform and Inspire will showcase 20 mothers of young children around the world who are involved in social advocacy and are initiating positive change in their communities. Please see our website and send us your stories of exemplary mothers who are making a difference. Submission deadline for nominations is October 12, 2007. www.celebratingmothers.org Contact: amie@celebratingmothers.org

What she said.

2007-10-06T02:13:00.001-05:00

Rally for Our Children's Health: THIS EVENING.

2007-10-04T11:35:00.001-05:00

Prioritizing the wellbeing of children is worthwhile! It will be important to have as many families as possible to represent that. Please try to come for just fifteen or thirty minutes. Small children can be kept safe in strollers, backpacks, slings.... Please share widely!

Subject line: In Nashville, October 4, 2007, parents and kids rally at Centennial Park

MoveOn.Org and Nashville Mothers Acting Up

MEDIA ADVISORY FOR: CONTACT: Priscilla Craig 491-1137 MoveOn

Thursday, October 4, 2007 Paige La Grone Babcock 495-1879 MAU

***Local media event-this Thursday at 6pm***

Parents and Kids in Nashville to Rally for

Children’s Health Care

As Billions Are Spent in Iraq, Bush Vetoes Children’s Health Care in Tennessee

Rep. Cooper and Congress Passed Children’s Health Care

MoveOn and Mothers Acting Up Call on Rep. Cooper to

Over-Ride Bush’s Veto

Nashville-On Thursday, October 4, at 6pm, local parents and kids will hold a “Rally For Our Children’s Health” at Centennial Park across from Borders bookstore. 225 similar events are happening around the nation.

Congress recently passed the “Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act.” Congressman Cooper voted for this bill, which would ensure that many Tennessee children have health insurance and can see a doctor when sick. President Bush vetoed the bill this week.

Local MoveOn and Mother Acting Up members thank Representative Cooper for standing strong against President Bush’s attempt to block health care for Tennessee children, and will urge him to vote to over-ride Bush’s veto.

“President Bush and his administration are blocking health care for our children,“ said Paige La Grone Babcock, National Outreach Coordinator and community organizer for Mothers Acting Up. “This is a question of priorities. Bush is spending billions per week on the war in Iraq, but he won’t protect the health of our kids back home. We need Representative Cooper to over-ride Bush’s veto and stand up for our kids.”

This legislation passed the House on September 25, by a 265-159 vote--approximately 290 votes are needed to over-ride a veto. It passed the Senate September 27 with a 67-29 veto-proof majority. A new poll reveals 72% of Americans support the bi-partisan proposed $35 billion for children’s health care.

“Rally For Our Children’s Health”

Who: Parents and kids from Nashville area, members of MoveOn.org and Nashville Mothers Acting Up

What: “Rally For Our Children’s Health” rally urging Congressman Cooper to stop Bush from blocking health care for our kids

Where: Sidewalk in front of Centennial Park across from Borders bookstore

When: Thursday, October 4, 2007, 6:00pm

Save the Date: MAU Live Coming to Nashville!!

2007-09-27T15:15:00.001-05:00

CONTACT: Paige La Grone Babcock; paige@mothersactingup.org (615)-750-3780, (615) 495-1879 (cell)

***SAVE THE DATE: MAU LIVE! comes to Nashville Nov 2 & 3***

(M)OTHER HITS THE BOARDS

THEATRE FOR EMPOWERMENT PAIRED WITH WORKSHOP TO MOBILIZE MAMAS

“Once you get hooked on MAU’s positive breed of activism, the Nashville MAU community will be there with you to keep it going and growing.” –Paige La Grone Babcock, MAU Outreach Coordinator & Community Organizer

WHEN: Nov. 2, Friday at 7:30 PM

WHERE: First Unitarian Universalist Church, 1808 Woodmont Blvd.

WHO: Mothers Acting Up (MAU), working to ensure the health, education and safety of the world’s children by mobilizing the political strength of mothers.* www.mothersactingup.org

Nashville’s MAU community is honored and excited to bring MAU LIVE! and MAU co-founder Beth Osnes to town!! www.nashvillemau.blogspot.com

WHAT: MAU Live! Theatre for Empowerment: a one-woman performance by MAU co-founder Beth Osnes, (M)other explores what it might just take for the mothers of one country to authentically care about the mothers and children of another country. The fiction that the “other” is not part of the “mother” is washed away. What remains is a powerful affirmation of our interconnectedness in both our challenges and our solutions as a global community.

A Workshop for Empowering Mother* Voices: Nov. 3, Saturday 9AM-Noon, also at the First Unitarian Universalist Church

Beth Osnes will lead a workshop using theatre as a tool for developing our voices for effective public expression – of vital importance for any kind of civic participation. Goals of this workshop:

*teaching skills for effective vocal expression

*using our voices to ‘rehearse’ activism

*engaging all participants in actively devising solutions to obstacles

*conveying a model of activism that is positive and proactive

Background:
Mothers Acting Up (MAU) works to ensure the health, education and safety of the world’s children by mobilizing the political strength of mothers*. MAU inspires, educates and engages mothers (a gigantic force to be reckoned with) to prioritize children in our corporate and public policies through monthly Web actions, annual Mother’s Day events, field trips to elected officials, Girlcotts, and daily inspiration and tools found in a weekly calendar. MAU brings a new breed of activism to the political landscape; one that is positive, accessible and supports mothers in making informed personal choices, inspiring collective action and influencing decision-makers. MAU, founded in 2002, is based in Boulder, CO. MAU believes that when mothers lead, generations of global citizens will follow.

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!

* mothers and others, on stilts or off, who exercise protective care over someone smaller.

Dem Debates on Healthcare tonight!!

2007-09-20T17:16:00.000-05:00

this in from TN Health Care Campaign:

AARP and Iowa Public Television (IPTV) will be holding a Democratic presidential candidate forum focused on health care and financial security tonight, September 20. A follow-up Republican forum will be held on October 25. PBS correspondent and anchor Judy Woodruff will moderate the 90-minute discussions.

At tonight’s event, Democratic candidates committed to participating and meeting forum criteria include: U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, U.S. Senator Chris Dodd, former U.S. Senator John Edwards, U.S. Senator Joe Biden and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. All of the Republican presidential candidates have been invited to participate in the October 25 forum.

WNPT, 9/20, 7:00 PM CT, Nashville
WTCI, 9/20, 8:00 PM ET, Chattanooga
WLJT, 9/20, 7:00 PM CT, Jackson
WETP, 9/20, 8:00 PM ET, Knoxville
WKOP, 9/20, 8:00 PM ET, Knoxville
WMAV, 9/20, 8:00 PM CT, Memphis

How do the Presidential Candidates stack up? Check out the New York Times and the Washington Post links below:

New York Times and Washington Post

Sincerely,

Tony Garr, Tennessee Health Care Campaign

Celebrate International Day of Peace & Eat Local Month with MAU.

2007-09-20T12:31:00.000-05:00

As many of you know, this month is Nashville Eat Local Month, as well as National Food Security month, which assuredly have much to do with greening up our lives. These pieces are in alignment with Mothers Acting Up and our Mother Agenda (1. champion the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to eradicate extreme poverty, 2. protect the environment for Kids’ Sake, and 3. measure the true impact of war).

On the third Friday of each month Nashville’s Mothers Acting Up community hosts a Bring the Family Potluck Social & Salon. In celebration of Eat Local and Food Security Month, tomorrow evening we encourage attendees to bring potluck dishes comprised of local ingredients where possible and a small panel of local food and security experts / enthusiasts will be on hand to share their knowledge and resources with us.

When: Friday September 21, 2007 6-8 PM

Where: Nashville Friends’ Meeting House, 26^th Ave at Torbett, off Charlotte Ave

Bring a dish of local fare to share, any books or magazines you on topic that you might wish to share, and a heaping helping of enthusiasm. Families of all kinds welcome. We’re a nursing / intergenerational / sexual orientation / all race, ethnicity and class welcoming group!!

I hope to see some of y’all there,

Paige

PS: as tomorrow—9/21-- is International Day of Peace, Nashville MAU celebrates in our community during our Mobilize the Mamas play & action group by participating for a second year in the global Chalk for Peace event. We’ll be festively dressed, babes and children in tow, to chalk at the Centennial Park Playground from 10-noon, asking passersby and regular park goers to join the action. You’re all welcome to come out and make sidewalk art. Bring water and snacks to share if you care to.

Mothers Acting Up: Congressman Cooper on the policy of the Iraq war.

2007-09-18T16:00:00.000-05:00

Mothers Acting Up: Congressman Cooper on the policy of the Iraq war.

Mothers Acting Up: We like her. We really really like her.

2007-09-18T15:16:00.000-05:00

Mothers Acting Up: We like her. We really really like her.

MAU at national peace conference in Tennessee!!

2007-09-14T17:17:00.000-05:00

The Gandhi-King Conference on Peacemaking takes place this year at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, TN. Nashville’s own Naomi Tutu (!!) will be the event’s keynote speaker. In its fourth year, the 2007 conference is themed Building the Beloved Community. Today, September 14, is the last day for a price break on an adult conference goer’s registration. Tomorrow, price goes from $50 to $75.

Mothers Acting Up will have a Saturday morning workshop called MAU Now: Mobilizing the Mamas, the Joy of Activism for mothers (and others) who want to build community in advocating publicly and passionately for the world’s children. MAU will have a Nashville MAU presence specifically, as well as MAUs from other locations. We’ll have a table with MAU literature and goods including the hot off the presses 2008 Handbook & Engagement Calendar, the 2007 edition MAU bumpersticker, as well as Nashville Mothers Acting Up tee shirts and mamamade aprons.

The conference should be a big time for ALL wanting to gather in the name of peace with justice. I’m bringing my family (husband and two year old), and encourage that you bring yours, too.

Volunteers for womaning the MAU table are needed! Please shout at me as per below if you are able and willing to take a shift or two.

In peace and in the spirit of community,

Paige

paige (at) mothersactingup (dot) com

National Call In Week to End the War in Iraq!!

2007-09-04T11:38:00.000-05:00

PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO YOUR EMAIL LISTS.

Dear Ones,

Congress goes back into session *this week*. Now is a critical time to put pressure on Congress in opposition to the $193 billion funding bill for Iraq and to pressure our Senators for just immigration policy. Please make phone calls this week on Thursday and Friday. Toll free number: 1-888-732-9404.

Collectively our voices will make the difference.

Thanks! All the info you need is below.

Paige La Grone Babcock

paige@mothersactingup.org

_______________________________________________________________

National Call-In Day to end the funding for the war against Iraq -- Thursday, Sept. 6

Capitol Hill Switchboard: 202-224-3121 or 1-888-732-9404 (toll free)

Join the nationwide effort to flood the offices of our member of Congress with calls demanding an end to the U.S. war in Iraq. Let's make it clear: there cannot be "business as usual" in Washington until effective action to bring all the troops home is taken!

Call your Representative, both Senators and Congressman Jim Cooper on Thursday, September 6th.

Tell them: I want you to act now to end the war and occupation of Iraq. The Congress has the Constitutional right and a moral responsibility to use the power of the purse to withdraw all U.S. soldiers and contractors from Iraq on a rapid and binding schedule. Four and a half years of this war is too long - it has to end now!

Not sure who represents you in Congress? www.Congress.org

Background:

In September, Congress will focus on Iraq. They will vote on the President's request for continued funding of the war. At this writing, the request stands at $142 billion, but Bush will probably increase it to over $190 billion! Congress is not required to give Bush any of this money, or even to bring the request to a vote. Congress can also put restrictions, firm withdrawal timelines and other conditions on any funding in order to force an end to the U.S. occupation of Iraq. More info: www.unitedforpeace.org

Thursday September 6 & Friday September 7, 2007

______________________________________________________________________

Stop Immigration Enforcement-Only Policies

Take Action Now:

Congress has received thousands of calls supporting enforcement-only measures that will harm immigrants and refugees. We must let Senate leaders know that this flawed legislation and Department of Homeland Security policy will not fix the out-of-date immigration system. Spread the word! The recently introduced Immigration Enforcement and Border Security Act of 2007 (S. 1984) focuses on punishing immigrant families, adding border fences, walls, and patrol agents, and increasing detention centers and deportations. In addition, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finalized a new rule requiring employers who receive Social Security Administration (SSA) “no-match” letters to follow steps to prove that employees are authorized to work or risk liability. The policy misuses the letters, which are not intended for immigration enforcement, and could result in employment discrimination.

Call your Senator and Share this Action Alert!

On September 6th and 7th, use this toll free number 1-888-732-9404. Ask to be connected to your Senator’s office and tell your Senator:

§ Please say NO to S. 1984! - I urge you to oppose the Immigration Enforcement and Border Security Act of 2007 (S. 1984). More fences, walls, detention centers, agents and rounding up immigrants at their homes and workplaces are not the answer.

§ Please SUPPORT Congressional oversight of DHS’s SSA “no match” letter policy including employer liability for employment discrimination and the complaint process.

§ Please say YES to constructive immigration reform that includes a path to permanent residency and citizenship, restores due process rights, stops the militarization of the southern border, and ensures humane policies that keep families together.

The toll-free number is provided courtesy of the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker organization which works for social justice and peace (www.afsc.org/immigrants-rights/). AFSC welcomes groups to circulate and use the toll-free number in support of non-partisan goals and without linking the alert to a website soliciting donations or actions which may be used to support partisan lobbying or work. (This nonpartisan disclaimer must be included in publications of the toll-free number).

Don’t Forget to Forward this Message! For more information contact Sara Ibrahim at sibrahim@afsc.org or 1-202-483-6839.

41 School Kits!!!

2007-09-01T16:35:00.000-05:00

WOW! I set a goal of 5 school kits early in August, and by the end of the month we'd made 41! When the kids and I dropped them off at 10,000 Villages yesterday, the volunteers and assistant manager were overwhelmed by the bags and bags full of kits we kept lugging through the door. While we helped to unload them in the back room, Priscilla, one of the volunteers, told us what would happen to them next. They'll take a ride up to Indiana, where the MCC home office is, and then will travel by ship over to Iraq, where they will be distributed by the MCC workers over there. I'd love to see how they're received by the children themselves, and what they allow the kids to do in school. Such a small gift, but I'm sure it means so much to them.

At Suzanne's encouragement, we'll continue to work with the MCC and branch out into other types of kits. Here's a list of all the kits they request and distribute . I recommend that we make newborn kits next... More on that soon.

In the meantime, thanks to all of you who participated in this project -- it's quite an accomplishment, and so beautifully illustrates our mission to advocate for the world's children.
Kate

Heatwave....

2007-08-23T23:12:00.000-05:00

Due to continued heat and air quality discomfort, MAU's play and action group for tomorrow, Friday Aug 24, will NOT be at CentennialPark Playground, but at our inclement weather back up locale: the 2nd Floor Children's Area of Nashville's Downtown Public Library-- main
branch, 10-noonish.

There will be a marionette performance of Midsummer Night's Dream for older kids (6+) and Ginger Sands will have a program for the under 6 crowd as well.

If you are gathering supplies for the school kits, bring them to Kate if you've got 'em. We have but one more week to work on these!!

Please pass the word along to others so that if anyone wishes to join us, they know where we'll be....

Potluck update for tonight!

2007-08-17T09:25:00.001-05:00

NEW DEVELOPMENT: the filmmaker will not be present. He's had a family situation arise that requires his attention. He'll send his co-conspirator Alex to show the film.

My decision is to show the 38 minute SHORT version of the film.

Schedule:

6 PM Finalizing set up and folks get nametagged and begin their suppers.

6:40ish begin film

7:15 Q & A with Alex

7:40 wash dishes, breakdown tables, general clean up

Nashville MAU will purchase a copy of the Kilowatt Ours DVD and keep in the lending library (at my home office) -- families who care to can check out the DVD to see the long version of the film at their leisure.

(NEXT MONTH'S POTLUCK SOCIAL & SALON will be in celebration of National Food Sustainability month and will consist of locally grown / produced potluck items and an informal panel including a Food Security officer, organic family farmers, a CSA representative, and more.... mark your calendars now for Friday Sept 21)

Friday 8/17:

2007-08-16T12:55:00.000-05:00

Heat and Air Quatlity Alert: Alternate plans for weekly play & action group

Due to extreme heat this week and air quality alerts, Nashville's MAU Mobilize the Mamas play and action group will NOT meet at Centennial Park Playground tomorrow, Friday 8/17.

Instead, we will meet at our inclement weather plan place: the downtown public library on the second floor -- 10-noonish. We can free play, snack and roam the courtyard, and also attend a special storytime event with Ginger Sands and Friends: http://www.library.nashville.org/events/show/176

Bring lunch or snacks for post show courtyard time.

This month's action is as follows:

I was in 10,000 Villages the other day and came across these pamphlets distributed by the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), www.mcc.org, on how a community can put together school kits for children displaced by war. I thought this would be a great opportunity for our local MAU community to support the world's children in a very concrete way. The pamphlet reads as follows:

"School kits are MCC's most requested item. They are given primarily to refugee children, helping students and teachers add some normalcy to disrupted lives. Countries receiving shipments include Afghanistan, Liberia, Sudan, Bosnia, Haiti, Nicaragua, Colombia, Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, North Korea, Iraq and Palestine.

Contents (NEW items only)

4 spiral notebooks or notebooks with perforations (about 21.5 cm x 27 cm/8in x 10.5in; about 70 - 80 sheets each)

4 unsharpened #2 pencils

1 ruler (flat flexible plastic, indicating both 30cm and 12in)

12 colored pencils (in packaging)

1 large pencil eraser

School kits are distributed in a useful double drawstring cloth bag (28cm x 40.6cm/11in x 16in). You may sew the bag yourself (instructions at www.mcc.org/kits/kitbags), request bags from an MCC collection center, or donate contents to be placed in a bag."

10,000 Villages requests that we get the materials to their store no later than August 31, leaving us the rest of the month to get these kits together. Let's aim for 5 complete kits. You can bring the materials to me directly, or bring them to upcoming August Friday gatherings at Centennial, or to the potluck this Friday. If you're interested in contributing, please email me and let me know what you'd like to give and I can coordinate it so we don't all choose colored pencils or erasers.

Kate

kzwingate@yahoo.com

Mothers Acting Up -- Killowatt Ours: A Plan to Re-Energize America screening

Friday, August 17, 6pm
Nashville MAU's Bring the Family Potluck Social & Salon held at Nashville Friends Meeting House; 530 26th Ave. N

Nashville MAU invites the community to gather for a potluck supper and a special screening of Kilowatt Ours: A Plan to Re-Energize America, an acclaimed documentary designed to help consumers cut their energy bills and improve the quality of the environment through conservation methods and clean, renewable power sources. This is a family friendly venue and filmaker Jeff Barrie will be present! Drinks will be provided, but please bring a dish to share. The suggested $8 donation per family covers both the film and the Friends Meeting House care fee. Come one, come all! Contact Paige at paige@mothersactingup.org or call (615) 495-1879 for more information.

MAU looking for Development Coordinator.

2007-08-15T07:55:00.000-05:00

Development Coordinator, Mothers Acting Up

Reply to: Joellen Raderstorf, Executive Director

Starting Aug 15, 2007

If you have an appetite for raising money for social change, this is an outrageously great opportunity: great mission, great organization, great team!

Flexible hours, can work from home.

Volunteer position with potential to move into a paid position.

Become the Development Diva of Mothers Acting Up (MAU), a movement of mothers publicly and passionately advocating for the world’s children. MAU inspires, educates and engages mothers* a gigantic force to be reckoned with to prioritize children in our corporate and public policies. MAU believes that when mothers lead, generations of global citizens will follow. The organization is in its fifth year with a strong foundation and well-connected team.

All the raw materials are in place, awaiting someone who is inspired!

* mothers and others, on stilts or off, who exercise protective care over someone smaller

Qualifications:

Love raising money for social change
Development, Marketing and PR experience
Familiarity with grant funding sources and processes
Donor cultivation knowledge and/or experience
Passionate commitment to a peaceful, child-friendly world
Excellent communication skills
Computer savvy
Event planning knowledge and/or experience

Major responsibilities include:

Work with MAU team to create development plan
Pursue sponsorship opportunities for MAU’s 5th annual Handbook
Support marketing and distribution of MAU Handbook
Assist in planning, coordination and implementation of fall fundraiser
Research and apply for grants (corporate and foundation) for MAU
Maintain and enhance current donor tracking/management systems
Provide donor cultivation guidance

Check out MAU at www.mothersactingup.org

joellen@mothersactingup.org

PO Box 1244

Boulder, CO 80306

303.474.1286

School Kits for refugee children

2007-08-13T22:40:00.000-05:00

I was in 10,000 Villages the other day and came across these pamphlets distributed by the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) on how a community can put together school kits for children displaced by war. I thought this would be a great opportunity for our local MAU community to support the world's children in a very concrete way. The pamphlet reads as follows:

"School kits are MCC's most requested item. They are given primarily to refugee children, helping students and teachers add some normalcy to disrupted lives. Countries receiving shipments include Afghanistan, Liberia, Sudan, Bosnia, Haiti, Nicaragua, Colombia, Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, North Korea, Iraq and Palestine.

Contents (NEW items only)
4 spiral notebooks or notebooks with perforations (about 21.5 cm x 27 cm/8in x 10.5in; about 70 - 80 sheets each)
4 unsharpened #2 pencils
1 ruler (flat flexible plastic, indicating both 30cm and 12in)
12 colored pencils (in packaging)
1 large pencil eraser

School kits are distributed in a useful double drawstring cloth bag (28cm x 40.6cm/11in x 16in). You may sew the bag yourself (instructions at www.mcc.org/kits/kitbags), request bags from an MCC collection center, or donate contents to be placed in a bag."

10,000 Villages requests that we get the materials to their store no later than August 31, leaving us the rest of the month to get these kits together. Let's aim for 5 complete kits. You can bring the materials to me directly, or bring them to upcoming August Friday gatherings at Centennial, or to the potluck this Friday. If you're interested in contributing, please email me and let me know what you'd like to give and I can coordinate it so we don't all choose colored pencils or erasers.

Kate
kzwingate@yahoo.com

Killowatt Ours Screening 8/17!

2007-08-07T22:00:00.000-05:00

Nashville Mothers Acting Up invites the community to gather for a potluck supper and a special screening of Killowatt Ours. This is a family friendly venue and filmmaker Jeff Barrie will be present! Come one, come all. Please share this widely, and contact me at the below numbers for more information.

In spirited partnership,
Paige La Grone Babcock
National Outreach Coordinator & Community Organizer, Mothers Acting Up

August 6, 2007 CONTACT: filmmaker, Jeff Barrie (615) 438-5060

OR Nashville Mothers Acting Up, Paige La Grone Babcock (615) 495-1879/ paige@mothersactingup.org

Documentary Screening Helps NASHVILLE Consumers

Lower Heating Bills and Use Energy Responsibly

to Protect Our Health, Environment and Pocketbooks

NASHVILLE – A new documentary film designed to help consumers cut their energy bills and improve the quality of the environment is touring the United States this winter through summer as many Americans face record-high heating and cooling bills. The public is invited to a family friendly viewing of Kilowatt Ours: A Plan to Re-Energize America where they can meet the filkmaker during a special MOTHERS ACTING UP (MAU) sponsored screening at the Nashville Friends Meeting House, Friday August 17, 2007. This acclaimed film advocates energy conservation methods and clean, renewable power sources available as alternatives to the high costs of energy.

When: Friday, August 17, 2007; 6 PM
Where: Nashville MAU’s Bring the Family Potluck Social & Salon, held at Nashville Friends Meeting House, 530 26^th Ave N
Admission: a dish to share with other attendees (drinks provided), $8 suggested donation per family at the door covers both the film and the Friends Meeting House care fee

Kilowatt Ours is the story of filmmaker and conservationist Jeff Barrie's 18-month journey across the southeastern U.S. to document our energy-related problems and present practical, cost-saving solutions for consumers. Widespread problems revealed in Kilowatt Ours include mountaintop removal, air pollution, global warming, childhood asthma, and mercury contamination. The film illustrates practical solutions that help homeowners save more than $600 per year on energy bills while helping the environment and protecting human health.

“I hope this film sparks an energy conservation movement across America, while boosting demand for clean renewable power sources,” says filmmaker Jeff Barrie, who will lead a discussion following the screening. “Many people are unaware that we’re still burning coal to generate most of our electricity in America, creating serious consequences to the environment and human health. The need for conservation is urgent,” says Barrie.

According to the Department of Energy, the average American home consumes more than 900 kilowatt-hours of electricity each month. More than 50% of our nation’s electricity is generated in coal-fired power plants, amounting to nearly 6 tons of coal burned to generate electricity for the typical American home each year. By using products marked with EPA’s Energy Star label, purchasing power generated from renewable resources, more effectively insulating our homes, and utilizing natural energy sources like sunlight, wind, and geothermal power, consumers can reduce the impact of their energy usage, while saving money.

For more information please email info@KilowattOurs.org or visit www.KilowattOurs.org. Click on “Media Resources” to receive an electronic media kit. DVDs are available for preview.

For more information on sponsoring group Mothers Acting Up; www.mothersactingup.org

###

2007 Gandhi-King Conference on Peacemaking.

2007-08-07T16:08:00.001-05:00

MAUs from all across the Southeast (and beyond!) are encouraged to attend this wonderful conference. We plan to have a strong showing of mobilized mamas from across the state and elswhere!! Want to hook up with us? Contact Paige: paige@mothersactingup.org

2007 Gandhi-King Conference on Peacemaking "Building the Beloved Community"
October 26-27

$20 - Students and Low Income ($30 on or after September 15) $50 - Adults ($70 on or after September 15)

Friday, October 26
7:30 am Registration opens in Theatre Lobby (ongoing throughout the conference) 8:30 am - 12:30 pm Youth Conference

Youth Component
The Gandhi-King Conference is teaming up with BRIDGES PeaceJam to bring local high school youth an innovative and interactive youth component which will occur on Friday of the conference weekend. Friday morning will begin with a plenary address by Rosa Clemente, followed by a selection of workshops specifically designed for youth.

Workshop topics include: Influences of Mass Media, Being Creators Not Consumers, Fair Trade, Alternatives to the Military, Voting, Global Citizenship, and Creating Our Communities.

The youth component continues Friday evening with a community performance event to be held at BRIDGES, during which artists will be sharing their messages of peace and visions of beloved community through music, spoken word, visual art, and dance. Youth sessions and Friday evening performance are open to all conference participants.

New Yahoo Group.

2007-08-01T13:27:00.000-05:00

Check it out, here.

ACT UP to save SCHIP: Cover the Kids!!

2007-08-01T07:23:00.001-05:00

The below action really only takes about three minutes, and could be HUGE if
enough concerned folks do it. I feel like it's imperative that peaceful
parents (AND OTHERS!) speak out for peaceful existences for all children, a large part of
which is access to healthcare when a child needs it.

The recent restoration of budget cuts for our public libraries is a
fantastic example of how mobilized mamas (and daddies) who voice their
concerns really make a difference for good.

(The below email campaign is from friend / colleague Susan McKay
who now works with the Tennessee Healthcare Campaign, just to source it for
you)

Be well.
paige

PLEASE SHARE WIDELY

Tell Rep. Cooper to "COVER the KIDS"

*** URGENT CALL TO ACTION! DO IT NOW! ***
Congressional Vote this Week on SCHIP!

Call Rep. Cooper NOW!
*** Toll-free: 1-800-828-0498 & ask for Rep. Jim Cooper's office ***
Nashville Office: (615) 736-5295
Washington DC Office: 202-225-4311

*** Ask him to vote YES to Reauthorize SCHIP with $50 Billion in
essential funding!

LEAVE a MESSAGE if you get a machine.

It is a matter of getting priorities straight. Tell Rep. Cooper you
want him to SHOW that kids are his priority through ACTION of a YES
vote.

Call Rep. Cooper NOW!
** Toll-free: 1-800-828-0498 & ask for Rep. Jim Cooper's office***
Nashville Office: (615) 736-5295
Washington DC Office: 202-225-4311

*** It is enough to call & ask him to vote YES to Reauthorize SCHIP
with $50 Billion in essential funding.

If you want to say more, here are talking points:

*Priority #1: Health Care for Children

* 84% of Americans strongly support covering children.
That's why reauthorizing the State Children's Health Insurance
Program (SCHIP) with adequate funding of $50 billion is a national
priority.

* Healthy coverage is a vital investment in our children and in our
nation's future.
Today, SCHIP provides high-quality, affordable health coverage to 4
million children who would otherwise be uninsured. Still, there
remains 9 million uninsured children, of whom about 6 million are
eligible for SCHIP, but are not enrolled. $50 billion over 5 years
would protect coverage for the 4 million kids currently enrolled and
expand coverage to other eligible 6 million. Reauthorizing the
program with adequate funding is a priority for the health of our
children and health of our nation!

* Tennessee's CoverKids program at risk! Tennessee has just started
its SCHIP program, called CoverKids, to help insure 150,000 Tennessee
children. Reauthorization by Congress with adequate funding is
essential for Tennessee's new SCHIP program to be successful.

* It's a matter of priorities. We MUST make children a priority. No
child should lose coverage because Congress doesn't properly fund a
sound program. The $50 billion in funding over 5 years means that no
eligible child enrolled in SCHIP today will lose coverage and that 6
million more eligible kids will get coverage. Without this funding,
millions of needy children will be at risk.

Call Rep. Cooper NOW!
*** Toll-free: 1-800-828-0498 & ask for Rep. Jim Cooper's office***
Nashville Office: (615) 736-5295
Washington DC Office: 202-225-4311

YOUR VOICE DOES MATTER!
THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!

Warm regards,

Susan McKay

Office T: (877) 431-7083 ; (615) 227-7500
Email: smckay@thcc2.org
www.thcc2.org

"Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is
still dark." - Tagore

Ice Cream Social Saturday 8/4!

2007-07-23T17:25:00.000-05:00

Dear Nashville MAUmas & Friends,

Now that summer is here, it's time to let loose and have some good family fun with an ice cream social!!

We've built a strong community of mothers (and others) over the past year, so let's gather to celebrate what we've achieved with the Nashville Mothers Acting Up community on the anniversary of our Mobilize the Mamas play & action groups and revel in the friendships we've come to cherish. Bring the dads, partners, grandparents, friends -- it's open to all! Strangers are just friends we’ve not just met and Nashville MAU welcomes and celebrates families of ALL kinds.

When? Saturday, August 4, 3:00pm

Where? Red Caboose Park playground and picnic shelter, off Hwy 70 at 656 Colice Jeanne Rd in Bellevue

What can I bring? Your sweet selves, and an ice cream topping or accompaniment to share, if you are able. Nashville MAU will provide both dairy and vegan ice cream options as well as bottled waters, cones / bowls, spoons, and napkins.

You may also wish to bring acoustic instruments and outdoor toys to share such as parachutes, lawn games, balls, and so on.

Red Caboose Park, for those of you who haven't been there, is a giant, community built playground. It is completely enclosed by a fence (so it's safe for our smallest ones), has a real caboose the kids can climb on, nice indoor bathroom facilities, a large grassy area (Frisbee anyone?), and a picnic shelter for parties such as ours.

We hope to see lots of you there!

Please share this invitation as you are so led, and RSVP to Kate as you are able by Friday August 3 so we’ll know how much ice cream to provide: kzwingate@yahoo.com OR (615) 352-8718

Peace and jimmies,

The Music City Mavens, for Nashville MOTHERS ACTING UP

And the Mothership: www.mothersactingup.org

--
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

Mothers Acting Up is a mother-led, mother-fed revolution of mothers (and others) advocating publicly and passionately for the world’s children.

Nashville MAUmas to participate in the Great American Bake Sale

2007-06-28T12:15:00.000-05:00

Following is a letter from Sarah Flowers Braswell, one of our local Mothers Acting Up:

Hello everyone! I am heading up a team for Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale, called Nashville Mamas, to participate in a nation wide campaign to help END childhood hunger in America by holding a bake sale in our community. Since 2003, this grassroots campaign has raised over $3 million and engaged more than 1 million people in baking, selling, or buying baked goods. 91% of proceeds from Nashville Mamas bake sale will help children in OUR community, either going towards local food banks, school programs to provide a healthy breakfast, etc. Making a difference in the lives of our children can be Piece Of Cake!

I have high hopes for the sweet mamas in Nashville, and know that if we put on our aprons and tie our strings together we can make this a huge, wonderful event! And what a fun way to include our children in community outreach :) I am hoping to book a date and location very soon, but have mid-August in mind for 1-2 weekend days. More than 12 million children in America are at risk of hunger.... this just shouldn't be. I need a team to help make this all that it can be. Whether you would like to bake, donate your time for the bake sale, make a financial contribution, or anything at all, please let me know. My contact info is below. Please, even if nothing else is possible for you right now, encourage your friends, family and colleagues to stop by the bake sale or website and make a contribution.

Visit the website for more info:

www.greatamericanbakesale.org

Nashville Mamas team info:

Bake Sale ID # 31139

YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUoKaLq4UY4

Did You Know...

To date, grants from Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale helped:

Serve more than 5.3 million nutritious meals and snacks to children.
Establish an additional 926 sites where children can get meals.
Reach more than 97,000 low-income children with after-school and summer feeding programs.

Because of hunger, there are children in America not growing as they should be. They are underweight, and often neurologically and developmentally delayed and impaired. Of everyone who is hungry in America, children are most vulnerable and most at risk.

Thank you,

Sarah Flowers Braswell

I know lots of us MAUmas love to bake, and I know we all care about children, so this is the perfect marriage of the two. Contact Kate (kzwingate@yahoo.com) or Sarah (ilysmama@yahoo.com) if you are interested in participating, and stay tuned for more details...

Story Time is Saved!!

2007-06-27T13:10:00.000-05:00

Story Time is Saved!!

Public Library Budget Cuts Threaten Children's Programming.

2007-06-21T12:12:00.000-05:00

Please share widely!!

There are severe—to the tune of $800 K!! -- budgetary cuts proposed for the Nashville Metro libraries. These cuts would deeply affect the Main downtown library including our superb story time and children’s programming, but also other branch days & hours of operation as well as staffing. These cuts go up for vote beginning Tuesday. One of the great equalizers and community builders, the PUBLIC library brings art, literature, culture and a haven to all walks of life in our city. Keep it so!

*Even IF you’ve already written to your council person, the budget committee needs to hear from its constituents—I am told that this is the only way to have your voice heard and to possibly STOP these cuts.* A simple email in support of the library and in opposition of the proposed cuts will do the trick. Please send your email here: MetroCouncilBudgetAndFinanceCommittee@nashville.gov

(Need a template for an email? Holler.)

Here’s WSMV’s piece from last weekfeaturing Nashville MAU Deanna Pilkenton.

And here, Suburban Turmoil in yesterday’s Nashville Scene gives the issue some ink.

Mothers Acting Up: MAU on Mothering Mag's Mommy Chats This Week!!

2007-06-10T08:39:00.000-05:00

Mothers Acting Up: MAU on Mothering Mag's Mommy Chats This Week!!

Please lend your support to our Main Branch public library!!

2007-06-05T15:03:00.000-05:00

At storytime today we learned that there has been a highly *unpublicized* campaign to cut the downtown public library (main branch) budget!! This goes to vote soon, and should the move pass, the main library will reduce its hours, opening at 10, and thereby reducing children's programming by *at least* 2 storytimes per week.

I spoke with Mary Mary and the director of the children's programming after the storytime, asking what could be done in support of them and to whom we should address our concerns. They asked that all who do NOT support these budget cuts contact their district council person and let them know your thoughts. If you don't know what district you live in, who your council person is, or the contact information for said person, please look here.

I share with you the letter I wrote to my district 6 councilman, Mike Jameson. It is heartfelt and comes from a real mama's hope for her son and her husband and her community at large, not from a slick professional, even though I can be that when necessary. Feel free to use it as a template, crib from it, or whatever might be helpful.

Dear Councilman Jameson,

I write to you today to ask for your support of Nashville’s downtown public library, its main branch, and a central part of my --and many other-- families’ lives.

As we do near weekly, my 20 month old son and I headed to the public library downtown this morning—it is such a rich and wonderful community resource for all of Nashville Metro as well as our city’s visitors. We generally go to storytime, have snacks and play in the courtyard by the fountain, and spend plenty of time finding just the right books and sometimes DVDs to bring home for our family’s enjoyment. The theatre where storytime and the puppet shows are held is magnificent and the children’s programming has been an absolute delight. Our son adores Mary Mary, The Professor and Library Pete, their songs, and the puppets. If you haven’t spent time witnessing these activities yourself, I highly encourage a little library storytime; we’d be glad to share a morning with you there anytime.

In addition to being exposed to literature and arts (the library shows films!, hosts fine art shows!, puts on lectures and programs of all stripes!), my husband and I love that our family is part of the fabric of our community—that the public library is just that: public. We also regularly visit Representative Cooper’s office to share our hopes for our community as well, now that his office is located at the main library.

As National Outreach Coordinator and Community Organizer of our local Mothers Acting Up community (www.mothersactingup.org) I followed the request of other community mothers to choose our beloved downtown public library as our alternate gathering place when the public parks aren’t weather amenable for our weekly Mobilize the Mamas play and action group. As mothers leading our families and our communities, we want to support the institution that our tax dollars pay for, and joyfully inhabit the space that we feel so fortunate to access, along with all kinds of folks from our greater community.

For these reasons, I was heartbroken to learn at this morning’s storytime that there are budgetary cuts that may compel the main branch of the public library to reduce their hours, and to cut back on children’s programming next month. I ask for your vote in support of maintaining the library’s current hours and programming. More than anyone, our city’s children would be done a great disservice should the funding (and thereby magic!) for our main library be diminished.

I look forward to hearing from you on this matter.

In public & peaceful parenting,
Paige La Grone Babcock, for [MBM & Ziggy], too

Kindred Spirits

2007-06-04T21:34:00.000-05:00

This just in from our friends at MomsRising.org! Last month, several members of our Nashville MAU community painted onesies for MomsRising's Power of ONEsie campaign. This campaign champions paid maternity and paternity leave, and was a big part of why Washington state is now the second state in the US with paid family leave.

The idea behind the campaign: "Imagine a beautifully presented long chain of decorated baby onesies stretching all around your state capital as a visual representation of the real people who need the policies being debated inside the imposing buildings. Each onesie signifies one person--mother, father, child, grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, or other--who cares deeply about building a family-friendly America, but can't take the time off work, or away from kids, to actually be at the capital. You."

"One by ONEsie," says MomsRising, "working together, we can show the nation that we are a creative and powerful force for good family policy, as well as help our politicians to pay attention to issues which have long been ignored." If they're not Mothers Acting Up, I don't know who is! Check out the ONEsie photo gallery for a peek at some of the fabulous onesies sent in from folks like us, all across the country. My "Children deserve a bigger piece of the pie" onesie even made it onto the gallery!

Potluck Social & Salon Summer Series!!

2007-05-31T11:41:00.000-05:00

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!

2007-05-24T15:34:00.000-05:00

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.

2007-05-23T06:38:00.000-05:00

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.

2007-05-21T16:27:00.000-05:00

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

Potluck group photo!

2007-05-18T22:07:00.001-05:00

Bring the Family Potluck Social & Salon: Tonight!!

2007-05-18T08:00:00.000-05:00

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.

2007-05-14T09:29:00.000-05:00

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!!

2007-05-12T21:31:00.000-05:00

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.

2007-05-12T10:19:00.000-05:00

“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.

2007-05-09T14:18:00.000-05:00

Parenting & Politics Breakfast, this morning.

2007-05-09T07:57:00.000-05:00

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.

2007-05-08T14:58:00.000-05:00

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

Local MAU and family highlighted for organic farming.

2007-05-05T20:52:00.000-05:00

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!!

2007-05-04T08:56:00.000-05:00

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.

2007-05-02T07:34:00.000-05:00

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

Photos of the day to come!!

MAUma to girlcott.

2007-05-01T18:08:00.000-05:00

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.

2007-05-01T17:52:00.000-05:00

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.

2007-05-01T09:38:00.000-05:00

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

Mothers Acting Up: As You Are.

2007-05-01T09:36:00.000-05:00

Mothers Acting Up: As You Are.

Local Mamas to participate in final senatorial visit as part of Occupation Project.

2007-04-29T12:22:00.001-05:00

MAU will again have a presence at this final scheduled visit to Tennessee Senators Alexander and Corker as part of the Peaceable Assembly and Instruction Project, itself a part of the nationalOccupation Project. If you'd like to visit as a sister participant to represent your faith community or other group and want to bring your child, we welcome you to sit with us, or to holler for tips on how to put a visit together. If you are doing comparative visits in your home state OR would like to, I'd love to hear from you!

You may well have heard or read of members of organizations being arrested in other states as part of the Occupation Project. As that is NOT an option for those of raising small children, our presence is not that of taking over the office of elected officials at any cost, but in arranging scheduled visits to share our thoughts, feelings, and requests. To join with other parents in expressing our concerns around the war, armed with a few basic facts and speaking with spirit from the heart is an empowering experience.

On our last visit earlier this month in Nashville, we had 4 local MAU mamas and a passel of kids-- let me tell you: having the babies and children present is POWERFUL. My own toddler has nursed, played cars with other concerned citizens, and cuddled and talked with me as I have addressed our leaders on these MAU visits. Those of us with small children in tow speak first, and exit early, so's to make our points and have a good showing, without over-testing the limits of our children and without distracting from other folks who've come to speak.

On previous visits our children ran around tables, laughed, cried, snacked, poked each other and in general had a merry old time. Without exception, the children have been warmly welcome and seen as a most positive part of the process and not as a hindrance, so if you'd like to come (OR plan something similar in your own state capitol) but are concerned about a child's presence, please know that this is an OK place for them to be. Additionally, should there be concern, the way we do our visits is NOT a forum for debate or anything other than peaceful witness, testimony and sharing. For our elected officials-- our public *servants*-- to see their constituency in action as families is very important and wonderful thing.

If you do plan to come, and I'm hoping to DOUBLE the number of mothers with children present, bring snacks, water, small toys and arrange to carpool if possible. In Nashville, I encourage mothers to wear aprons (a symbol of taking the work from our home & hearth to the public) and bring cookies, muffins, or cake to share with everyone. The below missive from our friends at the Peaceable Assembly and Instruction Project gives details of our scheduled visit.

If you'd like to join us and have questions about talking points or any other practicalities, please feel free to give me a shout: paige@mothersactingup.org

Dear Friends,
FRIDAY, MAY 4, we'll go for the last of eight scheduled visits to local Congressional offices. On April 10, forty people from twenty-two organizations attended a joint meeting with the State Directors for Senators Alexander and Corker. This time we'd like to have eighty. We've delivered about 460 support statements from Peaceable Assembly signers.
President Bush has promised to veto the current bill, because of partial troop withdrawal deadlines. We'll be asking the Senators to send him a bill mandating disengagement of all U.S. troops from combat in Iraq, and withwdrawal of all U.S. troops within a year. Neither the Senators, nor Congressman Cooper, have voted the way we asked them to, but most of us who participated in the earlier visits believe that we made them feel the heat of growing public opposition. Please join us for a mass turnout on Friday.
This is the last of the pre-scheduled visits, but as debate develops in Congress in future months on funding for the War, we may call on you again for ad hoc manifestations of public pressure.
Karl Meyer , Pam Beziat, Christina VanRegenmorter , for Peaceable Assembly project

LAST SCHEDULED LOBBYING VISIT

END THE IRAQ WAR NOW

=================================================================================

May 4 Friday 11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m.

SENATORS CORKER and ALEXANDER 3322 West End Avenue – Building Conference Room #109

( we have cancelled the previously announced Alexander meeting for April 27 )

*Parking and assembly at 3322 West End Avenue for Alexander and Corker visits:

The building is set back from West End Avenue , at the corner of West End and Murphy Road . Heading west on West End, turn right onto Acklen Park Drive. Take immediate left onto Park Drive (inner drive).Continue to underground parking entrance of 3322 Building at corner. Free visitor parking for two hours is available near the entrance to the garage, but security desk tries to limit us to using six spaces, so you may help by finding on-the-street parking nearby, leaving these spaces for those with physical disabilities. Around the corner, to the northwest of the building entrances there are lots of open spaces in parking areas in front of several apartment buildings.

If you know in advance, please let us know which visits you will attend.

Organized by Nashville Greenlands/War Resisters League, 2407 Heiman St., Nashville 37208

615-322-9523 peaceableassembly@gmail.com

Endorse our common statement on line at http://www.petitiononline.com/tnpeace/petition.html

Mothers Acting Up: Mother's Day Fundraiser for MAU.

2007-04-28T06:54:00.000-05:00

Mothers Acting Up: Mother's Day Fundraiser for MAU.

Celebrate Earth Day Weekend with Mothers Acting Up.

2007-04-20T07:57:00.000-05:00

Heya! Nashville’s Mothers Acting Up community is on the grow. Come build community, join in the fun, and get in on the ACTION. We are a welcoming community and a part of the larger national mother-led, mother-fed movement of mothers and others advocating passionately & publicly for the world’s children. If you haven’t yet done so, sign up on the website to receive monthly collective actions and be assured of all the latest news from local and national community organizers. www.mothersactingup.org

In this issue of the haps:

1) Friday 4/20 10-Noon: Mobilizing the Mamas Playgroup @ Centennial Park Playground

2) Friday 4/20 6-8 PM: Bring the Family Potluck Social & Salon CLIMATE PROJECT SLIDE SHOW PRESENTATION!!

3) Saturday 4/21 11-7 PM Nashville Earth Day Festival @ Centennial Park

Mobilizing the Mamas: Come one, come all.

Playgroup for mothers (and others) and their children.

Friday 4/20 (and every Friday!!) -- Centennial Park Playground, 10-Noon.

Bring outdoor play things (parachutes, bubbles, play silks, sidewalk chalk), blankets if you please, snacks to share.

Bring books or articles of interest to our growing mother activist community, as well as questions, comments and friends.

Build community, make new friends, hang with old ones.

From this point forward, we’ll be focused on actions well integrated into our playgroup time, as well as planning for the Mother’s Day Peace Parade. During the month of April, we will join with our sisters in action at MomsRising and decorate onesies as part of the Mother’s Day geared Power of ONEsie campaign. From MomsRising:

DECORATE A ONEsie & MAIL IT TO US: Make it personal! Over the next several months we'll be collecting ONEsies to display around the country. Simply get a new or used baby onesie (or a small kids t-shirt) and make it your own by decorating it with fabric paint, markers, or even rhinestones. Joan says, "I had fun doing a couple of ONEsies with my young daughter... and I was struck by what she wrote on hers, 'Love, love, love and more love.' She understands." You can add catchy slogans, hold a ONEsie decorating party, and/or have kids help with the project. *Mail Your Creation by May 1, 2007 to Be Part of a Fabulous Mother's Day Extravaganza: MomsRising, P.O. Box 19596, Seattle, WA 98109. (In case you forget the mailing address and other details, we set up a website for your easy reference: http://www.momsrising.org/PowerofONEsie)

We’ll have paint and some new onesies, but bring some to recycle as well!!

*** On inclement weather days we’ll gather at the downtown public library on the second floor in the children’s area.

Bring the Family Potluck Social & Salon

Friday, April 20, 2007
6:00p
Bring the Family Potluck Social and Salon

Mothers Acting Up has a potluck, the third Friday of each month, at the Friends' Meeting House, 530 26th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37209 (map).

April 20: We'll gather to sup, laugh, discuss Mother's Day parade planning, and build community. In celebration of Earth Day, (East Nashville’s own) Jacob Gordon, a recent graduate of Al Gore’s Climate Project, will give a slide show and talk about global warming and what we can do as citizens to address it!

Nashville's Mothers Acting Up community celebrates all families and all children. We heartily welcome you to join with us in fellowship. Bring the family! Bring friends. Our gatherings are always nursing friendly and open to ALL kinds of families: old, young, rich, poor; hip, hippies and anti-hipsters all; GLTB friendly; all colors, faiths and orientations; all styles of parenting from mainstream to super crunchy.

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.

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

Here are links to MAU's national website and blog, and to Nashville MAU's blog. For further information, contact Paige La Grone Babcock, paige@mothersactingup.org, Nashville office 615.750.3780, Mobile mama 615.495.1879.

Nashville MAU at Nashville’s Earth Day Festival

Saturday 4/21 11-7 PM; Centennial Park!

Our booth host an activity for children and other lovers of crafty fun, recycling treasures into hats to be worn as sun protection and decoration at the upcoming 2^nd Annual Mother’s Day Peace Parade (hosted by MAU at Dragon Park, Sun. May 13 12:30-3:30 PM).

Come on out and enjoy what promises to be a most enjoyable time!!

Nashville MAU welcomes all kinds of families into its ample bosom.

Come join the magnificent revolution to honor the promise of our children’s lives!!

In spirited partnership,

Paige for Nashville MAU

National Outreach Coordinator & Community Organizer

paige@mothersactingup.org

MAU at Compass Conference Saturday AM.

2007-04-12T17:02:00.001-05:00

This weekend I’ll be leading the workshop MAU Now: The Joy of Activism—Mobilizing the Mamas. You can see below for a full on description of my workshop and a number of other wonderful workshops and events of the Tennessee Alliance for Progress annual Compass Conference. Nashville's Mothers Acting Up community organizers will be providing childcare w/ snacks and activities for the smalls so mamas and papas can do some activating. Childcare will be available from 9 AM – 2:30 PM with the understanding that parents will check in and take their children during breaks and mealtime. If you require childcare or intend to take my workshop, please holler at me, as it will allow better planning on my part.

More on Mothers Acting Up: www.mothersactingup.org

More on Nashville Mothers Acting Up: www.nashvillemau.blogspot.com

I hope to see some of y’all this weekend!!

In peace,

Paige La Grone Babcock

paige@mothersactingup.org

How would you like to spend this Saturday day listening to inspired speakers, networking with like-minded people, engaging in passionate discussion about pressing social issues, watching informative documentary films, grooving to great music and browsing a unique bookshop with hard-to-find books you've been looking for?

If this is your cup of tea, you need to attend the Compass IV Conference this Saturday, April 14, 9 am to 4 pm at Cohn Adult Learning Center, 4805 Park Avenue in West Nashville. The action packed agenda includes 12 workshops, including a free workshop on Global Warming, films, music, a bookshop and Keynote Speakers David Sirota and Paul Waldman. You can register at www.tennesseeallianceforprogress.org. Cost is $25 per day. If you need financial assistance in order to attend, contact nellrose@earthlink.net.

Here's the agenda for Saturday.

Compass IV Workshops – Saturday, April 14, 2007, Cohn Adult Learning Center

Registration: 8 AM to 9 AM

Welcome and Report from Friday’s Strategy Session: 9 AM - AUDITORIUM – Dan Joranko, Tennessee Alliance for Progress Board Chair

Keynote Address: 9:15 AM – AUDITORIUM – Paul Waldman, of Media Matters for America, author of Being Right Is Not Enough: What Progressives Must Learn From Conservative Success.

Break and Paul Waldman Booksigning: 10:15 AM

Morning Workshops: 10:30 to 11:50 AM

Doing Justly – LIBRARY – a workshop on faith, spirituality, morality and politics organized by TAP’s Doing Justly Project: Integrating Our Deepest Spiritual Beliefs Into Our Professional and Public Lives. Presenters: Dan Joranko, Tamara Ambar Losel, Ted Parks, Melissa Spas, and Harmon Wray.

Reducing Poverty and Inequality in Tennessee: What Works - ROOM 209. This workshop will look at successful programs and policies that are being used here and abroad. Presenters: Martha Wettemann of Tennessee State Employees Association, Rebekah Jordan, Midsouth Interfaith Network for Economic Justice, Jerry Lee of Tennessee AFL/CIO, and a representative of the Vanderbilt employee living wage movement.

Activism 101 - ROOM 201. Want to get active and make a difference but don’t know where to start? This workshop is for you. Presenters: Keith Caldwell, Coordinator, Nashville Peace and Justice Center, Jen Cartwright, former Education Director, Nashville Peace and Justice Center, and Megan Mecaraeg, Organizer, Jobs with Justice.

MAU Now: The Joy of Activism— Mobilizing the Mamas – ROOM – tbd.
(Fathers and all others who care about & for children are warmly welcome).

Mothers Acting Up will facilitate a conversation about parental activism: where are we on our current journey? What are the barriers and obstacles to parental activism? How can we overcome them? We will view Mothers Acting Up, the movie and participants will receive a copy of the Mothers Acting Up 2007 Mother Leadership Handbook and Engagement calendar. The Mother Agenda will be addressed and issues of the workshop include community building, Mother’s Day Reclamation, tabling, and advocacy for children in the offices of our representatives. Children’s activities and daycare provided.

Please contact nellrose@earthlink.net if you will need childcare. Presenter: Paige La Grone Babcock. paige@mothersactingup.org

Media Reform – ROOM 203- Learn what’s wrong with the corporate media and how you can become a media activist. Presenters: Ginny Welsch of Radio Free Nashville, Mary Mancini of Liberadio(!) and Elliott Mitchell is of Metropolitan Educational Access Corporation.

How to Write Op-Eds That Get Published - ROOM 204. - Get read! Get heard! Get blogged! Learn how to bring your activism onto the opinion pages of Tennessee’s newspapers, on airwaves, and into cyberspace. This workshop that will show you how to leverage your activism through the commentary continuum. The Forum is working to increase progressive voices in the mainstream media. Presenters: American Forum Executive Director Denice Zeck and Elizabeth Barger Chair of the Tennessee Editorial Forum.

Lunch: Noon to 1 PM – DOWNSTAIRS CAFETERIA

Films: 12:10 PM to 1:00 PM – DOWNSTAIRS CAFETERIA.
Collateral Damage: Bad Medicine in Tennessee
Scenes from Eternal Vigilance: The Fight To Save Our Election System, Q&A with filmmaker David Earnhardt.

Afternoon Workshops: 1:00 to 2:30 PM

Global Climate Change – AUDITORIUM - A Powerpoint presentation based on Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth. Presenters: Jennifer Tlumak, a graduate of Al Gore’s Climate Project and Rev. Jim Deming of Tennessee Interfaith Power and Light and Northwest Earth Institute. FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Part of the Step-It-Up April 14 Campaign.

Afternoon Workshops: 1:10 to 2:30 PM

Passing the Torch: Youth Activism – LIBRARY - This workshop will be led by youth and adult staff working with Oasis Community IMPACT (OCI). OCI works with young people from two East Nashville High Schools, Stratford and Maplewood, to promote educational and economic equity for urban students, schools, and neighborhoods by cultivating grassroots leadership through a youth organizing strategy. This workshop will provide participants the opportunity to learn more about this work, to better understand why working with youth is critical, and some effective strategies for working with a new generation of change-makers.

Progressive Blogging – ROOM 121 - Sandy Smith Madsen of the award-winning blog, Tennessee Guerilla Women will bring together bloggers to share the secrets of their craft. Presenters: Chiara at Thoughts of an Average Woman, Callie at Red State Exile, and Rick at Coyote Chronicles.

Election 2008 – ROOM 203. Discussion of local, state and national candidates, voter suppression, paper-trail ballot boxes and other issues. Presenters: Dr. Sekou Franklin, MTSU Political Science Department, Jim Grinstead, Democracy for Tennessee, Chick Westover, Gathering to Save Our Democracy, and Seanna Brandmeir, President Tennessee Young Democrats.

Tennesseee’s Health Care Crisis – ROOM 201 - Discussion of uninsured problem, TennCare, single payer proposals and other options. Presenters: Dr. Jim Powers of Vanderbilt Medical Center, with Lori Smith of Tennessee Health Care Campaign, Jim Hudson of Physicians NAT Health Plan and Dr. Richard Braun.

The Politics of Crime and Punishment in Tennessee – ROOM 204 - Topics will include prison privatization, death penalty, racism in the criminal justice system, and restorative transformative justice as an alternative to our present retributive system. Presenters: Harmon Wray of Vanderbilt Program on Faith and Criminal Justice, Stacy Rector of Tennessee Coalition to Abolish State Killing and Gail Tyree of Grassroots Leadership of Memphis.

Break: 2:30 to 2:45 PM

Music: 2:45 PM - AUDITORIUM - Renown Songwriter/Artist Robert Ellis Orrall will perform his hit “Al Gore” and other selections.

Keynote Address: 3:00 PM – AUDITORIUM – Activist and Media Commentator David Sirota, author of Hostile Takeover: How Big Money & Corruption Conquered Our Government – and How We Take It Back.

David Sirota Book Signing: 4:00 – 4:20 PM

MAU on Mothering chat tomorrow!

2007-04-10T07:17:00.000-05:00

I'll be the guest on Mothering magazine's online chat schedule Wednesday April 11 at Noon Central, representing Mothers Acting Up. This is the first of monthly scheduled visits to chat about MAU & mama activism. This month I expect to address building community, reclaiming Mother’s Day, and the Mother Agenda.

More here, including chat instructions.

If you’re up to it, stop by to lend some support and ask a question or make a comment, and please DO pass this reminder along to folks you suspect might be interested.

Local opportunities for MAU involvement and family fellowship abound, including weekly playgroups, monthly potluck socials & salons, regularly scheduled visits to state rep’s offices (next up: TOMORROW), MAU Now: The Joy of Activism—Mobilizing the Mamas workshop at this weekend’s Tennessee Alliance for Progress Compass conference, a booth the Earth Day Festival, and Nashville’s fast approaching 2^nd Annual Mother’s Day Peace Parade. Holler for details, or if you have interest in bringing Mothers Acting Up to your community.

March MAUs go out like lionesses...

2007-03-30T06:51:00.000-05:00

Opportunities abound for community building, here are three THIS WEEKEND.

One) TODAY 3/30 MAU's regularly scheduled Mobilizing the Mamas Playgroup.

Friday 10-noon; Centennial Park Playground.

Bring sunscreen, outdoor toys (sidewalk chalk, trikes, beach balls, parachutes), snacks to share, your knitting or other craft if you like, ideas for Mother's Day op-eds & costumes, friends, family and welcoming attitudes.

Two) TODAY 3/30 One in a series of field trips to visit our state representatives along with Tennessee's Peaceable Assembly & Instruction Project, itself part of the national Occupation Project.

Friday 2:45-- outside Representative Cooper's office, downtown, Church Street.
These field trips are wonderful forays into civic and political egnagement In which which we lobby / advocate and appeal for / to our representatives to vote for peace. MAU’s role in this capacity is to show up passionate about our children’s welfare, ALL our children’s welfare, and to put real faces and bodies to Rep. Cooper’s constituency, as he is the person we visit today. MAU families and friends will gather in front of Cooper’s office (it’s inside the downtown public library, accessed from Church Street between the library’s main entrance and Provence) on the sidewalk at 2:45. I’m asking folks to bring with them their children, grandmothers, friends, welcoming spirits, homebaked cookies… whatever it takes to graciously thank Cooper for voting against appropriations last week, and to ask him to continue to vote for peace, thereby giving all children a bigger piece of the pie.

(NOTE: the next scheduled MAU group field trip was April 3-- this visit is in the process of being rescheduled! Write to Paige for details: paige@mothersactingup.org)

Three) Planning Meeting for Nashville MAU's Second Annual Mother's Day Parade for Peace.

Sunday afternoon. Write Paige for details: paige@mothersactingup.org

Living Green in Nashville and beyond.

2007-03-27T21:51:00.000-05:00

Links to this great site keep popping up everywhere I turn, and seeing as one of the three campaigns that makes up the Mother Agenda is For Kids' Sake: Preserve Our Planet, it seems a good idea to share The Fun Times Guide to Living Green, where you can learn simple ways to make sustainable living fun and practical, reduce the size of your carbon footprint, and give children a bigger piece of the pie, for now, and for LATER. You'll find tips on how to make or use a rain barrell, how to reduce waste in general, and where to purchase bamboo panties!!

Playgroups.

2007-03-23T17:04:00.000-05:00

The weather in Nashville now is GREAT. Everything's on the bloom, the sun is shining, and our community playgroup is thriving. Playgroups and potlucks help keep our community cohesive all the year through, and not just connected once a year at our Mother's Day Parade.

We meet each Friday at Centennial Park Playground in the window between 10 AM and Noon. We visit, share snacks, and do an action together whenever possible. These days, with the weather so accomodating to outdoor play, we have quite a crowd and we'll be parade planning, stilt building and costume making during our gatherings. Come join us! Bring friends, bring neighbors, bring grandmothers and fathers. ALL are welcome.

Nashville MAUs at peace rally 3/17.

2007-03-22T11:15:00.001-05:00

2007_0317_143525AA, originally uploaded by Wingates.

Nashville MAUs at peace rally 3/17.

2007-03-22T11:14:00.001-05:00

2007_0317_141328AA, originally uploaded by Wingates.

Nashville MAUs at peace rally 3/17.

2007-03-22T11:13:00.001-05:00

2007_0317_142431AA, originally uploaded by Wingates.

Nashville MAUs at peace rally 3/17.

2007-03-22T11:12:00.003-05:00

2007_0317_151401AA, originally uploaded by Wingates.

Nashville MAUs at peace rally 3/17.

2007-03-22T11:12:00.001-05:00

Nashville MAUs at peace rally 3/17.

2007-03-22T11:11:00.003-05:00

Nashville MAUs at peace rally 3/17.

2007-03-22T11:11:00.001-05:00

Nashville MAUs at peace rally 3/17.

2007-03-22T11:10:00.001-05:00