Meet Ellen Shepard, Co-Chair of The Dandelion–Linwood Holton Elementary School’s Outdoor Classroom.
[photo courtesy of Little House Green Grocery]
RichmondMom Cheryl
How would you describe what is you do when it comes to teaching kids about growing and eating healthy food here in RVA–and beyond?
Dandelion Co-Chair, Ellen Shepard
We have tried to get students from age four to eleven outside to learn about good soil, planting seeds, taking care of their plants, harvesting, and eating. We often ask students which fruits and vegetables they like to eat. From their list, we plant vegetables appropriate to the season with a mix of vegetables with the most votes – along with one or two the students may not have tried – or even heard of. We try to plant a mix of leafy and root vegetables so students can see and taste a variety of vegetables. We have been fortunate to partner with Bon Secours, Chefs to Schools, Edible Education, and parent chefs who help prepare the food students grow.
What was the catalyst that made you decide YOU personally needed to take action?
I wanted my boys outside more. Linwood Holton Elementary School is in the City of Richmond but sits on quite a bit of land. We saw that space as a real opportunity to build an outdoor classroom. We want the outdoor classroom to be a place for kids to explore, investigate, and have some fun.
Please tell us a bit about how you got started…
The school had raised garden beds that weren’t being used and parent Susanna Raffenot said we should do something about that. That was six years ago. We have been working to get kids outside ever since. It is very important not to have just a parent project. This needs to be a teacher, parent, and community supported project with strong support from the principal. We spent a year developing plans and attending neighborhood association meetings. You will have a much stronger project if you have broad support. You will need that support to sustain your project after the initial excitement of construction. Have a co-chair. Susanna Raffenot has done the budgeting & fundraising, teacher toolkits, student guidebooks, human sundial, informational signs, cookbook, newsletter articles, and more. It is much more fun and sustainable if you share the work. Learn from others! We probably visited ten well established school gardens to see how it could be done.
What is the goal of your work with The Dandelion?
Our goal is to provide students with an enduring foundation and beautiful environment in order to enrich curriculum, promote healthy food choices, develop social skills, and strengthen community ties.
What do you feel has been accomplished so far?
I hope students have a greater appreciation of the natural world and their connection to it. Students’ enthusiasm, passion, and curiosity are wonderful to see. I hope students will keep that with them.
Fellow Co-Chair, Susanna Raffenot
I think it’s great how students cycle through the whole garden ecosystem from VPI to 5th grade. Early grades focus on planting, eating and getting the basics. Older grades do compost, tree planting and pollination or a butterfly garden to learn of the importance to the whole system and how it works together.
What makes you proudest personally about your affiliation with the group(s)?
Fellow Co-Chair, Susanna Raffenot
The 200+ tree/shrub planting that has transformed what the grounds [at Linwood Holton Elementary] look like. They provide definition – all which you can really see now that they are filling out.
Dandelion Co-Chair, Ellen Shepard
The invitation to visit the White House gardens is something I will never forget.
I have to look at pictures to believe it really happened. Five fifth grade students were invited to go and my son was in fifth grade so we were able to have that experience together.
The First Lady did such an amazing job of making the students feel comfortable that my son felt confident enough to ask her for an interview for the school newspaper.
What’s next on-deck?
We are working hard to document what we have done with classes so it is easier for teacher and parent volunteers to incorporate into classroom learning.
How can others get involved?
Whether it is health and wellness interest, or a desire to protect the environment, there are many, many ways to get involved. If you are interested in starting a garden at your child’s school, talk to the principal and your child’s teacher. Start small. You will be responsible for maintaining what you start.
How does your family feel about what you are doing?
“Gardens are good and kids can eat the food. If no one works on the garden, the kids can’t eat the food from the garden.” —Will Shepard
Ellen, thank you so much for your commitment to such an important cause…and for being a RichmondMom with a mission!
This month’s RichmondMom with a Mission IS doing something.
Meet January’s RichmondMom with a Mission, Whitney Walters.
RichmondMom Cheryl
How would you describe what you do when it comes to animal advocacy here in RVA…and beyond?
Animal Advocate Whitney
When you are in animal rescue and involved in animal welfare, you tend to be a jack-of-all-trades kind of person—it wouldn’t all fit on a business card! Simply put, I am an animal lover. I work hard to see that animals are loved and treated humanely. I also try and bring awareness to animal issues and find opportunities for people to get involved.
What were the catalysts that made you decide YOU personally needed to take action?
I started out volunteering few free weekends after college bathing dogs in an animal shelter to make them more adoptable. I was young, single, renting a townhouse and working a lot—not really ready to own a dog, but missing being around them. I truly believed they’d all find good homes. (Sadly, many didn’t.) When I got engaged, I told the shelter manager to let me know if they ever got in a Great Dane. Tired of waiting a month (!), I went out and bought a puppy. Two weeks later, she called me and said they got in a 2-year-old harlequin Dane whose owner moved and left him to die. I felt so guilty I didn’t wait, and now couldn’t help. I vowed then never to buy a dog again.
However, there was one specific moment: I was volunteering for a group in Beverly Hills, assisting with those Saturday adoptions stands just like you see here in Richmond—people camped out at local pet stores hoping a few dogs get adopted, and some donations come in so you can help another one. This particular day when the light bulb went off (more like when I ran my head right into it!), I was sitting in my office on the 21st floor in downtown LA. It was 5:20pm and the phone rang. It was the rescue asking if I could pick up a dog at one of the city shelters by 6pm. I’d never been to the shelters out there, but no problem; traffic may be bad but it was only a few blocks away. I rode the elevator down, got in my car and promptly got stuck at a red light. I called the rescue to tell them I might be a few minutes late. She told me if I got there at 6:01 the doors would be locked and the dog would be euthanized. I couldn’t believe that would happen, they had to know I was coming for the dog! Why would they euthanize a perfectly healthy, young adoptable dog? (I made it by 5:59pm thankfully, so it was a happy ending for this one!)
That one dog changed my world as he humbly hopped onto my passenger seat for his “Freedom Ride.” He may or may not have known how close he came, but he was grateful to be out of that place. As he laid his head on my lap when we drove away, I knew neither of us were looking back. We were both changed for the better.
Please tell us a bit about what you do…
My days start by going through about 300 email pleas of dogs and cats in overcrowded shelters peppered with some horses, pigs, and yes, an occasional chinchilla needing help. I make a list of those I think I can help, and begin attempts to raise money, find a foster, arrange vetting, locate transport, and find a rescue group to help adopt the animal. Some days, I call a friend and we go down to a local shelter, take photos of the animals and evaluate them. When I get home, I post them online and email them to rescues, fosters and potential adopters—then repeat the steps of finding funds, transport and fosters. If I have time, I work on finding grants, arranging fundraisers like a yard sale or setting up a fund campaign. One thing I love to do is speak to school-aged kids about adoption, spay/neuter, and animal welfare (Girl/Boy Scout groups, church groups and classrooms). Lastly (but probably the most important thing), I try and stay abreast of laws affecting animals, bills being considered, etc. as these have the capacity to help or hinder animal welfare the most. (Interesting source for current bills, laws, and how your congressman voted on animal welfare issues: http://hslf.typepad.com/)
What are the goals of the organizations with whom you work?
I have worked with the majority of the animal rescue groups in the Richmond vicinity…typically begging them for help with an animal I’ve seen in an animal control agency. Because the state of Virginia has about a 40% euthanasia rate, most are overworked and just finding good permanent homes for the ones they can help is daunting enough. One unique program, doesn’t focus as much on rescue but on community outreach. This small group of dedicated individuals builds fences for chained dogs, provides free or low cost spay/neuter, offers food, houses and straw for less fortunate dogs. There are also incredible everyday people that meet each weekend to overnite dogs coming out of pounds from GA, NC, SC and VA. Then they meet in the early morning in a parking lot, and a transporter drives them an hour north to another volunteer that drives another hour with a car full of dogs and puppies, and so on until they reach their final destination. It’s really emotional to be a part of these animals’ journeys.
What do you feel has been accomplished so far?
So much and yet so little. I get emails with happy pictures of dogs once about to die in a shelter with their new family, and all I did was take a picture and post online. Simple as that, and a life was saved. But there is a big—no huge—picture at which I’ve only chipped away. A woman I consider my mentor told me once that while I may not be able to see it in the decade or so I’ve been involved, she sees the issue is getting better. This gives me the will to get up and start again each day to make a difference in the lives of animals.
What makes you proudest personally about your affiliation with the various groups?
When you see people neglect, abuse, discard, or disregard the welfare of something you love so passionately—and believe have emotions and value—it’s hard to stay positive sometimes. I can honestly say the people in animal rescue are the most hard-working, inspiring and courageous individuals. They give all their time and money to what they love and they see the very beings they love in horrible predicaments or with impossible deadlines. They don’t sit idly by and hope someone else will take care of it, say “that’s such a shame” or thank someone else for doing it… they get their hands dirty and try. The more people in this, the more positive outcomes! I am proud to know people like this and work alongside them.
What’s next on-deck?
My ultimate goal would be to develop an army of volunteers willing to develop relationships with local animal control agencies. Changing the misconception that rescue dogs are “damaged goods” is the main way to do this…most are simply victims of human issues such as divorce, moving, landlords or financial reasons. Follow other states and make it a law that all impounded animals are photographed and made available to the public online upon intake—these volunteers would assist with that process. (Currently, not all animal control agencies list the impounded animals, or only list a few of them online) Owner reclaims and adoptions would increase, and rescue groups would know which animals needed assistance. Most people find it very surprising that some municipal shelters don’t list all the animals—and many people don’t know how to look up the statistics. Education and awareness is crucial. Lastly, in Los Angeles, rescue was the way to obtain a dog. Everyone took pride in the mixed-up DNA of their fuzzy family member. If it was a purebred rescue, they made sure to identify it with a collar or bandanna. I’d love for the trend to catch on here in Richmond—be proud you saved a life!
How does your family feel about what you are doing?
My husband has asked more than once why I can’t do this from 9-5. Calls come in at all hours, and the stress can invade our home and cause sleepless nights. Although he isn’t involved on a daily basis, he knows it’s important to me and is supportive, yet he also isn’t afraid to let me know when I’m too involved and make me take a fun day getting out and exploring Richmond. We’ve also met some amazing people thru this volunteer work—people like the Johnson family who love their pet pig, Tucker, and have gone before Chesterfield County to keep their family member. I wish everyone loved and cared for their pets like they do—then maybe I’d have some free time!
[Whitney, her son, Graham, and Tucker the Pig]
How can others get involved?
It’s so easy. My tag line is “Foster, Adopt, Donate” when I post a dog in need. I should add to that transport and volunteer! There are so many agencies that need help getting an animal to the vet, picking it up from the pound, helping make reference calls, organizing a fundraiser, developing marketing materials, updating the website, maintaining a Facebook page. Consider fostering. We can’t save lives if we have nowhere to put the dog or cat! Read about animal welfare issues and the laws. Go to your local animal control agency and take a look around. Some people ask how we can do it, and we wonder how can you not?
Whitney, we thank you so much for your commitment to this important cause…and for being a RichmondMom with a mission!
Ready to help, RichmondMoms?
Check out www.petfinder.com or www.adoptapet.com using your zipcode.
We’ve had a really fantastic year! We got ourselves a makeover, we had some great giveaways, fun contests and of course, lots of great stories to read this year.
If you’ve missed these articles, they’re worth the read. We’ve rounded up our top stories from our most widely read categories so you can have another look at 2014 as we head into the new year.
Top 10 Stories Real Richmond Parents:
We feel really fortunate to be able to provide a place were Richmond Parents can connect with others, whether it’s through, Wine Down, sharing events and activities, our facebook page and our facebook group.
One of the most treasured ways, however, is through Real Richmond Parents. If you would like to contribute to Real Richmond Parents, please contact us Sarah@Richmondmom.com.
1. How to Sell Your House in Three Days
2. College Ain’t Like It Used To Be
3. 20 Signs Your Children are Gifted
4. This Afternoon: Be Still Our Beating Hearts {How a Situation at Glen Allen High School Woke Me Up.}
6. Three Reasons Why One Mom Became an Advocate for Gun Violence Prevention
7. “I miss my perfect little girl.”
8. Marriage: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
9. What Kind of Woman Are You?
10. Why I Am Not The “Default Parent”
Read more from Real Richmond Parents here.
RichmondMoms with a Mission 2014
This year starting in June, Cheryl Lange wrote about one mom with a mission a month.
June RichmondMom with a Mission: Gena Reeder (Moms Demand Action)
July RichmondMom with a Mission: Lisa Spickler Goodwin (Connor’s Heroes)
August RichmondMom with a Mission: Julie Garner (Project Yellow Light)
September RichmondMom with a Mission: Andrea Valencia-Bailey (Grey Haven Project)
October RichmondMom with a Mission: Patience Salgado (Kindness Girl)
November RichmondMom with a Mission: Leslie Lytle (NurtureRVA)
December RichmondMom with a Mission: Maya Smart (2014 Richmond Christmas Mother)
Honorable mention: Tammy Franges (Foster Care with UMFS) who we wrote about in May, just before RichmondMom with a mission began.
Top 5 Health Stories
1. …And Then the Unthinkable Happened (Brain Injury Awareness)
2. Vaccination Wars, The Do’s vs. The Do Nots. (Vaccinations)
3. I Went To a Sex Talk and What I Learned May Surprise You (Sexual Health)
4. Are Your Eating Habits a Mess? Here Are 14 Ways To Get On The Right Track (Diet)
5. QUICK FAQS: What You Need to Know About Coats’ Disease (Coats’ Disease)
Parent-Life
1. Serve it Hot: Warm (& Fast) Breakfasts to get the School Day Started
2. 7 Beautiful Gender Neutral Birthday Party Ideas
3. RVA Parents of Preemies: a new support group for Richmond mamas
5. 20 No-Tech Interactive Games
5 Oldies but goodies
These classics weren’t written in 2014 but just keep coming back
1. Potty Training the Strong-Willed Child: How We Did It
2. Why I Hate Breastfeeding (and the Totally Selfish Reasons Why I Do It Anyway)
3. Top Ten Favorite Things To Do In Richmond With A Toddler
4. Top 5 Things I’ve Learned as a Newbie Swim Team Mom
5. 7 Lessons I Learned From Going Gluten Free for One Month
Looking forward to a whole lot more in 2015!!
Cookies are baked and waiting to be put in their tins. Stockings are hung from the mantel. Poinsettias are perfectly placed. Tips for the mail carrier, the newspaper delivery person, and the hair stylist are all in envelopes. Rolls of gift wrap are standing by…waiting to be put to their merry, masking use. The last batch of Christmas cards has found its way to the blue box on the corner.
These dwindling days are those wherein we rack our holiday-addled brains—attempting to determine what seasonal celebratory aspect we’ve possibly overlooked…
Time to take a few moments—and maybe a bit of budget—to make this week more wondrous for children in our own community.
Meet this month’s RichmondMom with a Mission: Maya Smart, 2014 Richmond Christmas Mother.
[Photos Courtesy of Richmond Christmas Mother Fund]
RichmondMom Cheryl:
Happy Holidays, Ms. Smart, and thank you so very much for taking the time to chat with us! For those like me who are “transplants,” or for those who simply don’t know much about the incredible, charitable work that’s done via the Richmond Christmas Mother tradition, would you please tell us a little bit about the history?
Richmond Christmas Mother Maya:
The Richmond Christmas Mother Fund is celebrating 80 years of providing much-needed assistance to local families. For the last several years, the fund exclusively supported the Salvation Army’s Christmas Assistance program, which provides holiday meals, clothing and toys. This year, in honor of the 80th anniversary of the fund, we partnered with The Community Foundation to launch a competitive grant process with a goal of distributing funds to 80 different community organizations. I’m really proud to be the spokesperson for the fund in a year in which it is embracing a broad cross-section of our community’s nonprofits.
Please tell us a bit about what you do (and have already done!) as Richmond’s 2014 Christmas Mother.
As the 80th Richmond Christmas Mother, I have made more than 30 appearances to raise funds and awareness for the organization. I’ve touted the programs of our wonderful grantees on numerous television channels and radio stations and at Christmas events at The Jefferson and The Valentine. I’ve also attended the holiday gatherings of supporters such as McGuire Woods, the Richmond Henrico Retired Teachers Association, and the Junior Assembly, and Town and Country cotillions.
VCU Athletics graciously hosted a Richmond Christmas Mother Night at a VCU Basketball game, which included digital signage, concourse collection boxes and an on-court presentation. We raised nearly $20,000 that evening, which my husband Shaka and I matched to bring the game total to almost $40,000.
I have also had the honor of seeing our Richmond Christmas Mother Fund dollars in action at grantee events, such as holiday parties hosted by the ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation and the USO.
What were–and are–the goals for 2014?
For 2014, we hope to raise $275,000. As of Dec. 22, we’ve raised about $213,000 so we would still greatly appreciate donations. Interested supporters can visit tinyurl.com/xmasrva to contribute.
Beyond the financial goals, I also aimed to promote the work of our amazing grantees. For example, the fund helped the USO lift the spirits of active duty military and families with hot meals and small gifts as they passed through Richmond International Airport during the holidays. We lightened the burden of holiday meals and gift-giving for families saddled with sick children’s health-care expenses through grantees such as ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation, CJ’s Thumbs Up Foundation and Connor’s Heroes. Our grant to Communities in Schools funded pantry staples for kids who typically rely on school meals, so they wouldn’t go hungry over winter break.
Our Meals on Wheels grant will help deliver homemade holiday meals for hundreds of homebound seniors and disabled adults. Other grants ensured that families in need could get emergency assistance during the holidays, along with warm coats, hats and gloves.
How is Richmond responding to the call to action?
Richmond has been extraordinarily generous. Everyone from elementary schoolers to grandparents have supported the effort with donations ranging from $1 to $10,000. All amounts are accepted–and greatly appreciated.
What makes you proudest personally about your role? Any particularly touching moments?
Personally, I am most proud of the number and diversity of new donors supporting the campaign this year. It means a great deal to me that I’ve introduced many Richmonders to the fund and won their support for these great organizations.
Seeing the grant dollars in action at the ASK Holiday Party at the Children’s Museum was very touching. I took my daughter Zora with me so that she could see what all of my Christmas Mother activities were about—bringing support and holiday cheer to our community. ASK helps local children with cancer and their families year-round with social, emotional, spiritual and even financial support. And it was clear at the party that the organization plays a special role during the holidays by bringing 400 people together for an evening with Legendary Santa, crafts, clowns and dessert. Parents joked that the ASK event was like a reunion of the family you never wanted to be a part of, but treasure now that you’ve got it. Children happily reunited with friends from the pediatric hematology and oncology clinic at VCU Medical Center and played with abandon—no need to explain baldheads or facemasks here. In this safe space, they were free to just be kids, albeit extraordinarily courageous, resilient ones.
I’m inspired by the children I met and I’m honored to raise funds on their behalf.
Please tell us how we can help!
Donate at tinyurl.com/xmasrva and spread the word via social media!
How does your family feel about what you are doing?
Shaka is extremely supportive of my work for our neighbors in need this holiday season, from the matching gift challenge at a game to picking up the slack at home when I am busy Christmas Mothering.
And this will be a Christmas to remember for Zora as well. She brings up the Christmas Parade daily.
Please feel free to share additional info you’d like to share with the RichmondMom readership!
I’ve also used my Christmas Mother tenure to promote reading and diversity in children’s literature. So far this season, I’ve given out 900 books to children at various events and I hope others will be inspired to add books to their holiday gift picks as well.
Maya, we thank you so much for your extraordinary service as this year’s Christmas Mother…and for being such an inspirational RichmondMom with a mission.
Wishing you and yours the happiest of holidays!
[Note to RichmondMom blog fans: Be sure to add Maya’s blog to your regular reads!]
]]>—Penelope Cruz, Mother and Actress
“The beginning is the most important part of the work.”
—Plato
How best to ensure the life-changing transition to motherhood is a happy and healthy one for new parents-to-be?
Meet this month’s RichmondMom committed to that very mission, Leslie Lytle of NurtureRVA!
[Photo: Beth Furgurson]
RichmondMom Cheryl:
What is your official title/role within Nurture?
Nurture’s Leslie:
I am the founder and Executive Director of Nurture, an emerging nonprofit whose mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of childbearing families through fitness, education, social support, and community engagement.
What were the catalysts that made you decide YOU personally needed to take action?
As a long-time prenatal yoga instructor, doula, and childbirth educator, it was hearing my students’ struggles to find accurate information, resources, and support that inspired me to consider a central resource center focused on childbearing women and families. I was also deeply influenced by observing the connections my students were making in class – there is a horizontal learning that takes place when you bring together individuals who are going through a similar life journey and encourage them to explore their common experience. Science indicates that when we have meaningful social connections, easy access to resources, and the ability to make informed decisions about our health and wellbeing, we have better health outcomes. This is particularly important during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum because the health of mothers and babies are intimately interconnected. What happens during this period has significant and impact on the short and long term health of both. As our bodies and brains are re-tooled physically, emotionally, and socially for parenthood, we have an incredible opportunity to consciously shape our habits and relationships in a positive direction.
Childbearing families face many challenges. Our national Cesarean rate, at 32.8%, is significantly higher than the 10 – 15% recommended by the World Health Organization, which is the point at which harms begin to outweigh benefits. Between 10 and 20% of new mothers will show signs of postpartum mood disorders. In the Richmond Metro Area, that means as many as 2400 of the 12,000 women who give birth each year—yet locally we have very few therapists trained in reproductive mental health, and it is not easy to identify those who are. Breastfeeding is one of the effective preventive measures a woman can take to protect the health of baby and herself, yet many women face significant cultural and logistical obstacles that prevent them from reaching their breastfeeding goals. While 75% of mothers initiate breastfeeding at birth, only 13% of babies are exclusively breastfed by six months. These statistics are significantly lower for our African American population.
The challenges faced by childbearing families are more similar than they are different, though different cultural groups and income levels will have specific needs. I wanted to level the playing field, so that all families have access to resources they need to have the best possible start.
Please tell us a bit about what you do with Nurture.
Right now, as Executive Director of an emerging nonprofit with a small annual budget, I do a lot of juggling – alternately managing outreach, program development, marketing, team-building, and administrative tasks. It’s akin to being the mother of a very active two-year old! I am currently focused on recruiting exceptional volunteer talent on our committees and board to help guide Nurture toward becoming a nationally known organization for improving the health and wellbeing of childbearing families at the local level.
What is the goal of the organization?
Our mission is to improve the health and wellbeing through fitness, education, social support, and community engagement – what we refer to as our four pillars (here’s a brief video that outlines our vision). We chose these pillars carefully. Women who exercise regularly throughout pregnancy gain less weight, experience shorter labors, require fewer medical interventions, have easier postpartum recoveries, and a more positive self-image. Evidence-based education supports women’s capacity to make informed decisions about their maternity related care. Social support programming such as breastfeeding and specifically focused prenatal and postpartum support groups are also integral to our vision. Under our community engagement pillar, we hope to inspire positive change through professional development programming and public education campaigns that raise awareness of the importance of community support for breastfeeding, evidence-based care, and reproductive mental health.
What has been accomplished so far?
On a completely volunteer basis, we have held two professional development programs that received rave reviews from participants – our first focused on perinatal loss, and the second on the impact of childbirth trauma on women and care providers. This year we offered over 90 donation-based prenatal and postnatal yoga classes through a partnership with Project Yoga Richmond. And we have provided technical and social media support to Richmond Healthy Start’s initiatives to raise awareness of the importance of breastfeeding: the Big Latch On in 2013, and RVA Latches On! in 2014.
What makes you proudest personally about your affiliation with the group?
It is thrilling to work with people who are passionate about improving the local environment for pregnancy, birth, and early parenting. I love the dialogue that takes place within our board and committees, the conversations with people whose lives have been positively influenced as a result of participating in our programs, and the discussion of potential future collaborations with other maternal/child health organization that are beginning to happen. Even as young as we are as an organization, I feel we’re already having a ripple effect.
What’s next on-deck?
Our biggest goal is to find a home for Nurture and a haven for the families we serve. We need a minimum of $100,000 to be able to consider a 2000 – 2500 square foot space in the city to serve as our central location. With a space of our own, we can grow our programming from ninety to hundreds of classes per year, including not just prenatal yoga, but childbirth education classes, postpartum support groups, breastfeeding assistance and more. Raising the funds to create this space is top on our agenda. This year we’re also working to create a “virtual” center on our website – a one-stop portal for finding existing resources in the community.
How can others get involved?
Visit our website and click on the “Help Us Grow” link, and send us a message as to your expertise, interest, and how you’d like to be involved. There is a list on that page of our current volunteer priorities.
And we always welcome donations, which are tax-deductible.
How does your family feel about what you are doing?
My husband is my biggest supporter and constantly tells me how proud he is of the work I’m doing. I could not what I do without his support, as it has required time away from income producing activities. My eighteen year-old son, whose birth in many ways was the catalyst for my focus on maternal/child health – thinks I’m doing “really important work.”
Please feel free to share additional info you’d like to share with the RichmondMom readership!
I believe Richmond, with its cultural history and diversity, size, artistic talent, vibrant nonprofit community, and especially its cadre of socially engaged and extremely talented moms, is uniquely positioned to put itself on the map as a mother-and-baby-friendly city that truly supports the health of its newest families. Our children are precious. What a legacy we would leave if we work to transcend race and cultural divisions to help them get off to the best possible start.
You can find NurtureRVA…
On Facebook
On Twitter @NurtureRVA
On Instagram
Leslie, thank you so much for your commitment to nurturing Richmond’s newest families…and for being a RichmondMom with a mission!
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—J. M. Barrie in The Little White Bird
Meet this month’s RichmondMom with a Mission: Patience Salgado, a.k.a. Kindness Girl!
RichmondMom Cheryl:
Tell us about how you became Kindness Girl.
Kindness Girl Patience
Whew, that is a long story because I have been [Kindness Girl] my whole life. I guess the very short version is I wrote a private blog about my family and our kindness adventures that grew a following and turned me into a kindness worker.
What was the catalyst that made you decide YOU personally needed to take action?
I’m not sure there was a catalyst per se, it was just a way to breathe actually. I was really sensitive and felt ALL the feelings, ALL the time, for the world…still do! I love humanity so very much and that can be exhausting if you don’t know yourself or how to manage your love.
Kindness is a way of life that allows people to both step in and outside of themselves at the same time. I could see the power of it everywhere I went. Turning that over and trying to see from all different angles gave me something to do with all I was holding. It also taught me how much I need it myself.
Please tell us a bit about what you do as Kindness Girl…
Hmmm, I do a little bit of everything. I am an empath, a writer, a photographer, an artist, a speaker, a mom and partner…but mostly it is about human connection.
What has been accomplished so far?
Oh, wow, lots of kindness missions, community organizing, national kindness campaigns and public art projects, but also lots of evolving and growing personally.
What makes you proudest personally about your achievements?
I don’t really like to look at my work as steps of achievements or accomplishments, I get all up in my “is it enough?!” head. It feels more about the process and ways I am unfolding as a person.
Kindness has me, like a call over my life. Some days I wake up and rock it so hard, other days I fail it miserably, but the call is always there. This is strangely comforting to me because I will fail my call but it is so much bigger than me. I try to remind myself of this on the days I am obsessing over my own part or comparing and feeling so very vulnerable.
I am proud of my courage to keep trying to love my humanity (and others’), and to find all the ways it connects us to each other.
What’s next on-deck?
There are quite a few things floating around about women and public art, writing a book and storytelling in the works, but mostly I am taking care of myself and my family at the moment.
We are in a non-auto pilot phase in our family right now. Have you ever been in that phase? A needy time? Everyone is in some kind of transition or learning curve and it feels like we all really need each other. I both love and am mildly tortured by this at any given moment, but it feels very right.
How can others get involved?
Start yourself! The beauty of kindness is anyone can practice anywhere, anytime. Just try to think of the most human place or part of you, then do something. If you need to hear things will be okay, then write it on a post-it and put it in a place where you think no kindness exists, because then it will.
Need a cup of coffee? Buy one for yourself and someone else. Need to say you’re sorry for yelling at your kid because you are exhausted? Do that, drive to school, pull her out of class and tell her. (By the way, I have done this. Ugh.)
Kindness can be big or small. It isn’t about being good or nice. While nice is societal or polite, kindness is about empathy and compassion; it makes us truly connected and part of a human family.
How does your family feel about what you are doing?
One of my biggest fears is that my kids will grow up and be like, “Kindness ruined my life! My mom was obsessed with this thing and never had time for us!”
They laugh when I tell them this but there have been crazy periods where all they ate was pizza and watched 57,000 hours of TV so I could pull a project off. I was grouchy and stressed.
On second thought, they probably LOVE kindness (minus the kindness grouch). Ha!
Seriously though, I don’t think they really think about it so much actually. It’s more of a way of life over here. Some kids have teachers, doctors or toll collectors for parents, they have a mom who is a kindness worker. I’m not sure they have connected that it is alternative or different in any way yet.
My partner and husband, Jorge, has been a calm and loving force in my life and work. He can handle me and my passion. He is patient, kind and believes in it. I am so grateful.
Please feel free to share additional info you’d like to share with the RichmondMom readership!
If you think we should be friends, we probably should be! You can find me on
Facebook: Patience Salgado
Twitter: @kindnessgirl
Instagram: @kindnessgirl
Patience, thank you so much for your commitment to both expressing and inspiring kindness…and for being a RichmondMom with a mission!
]]>Each month, we are introducing you to a new maternal mover and shaker—an inspiring, make-a-difference mom right here in our own community.
A little over a year ago, my tween daughter and I happened upon a human trafficking awareness poster. Paraphrased somewhat, the statement “We need to end slavery in Virginia” boldly headlined the piece. Incredulous, she erupted, “There’s no slavery anymore!”
Bet there are many Americans, Virginians, Richmonders who believe the very same thing…
Thankfully, a word-spreading, compassionate woman right here in Richmond is working diligently—to not only increase awareness of the reality of 21st century slavery—but to healing and making the lives of those directly affected, better.
Meet this month’s RichmondMom with a Mission: Andrea Valencia-Bailey of The Gray Haven Project.
RichmondMom Cheryl:
Andrea, what is your official title/role within The Gray Haven Project?
Gray Haven Andrea:
I am the Co-founder of The Gray Haven; I have also worn many hats at Gray Haven, and because of our growth in the past year, we are evaluating what that will look like in the coming years, which is really exciting! Currently, my title is Director of Client Services, and I dedicate my time to working alongside our direct services staff, ensuring that they have what they need to succeed, and to ensure our clients receive the best care possible.
What was the catalyst that made you decide YOU personally needed to take action?
In my late teens and early twenties, I thought I would like to one day open a safe place/home for women and children victims of violence. Then I met my Josh and he told me about contemporary slavery and human trafficking—how he had learned about it through social media, and the fact that it was happening in a far away countries. After he shared this with me we shared the passion of one day moving across the world to help in any way we could; the idea of moving kept getting farther away from the reality of life. However the issue itself always stuck with us, to the point that we could not look away. A year after Josh and I got married, we heard a speaker talk about being afraid and thinking “What is it that I am supposed to do?” He challenged the audience to ask ourselves “What do I want my life’s story to tell?” He went on using human trafficking as an example saying something along the lines of, “Fighting an issue like human trafficking is not something we need to ask if God cares about. He is waiting for people like us stand up to do something about it.” Those words meant so much to my husband and me at that time, because we were at that pivotal time of deciding what to do with the knowledge we had acquired on the issue and we were contemplating how could we be part of a global movement to fight it. It was at this same time that we started to learn more and more about the issue happening right here in our own community.
Please tell us a bit about what you do with Gray Haven.
Currently I provide guidance and leadership to the team that provides direct care and support to survivors to assure the best care possible. However, before we had staff, I wore many hats, from training and recruiting volunteers, to providing services to survivors, to manning the table at an outreach event.
Volunteers at Gray Haven booth, Arts on the Grove 2013
What is the goal of the organization?
The Gray Haven’s goal is to provide hope and restoration to victims of Human Trafficking (men, women, children victims of either sex or labor trafficking). Our goal for our clients is to empower [them] to reclaim their individual freedom to dream, and to help them find healing in a community of safe people. Understanding the barriers and root causes of human trafficking equips us with knowledge to inform our community, local, and state government on how we can actually end human trafficking in Richmond. So, through direct services to victims, we want to see victims living free and empowered, and our community actively engaged in making Richmond slavery-proof once and for all!
What has been accomplished so far?
Well, we are a fairly new organization. We are driven by small and big accomplishments in the lives of the people we serve instead of the numbers. However, when Josh and I started TGH, we always told ourselves that creating TGH was about treating each survivor like they were the only one we serve. It was about the one person, not just numbers. Now, after two and a half years, we have been able to make it “about the one” with over 70 people. We established a non-residential facility as a “one stop” for resources in the community, providing coaching to help victims/survivors achieve their goals, and walk a journey with them without the fear of anyone giving up on them. Then, in April, we opened the first safe house specifically for survivors of trafficking in Virginia. That was a huge realization of a dream for us.
What makes you proudest personally about your affiliation with the group?
The culture within TGH and what we can accomplish with the people we serve. At TGH we carry a culture where we focus on the hope that we can shine in the darkness of the issue. We find ways to make the restoration process for the people we serve as light as possible and at the same time we are ready to go through the hard times together with them. Most importantly, I am proud of every single person we have served. They have made TGH what it is today and will be tomorrow. The resilience, strength, and sweetness of every survivor and their relationship with TGH make me proud of being affiliated with TGH.
Cards created by TGH volunteers for victims of human trafficking
What’s next on-deck?
This is a tough question to answer for big dreamers like Josh and myself. For TGH, I see continuing to do what we do and continuing to learn the best way we can go about serving and loving on survivors. We are exploring expansion outside of the Richmond area, but we want to stay focused on doing what we do with excellence.
How can others get involved?
TGH has great partnerships with businesses and organizations and is always looking to increase the community network. We also rely on the support of trained volunteers to provide an array of services. Some include teaching different life skills, accompaniment to different activities, transportation, crisis response, as well as different administrative tasks for the general functions of the organization. Our work is made possible by volunteers and by the many generous people that support our mission financially. Lastly, we always encourage people that there is power in using their voice to simply educate those around them about this issue. The more people that know about it, the more we can identify victims, and more importantly, prevent it from happening.
How does your family feel about what you are doing?
Hmm…we have received a different array of thoughts during the past four years since we started. At the beginning some were “It is great what you are doing!” to “You are quitting your job? Which means you will have no health insurance” or “You don’t have to do this.” Now that we seem less crazy and probably look better nourished, we hear the “we are so proud of you”, “I love what TGH represents and how you love people”. We have a very supportive family, parents, siblings and extended family that have provided encouragement along the way and at the same were afraid for us to give up the job with benefits and safety net that it brings.
Andrea and Josh Bailey
Photo: Mary Otanez Photography
Thank you so much, Andrea for all you are doing for victims of human trafficking in Richmond, and beyond!
Want to get involved? Learn more about The Gray Haven Project and their mission by visiting their website at TheGrayHaven.org.
]]>Each month, we are introducing you to a new maternal mover and shaker—an inspiring, make-a-difference mom right here in our own community.
Every day you see them—likely, multiple times a day: dangerously distracted drivers.
Way too many on our roads put common sense in the back seat—-prioritizing cell phone calls, text messages and other in-car diversions ahead of their own safety—and that of others. One amazing local mom is on a mission to change that…
Meet this month’s RichmondMom with a Mission: Julie Garner of Project Yellow Light.
RichmondMom Cheryl:
What is your official title/role within Project Yellow Light?
Project Yellow Light Julie:
Ha! A little bit of everything since this is a real scrappy organization. In all honesty, I’m co-founder.
What was the catalyst that made you decide YOU personally needed to take action?
That’s easy. Though it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever – or will ever experience. My son Hunter was killed in a car crash in 2007 at the age of 16 years, 4 months and 23 days.
Within days, my husband, daughter and I knew we had to do everything in our power to prevent other young people dying needlessly this way. And to prevent other moms, dads, brothers, sisters, friends from going through the hell that we did; still do.
Please tell us a bit about what you do with Project Yellow Light.
Project Yellow Light/Hunter Garner Scholarship is a national film competition for high school and college students. It enables people to get the word out to their peers to be careful on the road; to not drive distracted. And it also gives them ownership of this serious problem. I’m convinced that it will be the youth themselves that will put a stop to all the injury and death that keeps piling up due to teen and young adult traffic accidents.
What is the ultimate goal of the organization?
Car crashes are the number one cause of death for teenagers and young adults in the U.S. It’s not gang violence, drug overdose, teen suicide, war, famine, some horrific disease—it’s car crashes. Our goal is to bring awareness to that and to have the youth themselves speak to each other about the dangers of distracted driving. In doing so, they will impart positive change to this terrible phenomena. They have the ability to talk to each other about this in ways that we adults just can’t touch. They can change behavior through sheer peer pressure; and they are beginning to realize that texting and driving is senseless, and perhaps more importantly, that the flipside is hell. I’m living proof of that.
What has been accomplished so far?
In three short years, PYL went from one high school in Fredericksburg, VA with a handful of teens, to a national scholarship reaching thousands in youth organizations, high schools and colleges throughout the country. Each year we receive upwards of 500 submissions and the quality of the films keeps getting better. We have amazing partnerships that help support our effort and give us clout; the Advertising Council, NHTSA, the National Organization for Youth Safety and Mazda. Mazda’s partnership is through their race car division, and not only do they support PYL financially, they have a whole covey of young drivers who are passionate about our cause and talk it up around the country. Additionally, the Ad Council takes the top two winning videos in each category (high school & college) and creates PSAs that are distributed to TV stations and media outlets across the U.S. These films air on TV as free media for a full year cycle. Pretty cool!
[LtoR: Julie Garner, Brittany Devasure, 2013 HS winner, David Strickland, Dir., NHTSA & Lowell Garner. Photo Credit: Make Roads Safe.]
What makes you proudest personally about your affiliation with Project Yellow Light?
My son, Hunter. It’s my legacy for him.
What’s next on-deck?
We’re kicking off this year’s competition on October 31 and looking forward to many great, motivating film entries. Also, one thing I say to all of our participants is that everyone who takes part is a winner. As cool as it is to win a scholarship towards college, or have your video on TV, every single person who creates a film has their own circle of influence. And if they impact just one person and alter their driving habits, they very well may prevent a crash. And if they prevent a crash, they may have saved a life. That life may be their best friend’s – or their own. It doesn’t get any bigger than that. And when you’re 16, 17, 18 up to 22 years old and you have that kind of positive impact on society, that’s huge.
How can others committed to eliminating distracted driving get involved?
Spread the word about us, and encourage high school juniors and seniors, as well as college students, to apply. www.projectyellowlight.com.
And while we have a lot of muscle through our affiliation with the Ad Council, NHTSA and such, we are in great need of financial support. PYL is a 501c3 and all of the funding goes toward the scholarships themselves.
How do your daughter and husband feel about what you are doing?
Alexandra: “I think of Project Yellow Light as an anchor for Hunter’s memory. It teaches us to be more humble, to love one another and to enjoy the time we have here. It’s just one small way that my brother’s life—not death—significantly impacted me for the better.”
Lowell: “Skies are gray. His room is incomplete. My one and only’s gone.”
Julie, please share any additional info you’d like to with the RichmondMom readership.
A huge thank you for allowing us to share our story. And follow us, like us, blog us, tweet us… because the more recognition we get, the more lives we’ll save.
PROJECT YELLOW LIGHT
On Instagram
On Twitter
On tumblr
On Facebook
Julie, we cannot thank you enough for your strength and commitment to this life-saving cause…and for being a RichmondMom with a mission!
Read about our past moms here:
July RichmondMom with a Mission: Lisa Spickler-Goodwin
June RichmondMom with a Mission: Gena Reeder
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Each month, we are introducing you to a new maternal mover and shaker—an inspiring, make-a-difference mom right here in our own community.
Can you believe it? Summer’s already half over. As Richmond moms, we are focused on end of season swim meets and squeezing in last-minute summer camps. Required reading texts are being checked out of the library and we’re keenly aware of school supply selections sneaking into the stores.
Yet in our midst, other Richmond moms are confronting a far greater challenge than getting to the Outer Banks one last time this season. Too many Richmond families are being forced to face a diagnosis of pediatric cancer. One RichmondMom is doing her darnedest to bring some comfort to their situation…
Meet this month’s RichmondMom with a Mission: Lisa Spickler Goodwin, Co-founder and Managing Director of Connor’s Heroes.
RichmondMom Cheryl:
What was the catalyst that made you decide YOU personally needed to take action?
Connor’s Heroes’ Lisa:
My son, Connor, was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 22-months old. My daughter, Emily, was 6 weeks old at the time. Connor endured 2-1/2 years of treatment for his leukemia, with lots of complications and setbacks. During that time, our family had tremendous support from the community – friends, neighbors, co-workers, our church – and it was still a hard journey. We realized that there were many families who didn’t have a strong support system. We couldn’t even imagine how they were coping. So, we started learning where there were gaps in the services that were being offered to families battling childhood cancer, and my husband and I decided that we wanted to try and fill those gaps. We spent the last year of Connor’s treatment researching, brainstorming, and asking questions. We pulled in every resource we knew and asked for help. Once Connor ended his treatment in March 2006, we were just about ready to launch. Connor’s Heroes was officially launched in May 2006.
Please tell us what you do with Connor’s Heroes.
As Managing Director, I oversee all aspects of the organization. I have helped to design all of our programs and I also manage our fundraising and administrative tasks. While my passion is, and has always been, directly working with our childhood cancer families, I often find myself handling more of the operational aspects of running a nonprofit. Thankfully, I have been able to surround myself with talented and passionate volunteers and staff. I recently hired our first part-time development director and she is fantastic! I’m excited because I think she will allow me to spend a bit more time with our families, which I have been truly missing.
What is the goal of the organization?
Our mission is to build a community of heroes who provide hope, guidance, and support to children with cancer and their families. Our vision is to make fighting childhood cancer a journey a family never faces alone. What makes Connor’s Heroes unique is that we try to get to know our families whom we support personally and then provide individualized support designed to help them with their specific needs.
What has been accomplished so far?
Currently, Connor’s Heroes provides assistance to children and their families who are being treated for cancer here in at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU and the VCU Massey Cancer Center Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. On average, 100 families receive services through Connor’s Heroes each year.
By building relationships of trust with patients and their families, we try to help each family identify needs and then respond quickly and appropriately by engaging community volunteers in personal support services. We have developed six programs in the last eight years to remove stressors and support patients and families. These programs are:
- Heroes Bags & Backpacks provides age-appropriate, practical and comforting supplies and resources to patients and families at the time of diagnosis.
- Superheroes and Sidekicks eases the isolation and burden of cancer by matching children (either patients or siblings of patients) with trained mentor buddies.
- Bone Marrow Transplant Unit Support includes patient room decorating, the Room of Possibilities where families can enjoy time together, patient gifts, and friendly visits.
- Helping Heroes Program provides volunteers to help with individual family needs such as coordination of meal delivery, grocery shopping, housework, and child care.
- Bereavement Support provides continuing support to families during their grief journey, including financial assistance through the Heroes Angel Fund to help parents properly say goodbye to their child.
- Connor’s Heroes Pediatric Cancer Research Fund will support the first pediatric cancer researcher hired by the VCU Massey Cancer Center as a result of our advocacy and fundraising efforts.
What makes you proudest personally about your affiliation with the group?
I know that we are truly making a difference in the lives of families who are battling childhood cancer. I am proud that we have been able to build an organization that is able to connect with families in such a personal way. I also love that we provide opportunities for our “community of heroes” to volunteer and lend their support in all kinds of ways.
Probably my proudest moment was when we established the Connor’s Heroes Pediatric Cancer Research Fund (started in 2007 and named in 2013). [My husband] Steve and I were shocked when we learned that childhood cancer is the #1 disease killer of children, but funding for research is minimal compared to other cancer types. We were also surprised that no one in Richmond was conducting pediatric-centered research. After many years of meetings, raising money, and working with the VCU Department of Pediatrics and VCU Massey Cancer Center, we’re thrilled that our goal of bringing a nationally recognized pediatric cancer researcher to Richmond is just around the corner. Interviews are already in progress! Our initial endowment fund became fully funded last year and the Connor’s Heroes Pediatric Cancer Research Fund will be used to provide direct funding for the research that will be conducted. We couldn’t be more excited or more proud to be a part of this!!
What’s next on-deck?
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, so we have many great awareness activities planned. One of our largest fundraising events that will definitely appeal to your readers is diggityFEST, Richmond’s “Favorite Family Festival” according to Style Magazine. With all vendors and attractions geared towards children, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to be a part of the fun on Sunday, September 21, at Westchester Commons. In addition, there is:
- September 6: Race for the Gold 5K and Fun Run in Bowling Green
- September 16: Amazing Raise 5K at the Boulders (join Team Connor’s Heroes)
- September 20: Heroes Run and Rally at Capital Ale House
- September 21: DiggityFEST at Westchester Commons
For more information on all of our events, or to donate or register to volunteer, please visit www.connorsheroes.org.
How can others get involved?
We are always looking for dedicated volunteers to help us with our mission! Interested volunteers can register at www.connorsheroes.org.
How do your kids and husband feel about what you are doing?
Steve: “Connor’s Heroes has been a part of our family’s lives for almost as long as my kids can remember. It truly has been an opportunity for them to share their giving spirits with others and to learn how important a community of heroes can be for everyone.”
Connor: “My mom spends a crazy amount of time dedicated to volunteering and helping others. She works harder than anyone I know! She is a role model and inspiration for me and I hope that I can be willing to give back as much as she does as I get older.”
Emily: “I’m really proud of my mom for all the hard work she puts into Connor’s Heroes every day. She helps other kids feel special while they are battling their cancer and she makes us at home feel just as good.”
Lisa, we thank you so much for your commitment to this important cause…and for being a RichmondMom with a mission!
Read about our past moms here:
]]>Each month, we will be introducing you to a new maternal mover and shaker—an inspiring, make-a-difference mom right here in our own community.
Brendon Mackey. Sandy Hook. #NotOneMore. And just today, Troutdale, Oregon.
With horrifying frequency, names, locations and urgent calls to action are searing themselves into our common vernacular.
Meet this month’s RichmondMom with a Mission: Gena Reeder, Virginia State Chapter Leader of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.
RichmondMom Cheryl:
Gena, what was the catalyst that made you decide YOU personally needed to take action?
Moms Demand Action Gena:
I’m a stay at home mom of two amazing kids, Luke & Jamie. On December 14, 2012, I dropped the kids off at school and decided to treat myself to a manicure. The television was on at the salon, and suddenly CNN was breaking news about a shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut. Then came the horrific announcement that among those dead were 20 children. I was so overwrought with grief, hopelessness and panic that I began to cry and I didn’t stop crying for days. I realized I had experienced this same level of trauma before, when the Twin Towers fell to the ground. In fact, our Moms Demand members often say that Sandy Hook was “their personal 9/11.” My eyes were opened to the grim reality of gun violence in our country. From that moment on, there was no turning back. Shannon Watts, our founder, was a stay at home mom of five in Indiana. In her own despair, she started a Facebook page and invited 20 friends to join. Word spread like wildfire through social media about a Mom-centered grassroots group starting, modeling themselves after MADD. I clicked “Like” and my life changed. That Facebook page, in 18 months, has grown into the largest grassroots gun violence prevention organization in the country with chapters in every state and 1.5 million supporters nationwide.
What is it that you do for Moms Demand Action?
As chapter leader, I have the privilege of managing a team of the most compassionate, brilliant, sassy, joyful and politically savvy women you will ever meet. We are “accidental activists” from a variety of professional backgrounds and political persuasions, but we are 100% united in our goal to course-correct this country on guns—elevating this issue above partisan politics. We lobby lawmakers on Capitol Hill and the General Assembly. We further our network through community relations and public speaking. We give media interviews to represent the 90% of Virginians who agree with gun reform. And more importantly, we give a voice to volunteers and victims’ families who have been unheard.
What is Moms Demand Action’s ultimate goal?
Eighty-six Americans die every day America due to gun violence. As citizens, we can support the Second Amendment and simultaneously do so much more to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people. By advocating common-sense policies we can effectively address our country’s dangerous culture of gun violence and make our communities safer.
We have 4 main objectives:
1) Close the deadly loopholes in our background check system that allow minors and dangerous people like felons, the mentally ill and domestic abusers easy access to guns
2) Promote gun safety so that America’s children will no longer be exposed to unacceptable levels of risk
3) Support reasonable limits on where, when and how loaded guns are carried and used in public
4) Create enforceable laws that address gun trafficking and fraudulent purchasing to keep illegal guns off our streets
What has been accomplished so far?
Our corporate responsibility campaigns have been hugely successful. When the open-carry movement began brazenly demonstrating their Second Amendment rights at Starbucks and most recently, Chipotle and Jack in the Box, we encouraged these companies to take action. As a result of our petition and social media campaigns, they changed their policies. When we discovered Facebook and Instagram were becoming marketplaces for illegal gun sales, we launched a video modeled after their 10th anniversary montage, with the same music bed, featuring screenshots from all the illegal gun postings we found. They listened! Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook and Instagram’s CEO Kevin Systrom put new measures in place to monitor and ban these users. On the legislative side, we are mobilizing and helping to pass good laws on the state level, as well as stopping bad ones from getting through.
Our energy and successes caught the attention of former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, co-founder of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, and 2 months ago we announced our merger with his group. The new umbrella organization, Everytown for Gun Safety, is becoming the counterweight to the NRA. It’s very exciting to be on the ground level of this historic time. With the recent mass shooting in Santa Barbara, we were reminded once again that instances of gun violence will keep happening…it’s alarming to consistently be wondering which town will be next in the headlines.
With that in mind, what are you all doing right now?
We’ve said early on that if this Congress won’t change laws to keep our children safe then we will make one that will. Our chance to do that is in the mid-term elections. We have launched the Gun Sense Voter campaign. Our goal is to collect 1 million Gun Sense Voter Cards from people who are willing to pull the lever for the candidate that is pro-public safety and kick the ones to the curb that continue to kowtow to the gun lobby instead of protecting our kids. Look for that “A+” rating the NRA gives politicians. If they earned that A, that means they actively suppress common sense policies like background checks. It means they will not vote in favor of a surgeon general who believes that 33,000 gun deaths per year indicate a public health concern. It may even mean that they believe arming teachers is the best way to keep our schools safe. You can go online and fill out your card too. www.gunsensevoter.org
What makes you proudest personally about your affiliation with the group?
In Virginia, the passing of Brendon’s Law was a significant moment. When Brendon Mackey was killed by celebratory gunfire last 4th of July, we learned that the current laws in place were woefully inadequate. Now, the penalties for reckless handling of a firearm are tougher and more appropriate to the crime. It’s been a difficult road for the Mackeys –constant media exposure and the grueling process of lobbying, in the midst of grief – but at least now we have created a legacy for Brendon so that his name is part of Virginia history forever and will protect others. The outpouring of people—from all political persuasions—who called and emailed their delegates and Senators urging them to pass this bill was amazing.
On a personal level, I just finished an interview with a political scientist from Duke University who is writing a book on the role of women in the politics of gun reform. It’s being noted that women, and this new surge of maternal empowerment, seems to be driving this movement forward. She asked me, ‘How have you changed since you began working with Moms Demand Action?’ I actually became teary. I have discovered my own voice and tapped into a personal power I did not know I had. I was hoping to change the world, changing ME, was the nicest surprise I could have had.
How do you navigate the demands of your Moms Demand role with the day-to-day demands of being a mom?
I could not possibly do this job without the support of my family. As moms, we have impressive multi-tasking skills, and those come into play in this role because you are constantly juggling the needs of your family with the demands of work. They have had to share mommy with a whole new world of people and their acceptance, grace and patience is humbling. My husband, Michael, who often has to shoulder a bit more so I can be free, has been my rock.
How do you all feel about what your mom is doing?
Luke (age 11): “I feel better knowing that one day her work will change America for the better.”
Jamie (age 9): “It’s just plain awesome! One day, children will be safe!”
Michael (Gena’s husband): “I’m proud of how hard Gena works for a cause that is so dear to her heart, while at the same time so controversial in this country. Not everyone she meets is supportive of what she’s doing, so it can be quite challenging. To see her take on the tireless role of Virginia chapter leader and inspire others to work for what they believe in is really special and is setting an amazing example to our children.”
So Gena, how can like-minded Richmond moms get involved?
Go to http://www.momsdemandaction.org/join-us/ .
You will be routed to your state chapter so you be part of our campaigns nationally, and in-the-know on our local events, too.
You can find our VA Chapter on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/#!/MomsDemandActionVA.
Follow us on Twitter @MomsDemand.
We have volunteer opportunities for everyone with every skill set and every time constraint. You can roll up your sleeves and work an event, or you can stay home, tweet or email your legislators using the fast tools on our website. It’s all very much appreciated and valuable to the cause! We would also love to come speak at your next function or you can host a house party with a few friends and instead of selling jewelry, share our message of advocacy!
You can contact me directly at Virginia@momsdemandaction.org.
Thank you so much for your commitment to this important cause, Gena…and for being a RichmondMom with a mission!
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