June 9, 2008
Never Late to Celebrate Mothers
Posted by fabiolasandoval under Arts & Science, Events, Personal Stories | Tags: Children, Events, Mother's Day, motherhood, Promotoras |Leave a Comment
Last month, Esperanza staff embarked in a mother’s day mini-fundraiser and community-building event Color Your Love for your Mother at the Mercado La Paloma. It was fairly simple to connect the event to our vision and reality. A great majority of Esperanza staff are Promotoras from the community who themselves are mothers, and many members of the community are also mothers of young children actively engaged in schools, park committees, and tenant leadership councils to improve the conditions of their lives and that of their children.
Sharing a few quotes from within on caretaking:
“It is ridiculously expensive to be born into this world, obscenely pricey to exit the world, and becoming more and more difficult to have children in this society.”
“For four years I stayed home to raise my son, I enjoyed many moments and also realize the sacrifices that that entailed” would I do it again, yes, but never underestimating the “costs”
Upside down? Many of us think so. To be born, to live, to raise another life and exit the world have rising “monetary” price tags and opportunity costs.
In process to not get overwhelemed by the grim reality, one commitment that is not new is the creation of intergenerational programs and spaces for meetings, work spaces, fundraisers and community- building events. Redefining costs in upside down world – we certainly won’t make the price of living, dying and having children any cheaper, but will collaborate to stay abreast, celebrate our small steps and have fun while doing it. That’s why even in our fancy dinners, you’ll always see kids.
We also had these signs up during the event to explain the political connection our work has to Mother’s Day. The signs read:
When you value and support mothers, you create rich communities!The Figueroa Corridor is a rich community because of the families that have build lives here. Support the families of our community by fighting displacement.We Love Our Mothers!We Love the Figueroa Corridor!
and
Esperanza Community Housing Corporation consists largely of mothers and serves largely mothers. Esperanza supports women’s — and mothers’ — empowerment. Esperanza’s Promotoras work with the community to promote maternal and child health and our Education and Arts programs reach out to the children of our community. Esperanza values the work of the mothers of our community and understands that every mother is a working mother.
Esperanza Community Housing's Weblog
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