Category: Blog

Categories
Activism Art Birth Blog Caregiving Education Events Featured Featured Artists gender health Living Board Announcements Media Mother Studies motherhood Social Justice Sociology st petersburg The Factory, St Pete

Community Foundation Tampa Bay Awards Grant to MoM

We are thrilled to share HUGE NEWS: Community Foundation Tampa Bay awards the Museum of Motherhood a 25k grant to continue work in the area of Health, Wellness and Education.

We are incredibly humbled and grateful for this recognition. Our team has been relentless in our volunteerism and hard work facilitating free and open spaces for individuals and families from all walks of life, including those at risk and in-need as well as people seeking connection to resources and inspiration.

This grant will help us move forward and keep the lights on at MoM.

We have so many people to thank including our grant writer Samantha Church (SDC Strategies) whose time with us is made possible through a grant with Hypatia Collaborative. Team-wise we owe gratitude to our fierce fundraiser Mary Havlock and our committed Board of Directors as well as our Health, Wellness and Education team championed by Sierra Clark (Community Empowerment Facilitator) and associates Amanda Bartles (Lactation Loop), Courtney West (3 Gems Doula Services), Sara Hunter (Birth Photographer), Jill M. Wood (Penn State), as well as our We Build Tampa Bay partnerships for special events. Please watch our Team page as we welcome new members for workshops including Unlimited Pediatrics, Embracing Joy Perinatal Wellness, The Natal Network, and Keesha Brundridge; This is Me – Whole Girl Summer Camp, to name a few. Press Release to come. (Special thanks to Jesse English for beautiful music during our Board Building Event!, Mother Kombucha for beverages and 15th St Farm for cake!))

Logo of the Community Foundation Tampa Bay featuring a colorful rainbow design with the text 'Community Foundation Tampa Bay' underneath.

Scenes From Our Board Building Event and Barbara Birthday Party

Board Building Party at MoM
Graphic featuring the Health, Wellness & Education Committee of the Museum of Motherhood, with a pink heart and butterfly design, promoting empowerment for mothers and others to access community tools.
Health Wellness and Education at the Museum of Motherhood

We Are Pleased To Announce New Programming at MoM

Health, Wellness and Education Committee
Health, Wellness, Education Committee MoM 2025

The Fourth Trimester: with Rachael Somerman, Founder of Unlimited Pediatric and a Child Development Therapist. This Monthly Group is for pregnant people and those post-natal moms looking for support during this time of vulnerability, recovery and rapid growth. Rachael will be onsite at MoM to answer your questions and to support your physical and emotional journey. Bring you bellies! Bring your babies! Adoptive moms welcome too! We will make sure you have a safe and inclusive space to share your questions, concerns, milestones and emotional & developmental needs. Free with a suggested donation of annual MoM Membership in the Mothers Club $30.

Thursday 6/26 & 7/24 10-11:30 AM. SIGN UP HERE or CALL 877-711-MOMS (6667)

Embracing Joy – Perinatal Wellness and Maternal Mental Health with Shamella (Mel) Joy. Mel is a licensed therapist and certified perinatal mental health specialist. Her personal and professional experiences have shown her there is a dire need for humans to come together and relearn what it means when we say “it takes a village” to bear and raise a child. Mel wants to be a part of your support system to ensure confidence in yourself, remove the guilt and actually enjoy the experience of parenting. She is excited to embark on this journey with you, and hopes the connections we forge will be helpful as they are informative, empowering, and a catalyst for positive change. Mel will meet bi-weekly alternating a week at MoM followed by a virtual meet up. Dates TBA. Free with a suggested donation of annual MoM Membership in the Mothers Club $30. SIGN UP HERE or CALL 877-711-MOMS (6667)

The Natal Network – Loss, Grief and Resiliency – Knowledge is Power: The Natal Network launched in 2024 by Tracie Williams who is a Licensed Practical Nurse as well as certified doula with sixteen years of healthcare experience. Tracie has rendered care to different age groups from birth to geriatrics. With a strong background in direct care and management she decided to navigate her critical thinking skills towards helping others have healthier outcomes with growing their families.

Outside of professional passions she has had her own journey with motherhood which has anchored her in compassion for families. Her first pregnancy resulted in preterm delivery at 19 weeks. Williams’ gave birth to a daughter she would never have the oppourtunity to raise. Babies are not viable outside of the womb until around 24 weeks. Thankfully motherhood became sweeter and she was able to have her rainbow baby in 2012 along with another addition in 2023. Tracie will be creating content for MoM through our social media connections that aim to elucidate the joys and pain of m/otherhood, backed by science and herstory. In-person and virtual groups begin taking place monthly in June. ree with a suggested donation of annual MoM Membership in the Mothers Club $30. SIGN UP HERE or CALL 877-711-MOMS (6667)

This is Me – Whole Girl Summer Camp; A Body Education Program for Learning, Growing, and Thriving From the Inside Out.

This camp balances empowerment with body-knowledge, appealing to 12–16-year-old girls by emphasizing confidence, familiarity, and control over their own health.Each day has a theme, a mix of interactive activities, reflection, and safe space discussions. It blends science, self-awareness, and practical tools with creative, age-appropriate learning. Limited to 12 per session. Led by Keesha Brundridge – Science Teacher middle school & the MoM Team. Sessions are:

July 14-18th -1 week 12-2:30

August 4-8th -1 week 12-2:30

$125 for the week

SIGN UP HERE or CALL 877-711-MOMS (6667)

Become a Mentor at MoM
Mentorships at MoM

SUMMER CAMP FOR GIRLS

Whole Girl Summer Camp at the Museum of Motherhood

Categories
Activism Art Birth Blog Education Events Feminism Fundraiser home Living Board Announcements Mother Studies motherhood st petersburg The Factory, St Pete

Board Building at MoM as we Party with a Purpose and Celebrate our Team

WHAT? Maybe you haven’t heard of the Museum of Motherhood (yet).

HECK YEAH! Maybe you are curious about what a Museum of Motherhood is all about? What! A women’s museum, right here in Tampa Bay!

IMPRESSIVE: With a team of over 20 volunteers, a kick-butt team of fundraisers, grant writers, and board members – MoM is ready to GROW again.

JOIN US: How better to celebrate than to honor our incredible team: It’s Barbara’s birthday. Barbara Lynch #AmbassadorBarb is our Executive Board Secretary. She is a dynamo and we wanna acknowledge her in all her glorious ambition for MoM’s growth here locally. Oh, and PS – It’s Mary Havlock’s birthday too – so it’s gonna be a special, amazing opportunity to get to know us better.

WHEN: Tuesday, June 3rd 6-7:30PM at the Museum with light fare and sparkling kombucha by Mother Kombucha. RSVP directly to Founding Director Joy’s cell phone: 207-504-3001.

Barbara Lynch Birthday Bash

MoM Is Board Building

Dear Board Candidate & Future MoM Collaborator, 

We are thrilled that you are considering a volunteer leadership role with the Museum of Motherhood (MoM)! We are Florida’s first and only women’s museum. Inside this packet you will find out about our history and mission, the precedence for this project, and our current strategic priorities. 

Please take time to explore our website (mommuseum.org) for additional details about our current events and programming. If you feel inspired by our mission and would like to get more involved, the next step for board membership is an interview with a current board member. Please reach out to info@mommuseum.org to request an interview, and one of our team members will connect you directly with a board member to conduct the initial interview. 

If you would like to meet our team to get to know us better, we warmly invite you to join us on Tuesday, June 3rd, from 6:30-8:30pm at MoM for a “meet the board” private event. This event will celebrate our current board, and specifically honor our Board Secretary, Barbara Lynch. Barb’s birthday falls on June 3rd, and she has graciously dedicated her party to supporting the growth of our board. 

On behalf of the entire team, we thank you for your time and consideration! Volunteer leadership has brought MoM into its most dynamic and successful year to-date. We are eager to continue with this momentum and achieve our vision for uplifting m/others with an international destination museum. 

Welcome New Team Member: Health, Wellness and Education Committee

Tracie Williams is the proprietor of The Natal Network and the founder of Jehovah Rapha- Jireh Transformation Health Inc. Both organizations are dedicated to advancing women’s health and wellness. The Natal Network, a Tampa Bay-based doula service, was established to enhance maternal-fetal outcomes. Additionally, the company has implemented a men’s mental health initiative, supported by a partnership with Supportive Therapy Empowering People (STEP). Williams’s passion for healthcare stems from her personal experiences with birth and loss. These experiences have instilled in her a sense of relatability and compassion for the birthing community. Williams has been a licensed practical nurse for the past 15 years. Her diverse experience, including hospital settings, skilled nursing facilities, maternal-fetal medicine, and family clinics, has equipped her with the knowledge and skills to make a meaningful impact.

Summer Camp for Girls

Coming to MoM this summer: This is Me – Whole Girl Summer Camp. The camp is designed to facilitate embodiment empowerment with information and education targeting body knowledge and awareness, periods, safe sex education, consent and procreative knowledge. For ages 12–16-year-old girls to increase confidence, knowledge, and control over their own health.

Camp Dates are July 28-Aug 1 and August 4-8th. Five day camp, 2.5 hours a day – Kids are welcome to hang out longer in the afternoon. 12-2:20PM Monday-Friday. Camp is FREE (with requested donation of $125)– Limit 12 girls per session.

Registration Opens June 1st. Use our SIGN UP FORM TO SUBMIT and WE’LL GET BACK TO YOU ASAP.

A Year’s Worth of Programming – Click the Banner to See Our Offerings

A Year of Programming at MoM

MoM has spelled out an entire year of exhibits, programming, workshops and Health, Wellness and Education events. Click the pic above to peek at all the glorious plans that are in the works with MoM!

TONIGHT AT MoM

Sister Nayyirah Tivica Muhammad

MAY 27 6-7:30PM International Day of Families, Hosted by Sierra Clark.

Highlighting the importance of family and dynamics of support systems with Sister Nayyirah Tivica Muhammad. Sister Muhammad is a visionary leader and the founder of Repair of The Black Family . As a dynamic keynote speaker, international three-time bestselling author, spiritual advisor, and master retreat leader, she inspires and motivates those she serves to achieve total transformation through her purpose-driven life. Sister Nayyirah specializes in helping individuals release generational trauma patterns through her keen intuition and unique approach to healing. Her work focuses on guiding women to heal intentionally. Her mission is to help restore the customs and beliefs of the Black family while working towards a universal government where peace prevails regardless of class, creed, or color. (FREE) Register by calling and leaving a message: 877-711-6667

Categories
Activism Birth Blog Education Events Featured Featured Artists International Mother Studies motherhood Opportunities The Factory, St Pete

May is Mothers Month! This Weekend, 2025: ILLUMINATE!

ILLUMINATE! Art, Movement, and Motherhood
Bold explorations of performance, dialogue, and disruption throughout May 2025.

Mother’s Day is so much more than sentimental greeting cards.
It’s about shedding light on the most vital, undervalued, and complex work we do as humans: creating, sustaining, and transforming life.

This week, we confront that truth through art, performance, and unfiltered conversation.

Featuring Julienne Doko
International dancer and choreographer Julienne Doko presents a visceral performance and artist talk exploring the lived, embodied experience of motherhood across cultures in her work titled W.O.M.B. – Worth of My Body.

Thursday, May 8th 6:30-8PM an intimate artist talk with Julienne Doko hosted by Odeta Xheka (OXH Gallery) and Camille Adrienne (Gallery Noir). OXH Gallery, 1624 E 7th Ave Tampa, FL 33605 

Saturday, May 10th (2nd Saturday Art Walk) 6-9PM – LIVE PERFORMANCE 7PM at the Museum of Motherhood. Julienne Doko performs W.O.M.B – Worth of My Body. Gallery Row Building #7 door B Parking across street or behind building:, 2606 Fairfield Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712

A dance performance that explores – and celebrates – motherhood in all its contradictory beauty.

Becoming a mother brings many changes: the relationship to your body, to time and material things, to the sense of identity and heritage. Dancer, choreographer and artist Julienne Doko invites us to reflect on the body’s ability to change through the different cultural perceptions of motherhood in a performative work that celebrates the body that bears signs of having created life. In English, the term ‘stretch mark’ shows a negative assessment of body changes. In Doko’s native language, Gbaya from the Central African Republic, the marks are called ‘ancestral tattoo’, a word charged with pride in the continuation and transmission of life.

WORKSHOPS AT MoM

Sister Nayyirah Tivica Muhammad

THIS EVENT IS POSTPONED DUE TO A CONFLICT – NEW DATE COMING ASAP!

Highlighting the importance of family and dynamics of support systems with Sister Nayyirah Tivica Muhammad. Sister Muhammad is a visionary leader and the founder of Repair of The Black Family . As a dynamic keynote speaker, international three-time bestselling author, spiritual advisor, and master retreat leader, she inspires and motivates those she serves to achieve total transformation through her purpose-driven life. Sister Nayyirah specializes in helping individuals release generational trauma patterns through her keen intuition and unique approach to healing. Her work focuses on guiding women to heal intentionally. Her mission is to help restore the customs and beliefs of the Black family while working towards a universal government where peace prevails regardless of class, creed, or color. (FREE) Register by calling and leaving a message: 877-711-6667

MoM AT THE DALI

Surreal Night at the Dali with the Museum of Motherhood
Curated installations, community dialogue, and art that provokes and challenges. Co-hosted with the Museum of Motherhood. Join us for Surreal Nights at The Dalí! Dance to a live DJ, sip specialty cocktails from Café Gala and explore interactive installations, original artworks, hands-on activities and more from the Museum of Motherhood in celebration of Mother’s Day.

Activities Include:
– Play with clay: Embodiment! Make a body part. Take it with you, or leave it for a future exhibit.
– Pregnancy vest: Interactive experience. Experience the stress that pregnancy puts on a human body! T
– Original artworks: Four pieces from the Museum’s collection highlighting surrealism from mother artists. A mini taste of the artwork we feature and uplift!

MoM Original Artwork on Display:
“Illusions & Portals” Cayla Skillin-Brauchle
“Untitled (Image Transfer #21)” Robin Assner-Alvey
“Poetics of the Body” Odeta Xheka
“A Women (fabric of life)” Sierra Clark

Enjoy extended hours, entertainment and activities for free on the ground floor. Admission to the permanent collection is available at reduced admission, half-off after 5pm.

To reserve tickets, click the ticket link and select your Thursday Night After 5pm ticket for May 15th.

Access to the Dali lower level is open and free including the Café, Store and Avant-garden is free and open to the public. Gallery for admission is required to access the exhibits.  WEBSITE PRESS DETAILS. Hurry Up – What are you waiting for!! Sign up now!!!

WOMAN IN THE LIGHT

Visit the Woman In the Light – A custom mural painted on the exterior wall of the Museum of Motherhood by Raisa Nosova. Raisa Paints the Town.

ILLUMINATE invites you to see motherhood not as sentiment, but as power—raw, real, and radically creative. #Where motherhood meets movement, art, and truth. #Not your Hallmark Mother’s Day. #Shining a light on motherhood—raw, real, and radically creative.

This Mother’s Day week, we’re not playing it safe.
Join us for ILLUMINATE—a bold mix of dance, art, and conversation featuring Julienne Doko and the Museum of Motherhood.
🔥 Performance. 💬 Artist Talk. 🎨 Art Night.
Let’s light up what mothering really looks like.

#IlluminateMothersDay #ArtAndMotherhood #JulienneDoko #MuseumOfMotherhood #SalvadorDali

SECOND SATURDAY ART WALK MAP & BROCHURE

Full Promo Booklet for Art Walk –Downloadable PDF

Art Walk with the Museum of Motherhood featuring Julienne Doko

Submit to the Journal of Mother Studies

The submission portal for the Journal of Mother Studies 2025 is open April 1-May 31, 2025. 10th Anniversary Edition.

– SUBMIT TO JOURMS -2025

The submission portal for the Journal of Mother Studies 2025 is open April 1-May 31, 2025. 10th Anniversary Edition.

Guidelines are here.

Submit here.

The title of this year’s journal is ‘FUN, SEX & CRYING OUT LOUD’. This broad backdrop offers a platform for submissions on a wide variety of topics.

More here.

JOIN US IN JUNE: RSVP NOW

Barbara's Birthday Bash and Board Building Party on June 3rd 2023 at the Museum of Motherhood
Barbara’s Birthday Bash and Board Building

May is for Connection


May 15th is Global Accessibility Day and we thought this would be a great opportunity for you to share it with your network! To help you with this, we created a graphic which is attached to this email and text for you below to post!

Our brand isn’t just about looking good. It’s about doing good.

Today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day and we’re proud to say that we are able to reach more people through a website designed for all abilities. Thanks to Naaman Creative, inclusion is part of our foundation.

Because we have an accessibility tool integrated on every page of our website, it works for everyone – just like it should.
#TheWebIsForEveryone #WebsiteAccessibility #GAAD2025 #AccessibilityMatters #NaamanCreative

Categories
Blog Caregiving Conferences Education Events Featured Fundraiser Internships MOM Art Annex MOM Conference motherhood Opportunities st petersburg The Factory, St Pete

MaMaPaLooZa Rocks St Petersburg

If you’ve been following MoM’s growth in St. Pete then you can celebrate along with us! So much to be proud of. The MoM Conference 2025, The MoM Art Auction, The We Build Tampa Bay initiative, Raisa Nosova’s beautiful gift of a custom mural onsite at The Factory, Health, Wellness and Education workshops, Black Maternal Health week exhibit and new friends, opportunities and recognition. We are grateful, indeed! Thanks Nanette Wiser for the great story this week in TBN. Wanna read more? Story’s here!

Now, get ready to ROCK with the 2nd annual local MaMaPaLooZa May 4th in partnership with FloridaRAMA at The Factory. This FREE Family festival features a music stage, discounted tickets to FloridaRAMA and MoM’s Escape Womb Experience, raffles, giveaways, sampling, health resources and kids activities that celebrate m/others and the people who love them. See you from 11AM – 4PM for a very cool one-of-a-kind day. FYI, MaMaPaLooZa began in NYC in 2003 and went on to pop up in 25 cities and 4 countries over the course of the next ten years. In 2011, attention turned to the Museum of Motherhood and its activities, though MaMaPaLooZa continued to thrive in a variety of locations. More about MaMaPaLooZa.

  • Mahray
  • The Tall Order
  • Girls Rock St Pete
  • Hex Appeal
  • AnaKitty
  • Delaran
  • The Rum Syndicate
  • Fine Line
  • BayFirst Financial
  • Pinellas Community Foundation
  • Rays/Rowdies
  • SDC Strategies

UP NEXT, MAY 8th (Artist Talk) & 10th (Second Saturday at MoM)

WHEN: May 8th and 10th, 2025

WHERE: May 8th 6:30-8PM OXH & Gallery Noir in the Kress Building 1624 E 7th Ave. Ybor City

May 10th 7PM MoM 2606 Fairfield Ave. S St Petersburg, FL Building 7, 2nd Saturday Art Walk

WHO: Julienne Doko is a French dance performer, teacher, and choreographer with roots in the Central African Republic and based in Copenhagen, Denmark. She studied a range of traditional and contemporary dance styles including ballet, jazz, Hip Hop, samba, West African and Afro-Brazilian. Her performance aims to further connect us across oceans, bodies and bridges. Registration opens May 4th for the artist talk and performance. Press Release.

Internships at MoM

Domi Pila – In her own words: I am an English graduate from the University of Cambridge interested in literary and visual storytelling within cultural heritage spaces, and more broadly. As a published poet and illustrator, I am especially fascinated by the difficulties of turning complex experiences into cohesive narratives, and enjoy exploring liminal spaces and characters in my work; I am also often drawn to mythical and religious representations of women, and themes surrounding mental health. Last year, I completed an internship at Ben Uri Gallery and Museum in London, where I developed my interest in the intersections of visual culture, history, place, and identity through supporting exhibitions and projects relating to Jewish, refugee, and immigrant artists in Britain. My personal highlights from this internship include assisting with the launch of a photography exhibition in partnership with the Centre for British Photography, and writing an article comparing the poetry practices of two artists for the museum’s online repository. In addition to this experience within a research unit and curatorial team, my curiosity surrounding the possibilities of interdisciplinary storytelling and research as a way of conveying experiences, histories, and omissions makes me especially excited to work with MoM’s archives. Alongside this internship, I am an English tutor and volunteer, and spend my free time on long nature walks, and drinking large quantities of coffee.

Chelsey - MoM Intern

Chelsey Cabrera – In her own words: I am a sophomore Mechanical Engineering student at USF. I love to paint, crochet, and sew in my free time. I aim to use art, community service, research, and film to capture the current state of Reproductive Justice in the United States.

Chelsey helped with the MoM Conference at USF and is also assisting with some shift work at MoM while completing a special project during her time with us through May.

Have You Submitted To The Journal of Mother Studies (yet)?!

he Journal of Mother Studies (JourMS) is open for submissions through May 31. Submit Now! Mother Studies is a field of interdisciplinary study devoted to the issues, experiences, topics, history, and culture of m/others, mothering, and motherhood. Go to our menu, click the first drop down tab to find the current issue.

The Journal of Mother Studies (JourMS) is open for submissions through May 31. Submit Now! Mother Studies is a field of interdisciplinary study devoted to the issues, experiences, topics, history, and culture of m/others, mothering, and motherhood. Go to our menu, click the first drop down tab to find the current issue.

JourMS accepts submissions for scholarly articles, papers, and projects by academics and students, including fine art presentations and books for review annually. We especially encourage submissions from applicants and presenters at the MoM Academic and Arts Conference–on specific topics through the Museum of Motherhood– but are open to content on a wide variety of topics for the journal. Our annual CFP goes out each October. The conference takes place in March. A schedule can be found under ‘Guidelines‘.

Categories
Activism Birth Blog breastfeeding Caregiving Conferences Dads Education Events Featured health History International JourMS MaMaPaLooZa MOM Conference Mother Studies motherhood

Health, Wellness & Black Maternal Health Week at MoM


We finished an awesome month of Women’s Herstory activities in March, culminating with the 20th Anniversary MoM Conference (supported by USF) and the MoM Art Auction in partnership (with OXH Gallery).

Our impact over the course of five days was 200 + American and international guests that began with a tour with Girls Rock on Thursday, March 13th at MoM and ended with the MoM Art Auction on March 18th in Tampa.

Girls Rock, St Pete!

MoM Art Auction

The Auction remains LIVE through April. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PROMOTE: People can ‘buy now‘ or bid’ as the fundraising continues.

*Thanks to everyone who helped, attended, contributed, and supported. Thanks to our various, hard-working committees. We appreciate our partners and contributing artists especially.

MoM Art Auction in partnership with OXH Gallery

St Pete is continually impressed with our dynamic team. Everywhere I go now, I hear the same thing: “What an amazing team MoM has.” TRUTH!

Congrats are in order for two highly successful networking events organized by Mary Havlock with Hypatia Collective and Working Women Tampa Bay, and attendance at Nerd Nite promoting MoM’s Escape Womb Experience. Meet Mary at monthly play dates. See our Events Page.

Monthly Play dates

Kudos to Sierra for her March Women’s Herstory Events celebrating local she-roes and for bringing CONA(Council of Neighborhood Associations) to the space on March 25th from 6-8PM. Sierra is up to great things in April, kicking off April 8th with an evening of financial awareness for kids and families. Flyer is on the events page and below.

Sierra Clark hosts Health, Wellness and Education workshops at MoM as our Community Empowerment Facilitator

April also brings Black Maternal Health Awareness Week. MoM will host an event organized by USF that involves our Health, Wellness and Education committee members: doula Courtney West as well as award-winning photographer Sara Hunter on exhibit at MoM April 10th 5-8PM with a DJ and refreshments.

Sara Hunter, award-winning photographer on display at MoM

Thanks to Amanda Bartles for her lactation groups on Sundays at noon. We are hoping to replace this activity while Amanda goes on maternity leave. Yay, Amanda!

Barbara Lynch continues to network on our behalf and leveraged another encounter with 16th St Farms for a collaboration while also bringing a book club to MoM.

A University of Tampa Senior, Mary-Margaret Russo has approached us about doing a short documentary on MoM with filming taking place in April. We hope to film all April events culminating with MaMaPaLooZa on Sunday May 4th!

MaMaPaLooZa is Sunday, May 4th in partnership with FloridaRAMA.

We welcome returning sponsor BayFirst Bank.

BayFirst Financial Bank

We still need more volunteers onsite at MoM and we need a bigger board. Cast your nets. We will be focused on a board-building event leveraging the contacts we amassed for the art auction. This will be held in June. Think who you might want to invite or if you wanna join!

A renowned artist from NYC- Raisa Nosova (who contributed to the MoM Art Auction) has asked The Factory owners if she can paint a mural for MoM. The owners said YES – now we are figuring out timing! See her gorgeous design here.

Design by Raisa Nosova

The Journal of Mother Studies (JourMS) is open for submissions through May 31. Submit Now!

JourMS Submissions 2025

Currently we have rent paid through August when our lease is up!! This is a HUGE accomplishment. Thank you to all our contributors!

If we could miraculously raise $15k towards next year’s rent in the next 3 months, we will renew the lease for 2026.

Also, I am so grateful for being presented with the ‘Joy Award’ for 20 years of MoM Conference organizing. Thank you Courtney, Brittany and Meagan! This will be my last time leading the conference planning. 

From left to right: Beth Charles, Brittany DeNucci, Barbara Lynch, Meagan Welch, Martha Joy Rose, Courtney Kessel

I thankfully gave my notice so that a new team can RISE and is empowered for next year’s academic and arts conference. I will stay on as an advisor only. New Team: Brittany DeNucci, Meagan Welch (also serving as editor to JourMS), Jill M. Wood, Beth Charles, Sonia Meerai, & Batya Weinbaum, Courtney Kessel with Michelle Hughes Miller, Aurelie Athan and myself in advisory roles and Hannah Brockbank advising on the Journal of Mother Studies (JourMS).

 

Health Wellness and Education at the Museum of Motherhood
Financial Literacy

April 8 (Tuesday 6-7:30PM

EVENT DETAILS: April observation of financial literacy SHEENA QUALLES Founder/CEO/owner at Kidzonomics LLC “Stacks & Future Facts”.

A budgeting workshop that frames financial literacy as a game plan for future success. Helps young people see money as a tool for building the life they want rather than something just for spending.

Kidzonomics mission- cultivating children, understanding of money management to strengthen their financial wellness as adults for program coordinators. Organized by Sierra Clark, Community Empowerment Coordinator. Questions call: 877-711-MOMS (6667)

Thursday, April 10th, 2025

Raising awareness and advocacy for the improvement of maternal health outcomes for Black women, their infants, and families—not just in Tampa Bay, but throughout Florida. We have a fun and informative week of events planned, starting with our Photography Exhibit and Showcase Kick-off Event at the Museum of Motherhood in St. Petersburg, FL, with USF.

Organized by Courtney West, facilitated by Sierra Clark featuring the award-winning birth photography of Sara Hunter.

#BMHWofTampaBay2025

Skills Drill with the Rainbow Midwife and Escape Womb Visit

April 18 5-7PM Sills and Drills with The Rainbow Midwife. The Skills and Drills for birth workers and the people who love them with a tour of the Escape Womb after.

You Must Pre-Register: Call 877-711-MOMS (6667) and leave a message.

MoM’s Escape Womb Experience Tickets
Mamapalooza 2025

May 4th, 10-4PM at The Factory in St Pete

MAMAPALOOZA St. Petersburg 2025 offers a diverse lineup of activities and entertainment for attendees of all ages. Highlights of the event include:

Interactive art installations celebrating the creativity and resilience of mothers with a marketplace featuring local vendors offering handmade crafts, jewelry, and other unique items. Join us as we come together to celebrate the strength, love, and resilience of mothers everywhere. MAMAPALOOZA is a day to honor the past, embrace the present, and envision a brighter future for all families.

CONFIRMED BANDS WITH GIRLS ROCK, ST PETE: Hex Appeal & Anarkitty along with The Rum Syndicate!

Sign Up To Participate as an Artist, Vendor or Sponsor

Categories
Art Blog Featured Fundraiser International

MoM Art Auction March 18, 2025 online & in person – Original Artworks to ROCK UR WORLD!

Join us if you dare- Artworks to Rock Your World:

OXH Gallery Presents a Celebration of the Arts

MoM Art Auction: Celebrating and Supporting Mother Made Art

THERE IS STILL TIME TO SIGN UP! ONLINE & IN-PERSON: March 18, 2025 6-8PM at The Spiral Staircase in Tampa, Florida 425 N Florida Ave, Tampa FL 33602.

OXH Gallery presents the second annual MoM Art Auction ONLINE and IN-PERSON: pioneering a collaboration in the arts, science and beyond. Odeta Xheka, founder of OXH, the Executive Board of the Museum of Motherhood bring together visionary artists, collectors, and supporters for an evening of Mother-Made Art. The event signals a shift in Tampa Bay’s cultural landscape.

RSVP & REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE

This year’s auction will feature original works by a curated selection of established, mid-career, and emerging artists. Proceeds will support MoM’s mission to collect, preserve, and disseminate art that illuminates the diverse experiences of motherhood. The fundraiser promises to be an evening commitment to grow in connection, brilliance and a shared affection for the most beautiful things life has to offer.

RSVP through our dedicated website accessible through MOMmuseum.org. Items for auction will go on presale during the event. Attire for the evening is relaxed but festive. Catering by Emerald Events & Catering.

A Vision for Art and Motherhood

RSVP & REGISTER

Tampa Bay’s first and only women’s museum – an initiative that highlights m/others and others in the arts, science and herstory. The Museum of Motherhood redefines how we discuss motherhood, viewing it from the perspective of m/others. Through innovative exhibitions and education, MoM examines the ubiquitous nature of reproductive identity, birth, and parenting while exploring the social and psychological factors embedded in these experiences. By amplifying women’s voices and challenging limiting ideologies, MoM fosters a compassionate, inclusive community that uplifts individual stories and celebrates motherhood’s vital role in our cultural narrative. MOMmuseum.org

About OXH Gallery and Odeta Xheka

OXH Gallery carefully curates exhibitions that feature works from both established and emerging artists, showcasing not only a diverse range of styles and mediums but also, most importantly, of viewpoints and intellectual stances.

SPECIAL THANKS TO THESE AMAZING PARTICIPATING ARTISTS:(BOJITT) Bojana Ilic
Alison Curtis
Amuri Morris
Anabella Lenzu
Ariel Basson Freiberg
Beth Ellen Cohen
Breanna Cee Martins
Caroline McAuliffe
Catherine Walker
Cayla Skillin-Brauchle
Courtney Kessel
Danielle C. Wyckoff
Julie Gladstone
Leigh Brooklyn
Michelle Lubin
Odeta Xheka
Patricia Wintermeyer
Rachael Grad
Raisa Nosova
Robin Assner-Alvey
Shweta Bist
Sierra Clark
Twiggy Boyer
Vanessa Marr & Danny Mars

Fun, Sex & Crying Out Loud Museum of Motherhood Conference
Categories
Activism Birth Blog breastfeeding Caregiving Conferences Education Events Featured Featured Artists Feminism Fundraiser gender History International MaMaPaLooZa

March is Women’s Herstory Month with the Annual International MoM Conference at USF & the MoM Art Auction in partnership with OXH Gallery – Join Us!

March is Women’s History Month with the Annual International MoM Conference at USF and the MoM Art Auction in partnership with OXH Gallery in Tampa Bay and Online. Women’s Herstory is every person’s story: We hope you will celebrate, learn, play and activate with us during this extraordinary time starting with starting with 03/04 Tuesday’s FREE Workshop celebrating local she-roes with Sierra Clark onsite 6PM. See our Events Page here. JOIN US! We can’t wait to meet you.

St. Pete Coffee Connections at MoM with Working Women of Tampa Bay hosted by Mary Havlock and Little House Non Profit

When: 05 Mar 2025 9:00 AM, EST
Where: Museum of Motherhood

EVENT DETAILS: Come join us for a morning of meaningful networking with Working Women of Tampa Bay! Meet like-minded professionals at our St. Pete Coffee Connections. This monthly event is your opportunity to connect and grow your business in an intimate and relaxed atmosphere. Guests will receive a complimentary cup of coffee and baked goods. Directions are here. Open to members of Working Women of Tampa Bay: Join Us -More information and online registration: St. Pete Coffee Connections.

The 20th Anniversary International MoM Conference is sponsored by two generous grants from USF taking place at MoM and on campus at USF March 14-16th. Huge gratitude to Michelle Hughes Miller; MoM Academic Board member and Caryn Nesmith, USF for sponsoring the space onsite at the USF St Pete campus! Brittany DeNucci and Meagan Welch have done a fantastic and rock-steady job of communicating with conference presenters and organizing the schedule! Schedule  is HERE. (There will be a family lactation room onsite).

USF Students and Faculty are FREE to attend and the conference is OPEN to the PUBLIC – advance registration only: Registration CLICK HERE in advance please.

The MoM Art Auction takes place on March 18th 6-8PM in partnership with Odeta Xheka and OXH Gallery at the Spiral Staircase. This fundraising event is made possible by a generous underwriting partnership with Odeta Xheka and OXH. (If you have not been to Ybor City to see Odeta’s gallery – run, don’t walk! It’s beautiful!). Register NOW for participation online and in person for this event happening at The Spiral Staircase in Tampa, FL. Also thanks to Courtney Kessel for artist’s submissions and Barbara Lynch for collating exhibits & Mary Havlock for expertise. RSVP & REGISTER FOR THE EVENT HERE.

You Are Invited

MaMaPaLooZa Sign Up is Open for Artists, Sponsors and Activity-Makers

Mamapalooza 2025
Mamapalooza 2025

Hold the date – Sunday May 4th, 2025 for Mamapalooza™ in partnership with FloridaRAMA in Tampa Bay, Florida. Fun, Free Family activities with a music stage, samplings, and activity tables. All those interesting in participating as sponsor-partners or performers please SIGN UP NOW online. We will be in touch about time slots, stage options, discounted tickets to FloridaRAMA and more. We look forward to having an awesome and informative time. Mamapalooza™ Together we focus on Women-Empowered, Mom-Branded, Entertainment, Education, Business & Activism. Mamapalooza is a steady supplier of varied and exciting programs that have led to innovative activities positively impacting families, amplifying the voices of women and revolutionizing the ways in which we understand the nuanced and varied multicultural experience of families- inclusive of all.

Access to Healthcare and Embodiment Education at MoM

The Museum of Motherhood (MoM) approaches reproductive justice by focusing on the intersection of motherhood, reproductive rights, and social justice. It recognizes that reproductive justice extends beyond simply access to healthcare. Instead, it emphasizes a broader framework that includes the right to have children, the right to not have children, and the right to parent in safe and supportive environments. We call this ‘Embodiment Education’ and we do it onsite everyday. MoM fosters dialogue and education about issues like race, class, and gender, which heavily influence reproductive rights and experiences. It also highlights the voices of marginalized groups, advocating for the empowerment of women, particularly women of color, in all aspects of reproductive health, from pregnancy and birthing experiences to parenting.

Through exhibitions, community events, and The Escape Womb with it’s educational programming, the Museum of Motherhood underscores the importance of inclusive, equitable policies and practices that support reproductive health and justice for all individuals and families. See our work in this area through our projects and people at Big Human Family.

Categories
Activism Blog Books Classes Conferences Dads Education Events Featured Feminism Fundraiser health home International Living Board Announcements Media MOM Art Annex MOM Conference Mother Studies motherhood Opportunities Social Justice Sociology Spiritual Motherhood The Factory, St Pete

Ribbon Cutting at MoM – You Are Invited!

See our funding partner’s Year-End newsletter FHSP with a feature on MoM. The museum’s reopening celebration will highlight its newest visitor experience, an escape room adventure aptly named MoM’s Escape Womb. Designed to delight visitors age 18 and above (younger with an accompanying parent or guardian), with clues and puzzles about the secrets of life while visitors explore the nuances of conception, gestation and birth. This 60-75-minute Escape Womb health and wellness journey is educational and fun.  Read our Press Release here.

Ribbon Cutting

Join us tomorrow, Friday January 17th for a Ribbon Cutting with the St Pete Chamber of Commerce at our new space in The Factory at Noon. Peek at the Escape Womb. Play with us. See you soon. Directions are now here online.

Enjoy CAKE and sparkling water. Thanks to Emmanuel and 15th St Farms – another funded partner of Foundation for a Health St Pete.

Playdate for youngins at 10:30 AM and then Ribbon Cutting at Noon. See you soon!

The MoM Team X O X O

What’s Happening at MoM

Sunday: Amanda Bartles of Lactation Loop– Join us to socialize with other moms and families & take advantage of on the spot breastfeeding education and lactation support available to infants and toddlers. January 19th at noon with MoM. We’d love to make this a regular gathering so please do consider bringing conversations and hangouts w/mothers and others a regular part of our offerings. Please register in advance using this link

January 21st 6-7pm in observation of mentoring month. Jim Oliver (The Village Mentor) Co- Author in Repair of The Black Family Anthology. Event Title: “Guiding Hands: Mentorship for Mothers and Families.” Description: Explore how mentorship can empower mothers and families by providing guidance, support, and tools for success. This event highlights the power of shared experiences and community connections to navigate the challenges of parenting. INFO@MOMmuseum.org. RSVP please: INFO@MOMmuseum.org 877-711-6667.

Health, Wellness and Education events are commencing with Sierra Clark, Amanda Bartles and Courtney West empowered by our funding partner Foundation for a Health St. Pete. Events.

Thanks to Josh Naaman and Naaman Creative for helping with web updates!

 Money, money, money – we need it now. We need it bad. We need it to continue paying our rent. If you have access to some, or know someone we are now in emergency mode for the remainder of the year. I know prices are high and people are suffering. All the more reason for just the right match or miracle!

Donate Now

Why MoM Manifesto?

Why MoM? Read My Manifesto Online & More Here: Empowering All Women, Inclusive of All Reproductive Identities.

Thank YOU – See you soon, we hope.

Martha Joy Rose and MoM Team

xoxox <3

Categories
Activism AEHK Art Birth Blog Classes Conferences Digital Media Internships Education Events Featured Featured Artists Fundraiser International Internships JourMS Living Board Announcements Media MOM Conference Mother Studies motherhood Sociology st petersburg The Factory, St Pete USF

Support MoM Now: First, Local, Herstoric #GivingTuesday

Dear Friend, Ally, Neighbor and Associate –

This year, even in the midst of hurricanes and upheavals, MoM greeted 12,000 visitors locally (and internationally) and finalized work on a new exhibition: ‘MoM’s Escape Womb Experience‘ – exploring conception, gestation and birth (at a time when we need this more than ever). 

The Museum of Motherhood is (and has always been) a beacon of love, inspiration, and equity.

The volunteers have all worked hard and achieved some wonderful successes in 2024, with a substantial grant award from Foundation for a Health St Pete and additional grant awards from the St. Pete Arts Alliance and Hypatia Collective. 

2025 promises to be another groundbreaking year with MoM’s Art Auction in collaboration with OXH Gallery of Tampa on March 18th, 2025 as well as the 20th Anniversary MoM Academic and Arts Conference sponsored by USF.

But, MoM needs help! In order to sustain operations, the nonprofit must raise the necessary funds to secure its 2025 budget which will bolster activities, pay operations costs, and help us reach the community that needs us most. Will you donate?

We need to raise a minimum of 30K in order to keep our initiatives going from December – August 2025.

It’s hard to ask – but, no amount is too small. We understand the challenges of today’s economy, the status of worldwide relations, and how great the need is for so many

SUPPORT MOM

We believe that in the face of mounting pressure to constrain women’s voices and bodies, the Museum of Motherhood stands as a testimony to the beauty of creation, the power of human spirit, the love of a shared humanity.

We are working on behalf of you every day to implement collaboration and connection as guiding principles. Together we can change the world!

Please consider a donation to our operational campaign, by check, online, or through membership. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

MoM Loves You and Values Your Participation – Because YOU are wonderfully made!

IN THE NEWS

We were thrilled when Bob Eckstein included a chapter about the Museum of Motherhood in his book ‘Footnotes From The Most Fascinating Museums’. In fact, the book is featured on our large wall mural in the new location in Gallery Row at The Factory. But, imagine our surprise when Bob sent us a copy of this recent Reader’s Digest article that boldly mentioned MoM among other fascinating favorites in the USA. Check it out here. Reader’s Digest article with picture and mention of MoM.

ESCAPE WOMB IS OPEN

Our ticketing site for MoM’s Escape Womb Experience is live. The experience is designed to delight visitors with clues and puzzles about the nuances of conception, gestation and birth in a fun and informative environment. This health, wellness and education adventure is a-first-of-its-kind in the world. Open to people age 18 and above (younger with an accompanying parent or guardian) by advance reservation. Tickets can be through our website for up to six people at a time. Or come alone and we’ll place you with a team: https://escapewomb.resova.us/

DON’T FORGET – SUBMIT TO THE MoM CONFERENCE TODAY

Don’t forget! This year is the 20th Anniversary of the Annual Academic & Arts MoM Conference. This year’s theme titled ‘FUN, SEX and CRYING OUT LOUD’ brings levity and depth to the art, research, and auto-ethnographic works related to m/otherhood inclusive of all reproductive identities. This year’s conference is in partnership with USF. Submissions are due by Dec. 15th please. See the full international call for papers! Join Us.

MEET OUR TEAM

Meet our new volunteer! Valentina Blanco is eager to help with the beautiful projects of this organization as she has advocated for women’s rights since she was just a girl. She loves to educate others through art, connection, and community. She looks forwards to working with MoM & Joy at the new museum location at The Factory in Gallery Row. She also anticipates organizing some graphics and social media projects, assisting with MoM’s Escape Womb and whatever else needs to be done during her time each week. See more about Service Learning, volunteer and internship opportunities here.

A MESSAGE ABOUT THE FOUNDER

Pray & Stay as founder Martha Joy Rose undergoes surgery on December 12th at Tampa General after a challenging year of wellness struggles. Rose has been experiencing the long-term side effects of cytoxan chemotherapy, administered thirty years ago for Lupus. The resulting diagnosis of bladder cancer has consolidated the MoM Team into a skilled group of allies who have been managing the day-to-day administration of museum activities since the summer. Rose anticipates returning to management responsibilities in January, but recovery is bound to be cautious and gradual. Please support us during this difficult time.

EASY DONATION LINKS: PAYPAL OR STRIPE TO SUPPORT MOM

SUPPORT MOM

*Blog header graphics include Barbara Lynch, Sierra Clark, Martha Joy Rose and MaMaPaLooZa

Please see our holiday hours and book your trip accordingly. Our schedule is posted online here and updated regularly! Sending lotsa Holiday Love <3

Categories
Activism Art Birth Blog breastfeeding Caregiving Conferences Education Events Featured Featured Artists Feminism health History International Internships Living Board Announcements MAMA MOM Art Annex MOM Conference Mother Studies motherhood Queering Parenting Social Justice Sociology The Factory, St Pete USF

Submit to Be Part of the 20th Anniversary MoM Conference!

As everyone knows, the city of St. Pete has experienced unprecedented hardship due to back to back storms that ravaged our homes and coastline. No one in Tampa Bay or on our team was unaffected. Each of us here in Pinellas County has friends, family members, businesses and personal property that have endured loss of services and in some cases, are even still without power and are uninhabitable.

Between our move in The Factory to a new location in Gallery Row and the other afore-mentioned challenges, our Escape Womb Experience has been delayed. Originally slated for October, the Escape Womb is now opening Sunday, Dec. 1st. .This is a ticketed tour with advance reservations required. Discover the secrets of life as you journey through our Escape Womb from conception to birth! Ticket sales open on November 21st. We hope you’ll go online and pre-book your ticket!

Our main space in Gallery Row at The Factory is open to the public Thursday – Saturday 12-6PM. Sunday is 12-3PM. Free, open, child-friendly play space,

The Museum of Motherhood is calling all scholars, artists, and community members for presentations and papers on the subject of ‘Fun, Sex, & Crying Out Loud’ 14-16, 2025 on campus at USF and onsite at MoM as well as online. The weekend conference will be followed by the MoM Art Auction on March 18, 2025. CFP is LIVE!

This year’s 20th Anniversary theme invites articles and art that support both the interrogation and levity necessary to navigate turbulent times. As well, it supports the subject matter elucidated in the Museum’s 2024-25 new ‘Escape Womb Experience’ and the theme of conception, gestation, and birth. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to experience this one-of-a-kind exhibit.

This international call for papers and projects invites artists, scholars, poets, sociologists, maternal psychologists, philosophers, anthropologists, women’s, sexuality, and gender studies professors, masculinity studies experts, birth-workers, doctors, researchers, students, and lay-people to share their work and tie it to this year’s theme. Works that are inclusive of all identities of birthing folx are encouraged. Deadline for submissions: Dec 15, 2024. [SUBMIT]

HEALTH WELLNESS AND EDUCATION AT MOM

The Health, Wellness and Education Committee at the Museum of Motherhood (MoM) is a dedicated team committed to enhancing the museum’s mission of exploring and celebrating the diverse experiences of being human.

Support Services:  Offering assistance & education to those navigating the challenges of motherhood, fatherhood, and family

Program Development: Programs aim to provide enriching and informative experiences that highlight the multifaceted nature of m/otherhood including the Escape Womb Experience.

Community Outreach: The committee actively engage with the local community, schools, and organizations to promote the museum’s resources and offerings.

DO YOU HAVE AN EVENT YOU’D LIKE TO CREATE WITH THIS COMMITTEE? Contact us here!

MoM ART AUCTION

The MoM Executive Board is pleased to present the 2nd MoM Art Auction, taking place (now rescheduled, as part of our Annual MoM Conference) March 18, 2025 from 6-8pm at The Spiral Staircase in Tampa, Florida in partnership with OXH Gallery. This event celebrates the art of motherhood with incredible works in a variety of mediums. Guests can sip bubbly, partake in sumptuous snacks and have the opportunity to bid on pieces of artwork from around the world while participating in the groundbreaking Tampa Bay affair or the HeART! Now part of our 20th anniversary Annual Academic and Arts MoM Conference preceding on March 14-16th. More about the auction here. Updates coming soon.

GIVE OR GET

Locally, ‘Give or Get’ is open for donations during MoM’s regular hours:

–Thursday-Sat 12-6PM

-Sunday 12-3PM

Visit our new location: 2606 Fairfield Ave. S Gallery Row: Building 7 Door B

Donation box inside. Child-friendly. Free play in a safe and educational environment.