Categories
Activism Art Blog Education Events Featured Featured Artists health Internships Mother Studies motherhood Social Justice st petersburg USF

Mapping Resilience: Stories of Young Motherhood Exhibition Opens April, 2026

PLEASE JOIN US FOR AN OPENING RECEPTION AND A MEET & GREET

Join us for the Grand Opening Reception: Friday, April 10 | 7–9:30 PM I Hear from young moms and community stakeholders! Join us for libations and conversation.

Where: Gallery at the Museum of Motherhood 2606 Fairfield Ave S in The Factory Building 7 St Pete

Please join us at MoM with Healthy Start. This lovely mix and mingle will feature stories (and results from the researchers and the mothers themselves), with refreshments, presentations and conversation. This will be followed by Second Saturday Art Walk April 11 5-9PM on April 11th.

Objective Young moms in Hillsborough County were asked to draw journey maps and accompany them with photos (photovoice) to share their story and participate in a novel method that prioritized uninterrupted narratives/storytelling.

How: The exhibit includes the hand-drawn journey maps from ten moms and their accompanied photos, as well as an interactive audio portion where participants can scan QR codes and listen to some portions of their story. 

Activities include: A table with “letters and advice for young moms” allowing visitors to write letters to young moms, which can then be distributed by Healthy Start/Healthy Families home visitors.

Curated by Mahir Rahman, NASM-CPT, AFAA-CGFI, graduate student in the Department of Anthropology at the University of South Florida, and a research intern with Healthy Start Hillsborough, has been leading a journey mapping and photovoice project with young mothers in the Tampa Bay community and across our programs. University of South Florida Website

Come and enjoy an immersive, audio-visual exhibit amplifying the real stories of pregnant and parenting adolescents in our community. Through powerful visuals and firsthand voices, this experience brings their journeys, challenges, and resilience into focus.

Questions call: 877-711-MOMS (6667) Lv message. We will call you back!

📍 Museum of Motherhood, St. Petersburg (2606 Fairfield Ave South, St. Petersburg, FL 33712)

Visit the exhibit now through the end of April.

A collage of various mothers and children, illustrating themes of young motherhood, with the title 'Mapping Resilience: In Our Own Words' prominently displayed.

SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OUR MOM CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS, ORGANIZERS and SPONSORS

Group of women celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Museum of Motherhood's Academic and Arts Conference, featuring Martha Joy Rose as the 2025 recipient of the Joy Award.
MoM Conference 2025- the ‘Joy Award’


Thank you all so very much for joining us for The Museum of Motherhood’s Annual International Academic & Arts Conference | Reproductive Identities & Resistance: Mothers and Others in Culture, Community & Collaboration. We couldn’t have done this without you!

A special thanks to our event sponsors, USF & St. Anthony’s Hospital BayCare Health System, and to our marketplace vendors: The Entourage Lab, PSI, and MoM bookstore. Thank you too, Dr. Aurelie Athan for your ongoing work. Congratulations on being awarded ‘The Joy Award’ 2026.

We look forward to sharing more of your work, distilling images and video – soon come. Until then, remember… MoM loves YOU!

LETTER FROM OUR FOUNDER

This week I wrote about love. While museums are not generally in the business of ‘love’, the Museum of Motherhood is. While we are not always perfect, our aspirations are consistent. Our values are written into the fabric of the museum. We are women supporting women.

When I started the Museum of Motherhood in 2003 in Dobbs Ferry, New York I was a lupus survivor, recent kidney transplant recipient, mother of four children (under 12yrs), and newly divorced. My compassion for other people in my situation, was enormous.

Even more than that – I wanted to create CHANGE: social change, cultural change, and economic change. It was visceral for me because I was caught in the whirlpool of each of those problematic issues.

From women’s healthcare to the inherent creativity of M/otherhood– I initially vacillated between the work of Jane Adams (and Hull House), and resources for artists.

Many years later and many beautiful people down the road, MoM has morphed & changed, of course. Every Student, Intern, Volunteer, Friend, academic and community member who has invested time in MoM has helped to shape her.

I am confident that with LOVE as her core value, MoM will continue to succeed as a place of kindness, tolerance, and education in this world. ~ Martha Joy Rose

SUPPORT MOM – SO SHE CAN SUPPORT YOU

Promotional ticket for MoM's Escape Womb Experience at the Museum of Motherhood in St. Petersburg, FL, featuring booking information and a QR code.
MoM’s Escape Womb Experience Tickets
Image detailing entrance fees for a museum, including general admission, discounts for children, seniors, and students, along with membership options and benefits.

Categories
Activism Art Birth Blog breastfeeding Caregiving Conferences Digital Media Internships Education Escape Womb Experience Events Featured Featured Artists Feminism health History International Internships JourMS MOM Conference Mother Studies motherhood Opportunities Social Justice st petersburg The Factory, St Pete USF

March is Women’s Herstory Month! MoM Activates Community Through Arts, Advocacy, and Education!

Museum of Motherhood Activates Community Through Arts, Advocacy, and Education This Spring – March is Women’s Herstory Month!

WOMEN’S HISTORY IS EVERYONE’S HISTORY

WOMEN SHAPE St PETE: Did you know, Sarah Williams is considered the ‘Mother of the City of St Pete’ after she persuaded Peter Demens to bring the Orange Belt Railroad to downtown St. Petersburg, instead of Gulfport. In 1887. Peter Demens, Russian railroad man, and John Williams worked together to bring the Orange Belt Railroad to what would become St. Petersburg, Florida. (named after Peter Demens’s hometown in Russia.) . Considered “Mother of the City,” Williams had two sons and even more husbands. (Founded 1888, incorporated 1892 (population approximately 300 people).

Women’s History Month is an essential acknowledgement that corrects an imbalance in how our national story has traditionally been told. For generations, the achievements of women—in science, politics, education, caregiving, civil rights, the arts, and industry—have been overlooked or minimized. Dedicating a month to women’s history ensures their contributions are recognized as central, not peripheral, to the American story.

A collage of historical photographs and graphics, including vintage images, a museum display titled 'Museum of Motherhood', and the seal of St. Petersburg, Florida.
Women’s History St Petersburg, Florida

We cannot change the future (for the better) without understanding our past. Women’s History Month encourages a more accurate and inclusive understanding of democracy itself—one that acknowledges both progress made and work still to be done in building a fair and equitable society.

To that end, The Museum of Motherhood (MoM) maintains a robust calendar of exhibitions, public programs, conferences, and partnerships that continues to deepen our role as a vibrant, community-centered, educational and cultural institution. Together we explore m/otherhood as a social, cultural & artistic force. Learn more at MOMmuseum.org.

FILM FESTIVAL ROCKS EQUITY IN SARASOTA AND STREAMING

Graphic for the 27th International Film Festival titled 'REEL EQUALS', produced by 'Through Women's Eyes', taking place from March 5-10, 2026, in Sarasota, FL, with the tagline 'Advancing Gender Equality Through Film'.
Reel Equals – Through Her Eyes Film Festival

FILM FESTIVAL SARASOTA: March 5 – 10 with a Spotlight on Diverse Voices: ​Reel Equals International Film Festival Shines in Sarasota in a community collaboration with the Museum of Motherhood and the internationally recognized educational & arts conference with two decades of impact. In person and streaming: ThroughWomensEyes.org.

TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL ACADEMIC & ARTS CONFERENCE MoM & USF

An illustration featuring diverse women's faces, promoting the Museum of Motherhood's academic conference titled 'Reproductive Identities & Resistance,' scheduled for March 27-29, 2026. The event focuses on themes of motherhood, culture, community, and collaboration and will take place both in person and online via Zoom.

March 27-29The Annual International Academic and Arts MoM Conference 2026 in partnership at USF, St Pete features panels and presentations focused on reproductive identities, maternal experiences, and the intersections of motherhood with art, policy, healthcare, education, and social justice. Offered both in person and online, the conference is designed to be academically rigorous while remaining accessible to students, professionals, and community members alike. Open to the community with advance registration: JourMS.org

NEW ART EXHIBIT COMING. SAVE THE DATE

Promotional poster for the 'Mapping Resilience' exhibition at the Museum of Motherhood, featuring stories of young motherhood, running from April 6-26, with an opening party on April 10th.
Mapping Resilience with young mothers exhibit at the Museum of Motherhood

NEW EXHIBIT: Mapping Resilience- Stories of Young Motherhood

When: April 6 – 26, 2026 

Where: Gallery at the Museum of Motherhood 2606 Fairfield Ave S in The Factory Building 7 St Pete

Official Opening Reception April 10th 7-9:30PM (Stakeholder Day): Please join us at MoM with Healthy Start. This lovely mix and mingle will feature stories (and results from the researchers and the mothers themselves), with refreshments, presentations and conversation. This will be followed by Second Saturday Art Walk April 11 5-9PM on April 11th.

Objective Young moms in Hillsborough County were asked to draw journey maps and accompany them with photos (photovoice) to share their story and participate in a novel method that prioritized uninterrupted narratives/storytelling.

How: The exhibit includes the hand-drawn journey maps from ten moms and their accompanied photos, as well as an interactive audio portion where participants can scan QR codes and listen to some portions of their story. 

Activities include: A table with “letters and advice for young moms” allowing visitors to write letters to young moms, which can then be distributed by Healthy Start/Healthy Families home visitors.

Curated by Mahir Rahman, NASM-CPT, AFAA-CGFI Graduate Student, Applied Anthropology University of South Florida Website

SUBMISSIONS FOR A ZINE AS PART OF MOM CONFERENCE

"Bad Mother" Myth Busting event announcement by the Museum of Motherhood, discussing the misconceptions around motherhood, scheduled for January 2025, featuring a call to action for participation in an arts-based project.
Bad Mother Myth Busting Project

SHOUT OUT~!

Our friends at Sunday Assembly be eatin’ nearby on March 14th in Gulfport during the day. Second Saturday Art Walk in the evening at MoM and beyond.

Promotional poster for the Soul Food Festival, featuring colorful graphics of fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, and other dishes, with event details including date, time, and location at Trolley Market in Gulfport, Florida.
Sunday Assembly
Categories
Activism AEHK Art Blog Education Escape Womb Experience Events Featured Featured Artists Feminism MaMaPaLooZa MOM Art Annex MOM Conference Mother Studies motherhood st petersburg

2026 Calendar & MoM Membership Cooperative

A new year is unfolding at the Museum of Motherhood—and it’s already full of momentum. 🌱 From board leadership and strategy sessions to festivals, conferences, and community celebrations, 2026 is shaping up to be a year of action, reflection, and collective joy. Our latest blog lays out what’s ahead, why it matters, and how you can be part of it—from January goal-setting to a fall focus on maternal mental health. Take a look, mark your calendar, and step into the year with us.

2026 Scheduled Dates: 

  • January 14th Board Meeting and Kick-off for 2026 New Year Goals & Implementation
  • January 20th Implementation of 6 month strategy
  • February 14th Localtopia
  • March – Women’s History Month
  • April – Q2 Board Meeting
  • March 26 Leadership workshop with dinner for all team
  • March 27-29 MoM Conference 
  • May 3 is MaMaPaLooZa
  • June 2nd Board Building Party – Barbara & Mary B-Day
  • July – Pride & Q3 Board Meeting – vote in new members
  • August – Hang on in The Factory to continue the good work
  • September – Mini-Conference Maternal Mental Health
Banner promoting MoM Membership Cooperative at the Museum of Motherhood, featuring colorful illustrations and text about art, crafts, books, membership, community, and exhibitions.

MoM Membership Cooperative

We are delighted to invite you to become part of something special at the Museum of Motherhood—our Cooperative Membership Store & Shared Creative Space.

This is more than a retail visibility opportunity. It’s a living, breathing community where artists, educators, healers, organizers, and makers gather to share their talents, connect with the public, and support one another in a values-driven, cooperative environment.

Welcome to MoM’s Cooperative Space

Bring your art, expertise, objects, ideas, and meetings into a shared home where creativity and care are centered. By joining, you’ll collaborate in a vibrant real-world space while engaging with MoM’s audiences during events like Second Saturday Art WalkSunday Assembly, and MaMaPaLooZa Festival—as your schedule allows as well as during weekly hours.

What Participation Looks Like

  • Join MoM with a $30 annual membership
  • Sign up for 3-hour (short) or 6-hour (long) shifts—or more—during a 40-hour week
    (See Events & Calendar at MOMmuseum.org)
  • Greet visitors warmly and direct them to MoM’s signup portal
  • Share and sell your work, services, or expertise
    You keep 100% of your sales
  • If selling work by others, simply direct buyers to the item’s QR payment code and log the sale in the receipt book

What MoM Provides

  • One six-foot table, chairs, easels, and working space
  • Storage under tables (bring a labeled tote if you’d like to leave items onsite)
  • The option to leave onsite:
    • An 8 × 10 display with QR code
    • A notebook or portfolio of your work
    • Up to ¼ of a six-foot table of objects and one easel when you’re not present
      (Tables are shared among four cooperators)
  • Promotion of you and your work through MoM social media using graphics and info you provide

Why This Matters

By managing the space while you’re in it, you help keep MoM accessible, welcoming, and alive—while gaining visibility, community, and a meaningful place to share what you do best. If you believe in collaboration over competition, community over isolation, and creativity rooted in care—we would love to welcome you.

Welcome to MoM’s Cooperative Space. Please bring your art, talents, objects, and meetings. By agreeing to join this initiative you can expect:

Collaborate on a shared real estate for exhibiting and meeting clients and be part of our general audience on Second Saturday Art Walk, Sunday Assembly, MaMaPaLooZa Festival as per your availability with your great talents in exchange for a basic level MoM membership and an agreement to manage the space while you are in it.

How To Participate

Fill out online form online to participate in the Cooperative Membership Store [Click Link Left]

Contact Jamika Rollins regarding your participationScheduling@MOMmusem.org

877-711-MOMS (6667) (Lv a message and we will call/text you back)

2606 Fairfield Ave S St Petersburg FL Building 7

DOWNLOAD AGREEMENT PDF

A diverse group of people posing together in front of various informative and artistic wall displays, featuring the phrase 'TOGETHER WE RISE!' prominently at the top.
MoM Team with volunteers at the Museum of Motherhood

MoM Needs Volunteers and Docents

The Museum of Motherhood is more than a museum, it’s a gathering space, a conversation starter, and a love letter to motherhood in all its forms. We’re looking for a friendly, curious, people-loving human to help welcome our community into the space.

Volunteerism is the heartbeat of the Museum of Motherhood. 💛 Our work is powered by people who give their time, skills, care, and creativity to help preserve stories, spark dialogue, and build a more humane future for families. From greeting visitors and supporting events to research, archiving, and advocacy, volunteers make it possible for MoM to keep its doors open, its programs vibrant, and its mission alive. Simply put: we keep going because our community shows up.

What you’ll do:

  1. Greet visitors with warmth and make them feel at home the moment they arrive
  2. Move through the museum, offering gentle, engaging introductions to exhibits and artworks
  3. Spark curiosity, conversation, and connection throughout the space
  4. Support our Mom Shop by sharing the stories behind our merchandise and assisting with sales
  5. Invite visitors to deepen their relationship with the museum through memberships and events
  6. Educate clients about available programs and assist with application processes when necessary
  7. Maintain accurate records of client interactions and service provision in accordance with privacy policies

You might be perfect for this role if you:

  • Love art, culture, storytelling, and community spaces
  • Enjoy talking with people and making them feel seen and welcomed
  • Are comfortable engaging visitors in a relaxed, authentic way
  • Believe in honoring motherhood, caregiving, and lived experience as powerful cultural forces
  • Bring positive energy and openness into shared spaces
  • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail for record keeping and coordination tasks

This is a role for someone who loves people, ideas, and meaningful work and wants to be part of a mission-driven, creative environment.

If you are interested in being part of our team but are not in a financial situation where you can volunteer, then we have some funds available for onsite docents in-space to greet people during our regular shifts.

✨ Volunteer (we’re grateful if you can) or $17/hour
✨ Flexible, community-centered work
✨ A chance to be part of something special

Job Type: Part-time.

Interested? We’d love to hear from you. CONTACT: Scheduling@MOMmuseum.org

Categories
Activism Art Blog Caregiving Classes Conferences Escape Womb Experience Events Featured Featured Artists Feminism health International MOM Art Annex MOM Conference Mother Studies motherhood Opportunities Queering Parenting Residency Social Justice st petersburg The Factory, St Pete USF

Mess House at MoM

The Mess We Live In: What Clutter, Kids, and Culture Wars Reveal About Family Life

The notion of a “messy home” might conjure up images of toys strewn across the living room, dishes piling up in the sink, or laundry spilling out of baskets especially at times of duress. But the reality of mess is deeply tied to the internal worlds of families, to stress, identity, and even to the cultural divides that shape our society. At the Museum of Motherhood, exploring the messy intersections of parenting, culture, and mental health can be a powerful lens into what family life really feels like.


Mess Isn’t Just Physical — It’s Psychological, Social and Cultural


Evidence that women experience chronic stress not because the home is messy, but because society holds them responsible for preventing mess is a recognized truth.

Personal values — about lifestyle, morality, and behavior — can become battlegrounds for the debate about parenting styles and what constitutes a “good home”. This can be tricky territory. These debates can reflect broader cultural divides: who is responsible for domestic labor, how children should be raised, and what order or rituals define a “proper” family.

In a sense, the cluttered living room isn’t just a mess — it’s a battleground of values. Who gets to decide what “clean” means? Whose routines are prioritized? And how do power and labor dynamics play out in the seemingly mundane fights over tidying up?

Who cleans, who organizes, and who nags about mess often isn’t neutral territory. There’s emotional labor involved in maintaining a home, and that labor frequently falls disproportionately on women. For some, the answer is to simplify. For others the answer may lie in leaving the mess for another day.

What’s most important is feeling loved, safe and protected. Does your environment do that for you and how much control do ‘we’ actually have? What are the implications when we free ourselves from the mess or conversely embrace the mess?

At its heart, the reality of mess is a story about family, vulnerability, and power. Clutter isn’t just junk — it’s emotional freight, a signal of how we live, what we value, and how we struggle to balance the competing demands of parenting, culture, and self. In exploring mess through a psychological and cultural lens, the Museum of Motherhood can invite deeper conversations: not about being “better” mothers, but about being more honest, more human, and more connected to the complexities of our lived lives.

About the Exhibit

Mess House: A New Photo Exhibition by Martha Joy Rose MA Mother Studies. This exhibit wishes to gratefully acknowledge The Factory LLC organization for the use of wall space in Building 7 to explore archived photos from her personal collection. Exploring the compelling idea of a ‘Mess House’ is a somewhat universal theme. As humans we seek to create order (oftentimes ineffectually), confront our wildness and occasionally find acceptance and peace within the chaos of daily life and family.

Batya Weinbaum received her doctorate in English at University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She founded and edits the journal Femspec available at femspec.org.  She was an artist in residence at the Art Annex of the Museum of Motherhood in St. Pete FL where she installed a mural of a fertility goddess, and she volunteers for the Museum in the winter. She is the mother of one and stays in Gulfport, FL several months in the winter where she shows her art.

From the Chapter Mess House, by Batya Weinbaum- Demeter Press 2025

When are we feral, self-expressive, and untamed to the degree that we throw out the baby with the bathwater so to speak in our revolt against traditional concepts of femininity and motherhood represented in conventional markers and paradigms of domestication—the swept, mopped floor, the uncluttered shining feng shui of spaces, the organized linen cabinets, the bare countertops in the spotless kitchens?

Those born into female bodies get the most pressure from society to meet unrealistic expectations of physical beauty. These unrealistic expectations of their bodies are parallel to the unrealistic expectations women are encouraged to have about their domestic space.[1]

Flo Kennedy noted, in her essay on “Institutionalized Oppression of the Female,” that “Women are dirt searchers; their greatest worth…” being “eradicating rings on collars and tables” (442). In doing so, and maintaining organization, they are keeping wildness at bay. (1. According to Women and Naturism: The Naturist Living Show (Mar 17 2010)

Resources:

Aviv, E., Waizman, Y., Kim, E., Liu, J., Rodsky, E., & Saxbe, D. (2024). Cognitive household labor: gender disparities and consequences for maternal mental health and wellbeing. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 28(1), 5–14.

  • This study empirically measures the “cognitive labor” (planning, delegating, anticipating) that mothers do, and finds that mothers bear significantly more cognitive labor than their partners (~72% of it) even after controlling for physical tasks.
  • Importantly, the authors show that this disproportionate cognitive labor is strongly associated with higher stress, burnout, depression, and worse overall mental health in women.
  • Relevance: This offers direct evidence for your claim: the stress comes not just from “doing the cleaning,” but from being responsible for organizing and thinking about the household — and society (or their partners) expects women to carry that burden.

Ciciolla, L., & Luthar, S. S. (2019). Invisible Household Labor and Ramifications for Adjustment: Mothers as Captains of Households. Sex Roles, 81(7–8), 467–486.

  • This paper examines how the “invisible labor” (mental, emotional) related to managing the household is disproportionately carried by mothers.
  • They find that mothers who feel solely responsible for organizing schedules, maintaining order, and keeping family routines report role overload, lower life satisfaction, and strain in their relationships.
  • Relevance: Demonstrates that the expectation that women “manage the mess” — not just physical cleanliness but mental oversight — has measurable negative effects on their wellbeing.

Systematic Review: Gendered Mental Labor

  • Review article: Gendered Mental Labor: A Systematic Literature Review on the Cognitive Dimension of Unpaid Work Within the Household and Childcare.
  • This review analyzed 31 peer-reviewed studies and found a consistent pattern: women perform a significantly larger share of mental labor (planning, scheduling, organizing) and this labor is associated with stress, lower life satisfaction, and negative career impacts.
  • Relevance: Supports the broader claim that this kind of labor is well-recognized in academic literature as gendered, burdensome, and harmful — not just “messy house, messy brain.”

Applied Research in Quality of Life:

  • Study: Is Paid Inflexible Work Better than Unpaid Housework for Women’s Mental Health? (2022)
  • The authors argue and provide evidence that unpaid housework (which includes domestic tasks and more than just physical chores) is negatively linked to women’s mental health, partly because these efforts are culturally undervalued and invisible.
  • Relevance: This supports the idea that society often fails to recognize or reward invisible domestic labor — reinforcing that the stress women feel is not just from physical mess but from societal expectations.

Offer, S. (via summary in Smithsonian article).

Relevance: Demonstrates that the stress is not about amount of time thinking about family, but about how that thinking is gendered and emotionally taxing for women.

According to research by Shira Offer (Bar-Ilan University) reported in the Smithsonian, women and men spend equal time thinking about family matters, but women report significantly more negative emotional effects (stress, depression) from that cognitive labor.

How Do You Identify? Passion, Protest, Reproductive Identity, Mess & More? Submit Your Ideas, project, paper, art, proposal, research now thru 12/1/25. Don’t Be Afraid – Put Your Ideas Into the World w/MoM at USF.

A colorful poster for the Museum of Motherhood's conference titled 'Reproductive Identities & Resistance', featuring a diverse group of illustrated women. Details include dates of March 27-29, 2026, and the conference's online and in-person participation options.
Annual Call for Papers MoM Conference 2026

Attend Our Workshops, Book the Escape Womb Experience, Tour MoM

More Submissions

"Bad Mother" Myth Busting event poster featuring a soft watercolor background with red text outlining the theme, date, and invitation to the Museum of Motherhood's arts-based project.
Bad Mother Myth Busting Project

Holiday Giving- Merchandise That Moves You As A Thank You For Your Donation at MoM! Memberships, Guest Artists, Tee Shirts, Books & More: Visit Us at The Factory, St Pete 2606 Fairfield Ave. S St Pete

A white t-shirt featuring bold black text promoting the Museum of Motherhood (MoM), stating it is a museum about women located in St. Petersburg, Florida, along with a website and contact number.
Women’s Museum St Pete at the Museum of Motherhood

Support the Mural – Aging Women All Around the World Starts in St Pete!

A world map highlighting documentary locations in Spain, Florida, Peru, Ghana, and China, emphasizing a global tour.
Categories
Activism Art Birth Blog breastfeeding Caregiving Classes Conferences Education Escape Womb Experience Events Featured Featured Artists Feminism health International MOM Conference Queering Parenting Sociology The Factory, St Pete USF

Call for Papers & Art with Gratitude From the Mother-Land

Gratitude from the Mother Land — As autumn paints the world in shades of pumpkin and pink, the Museum of Motherhood reflects on gratitude. We give thanks for the stories, events, and collaborations that continue to nourish the collective journey.

We honor the abundance of care and creativity that define the term Mother-Land. We identify with a grand imperative that encourages reflection on what is good and possible in a world united by love and rooted in empathy. In that spirit, not the spooky one, we say YES to health, wellness and connection at MoM:

  • NEW EXHIBIT COMING TO FRONT OF MoM SPACE: First Series- Mess House, opening first week of November, followed by Bad Mother Myth Busting (Submit Responses Here) in the new year).
  • WHOLE GIRL: This is Me – ongoing health series with information for adolescents (Link). With take-home gift pack!
  • SEMINARS – Nourish & Flourish with Dre Marie as part of the Radiant Alignment series for women online and in-person especially reflecting on self-care during the busy holiday season. Ages 20-80 yrs. (Link). With take-home gift pack!
  • SUPPORT & PUT MoM ON THE MAP with the work of Spanish artist and muralist Marina Capdevilathe with her documentary and mural “Viejas Glorias” —Celebrating the Power and Beauty of Women Aging (Link)

CALL FOR SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY & MURAL MAKING

Infographic detailing the global documentary locations for the Viejas Glorias project, highlighting Spain, Florida, China, Peru, and Ghana.

Emmy Award-Winning Documentarian Brings Global “Viejas Glorias” Project to St. Petersburg—Celebrating the Power and Beauty of Women Aging

St. Petersburg, FL — [October 24, 2025] — St. Petersburg selected as U.S. kickoff city for groundbreaking international documentary series challenging how society views aging women!

Spanish artist and muralist Marina Capdevila is bringing her internationally acclaimed Viejas Glorias (Glorious Old Women) project to the historic Princess Martha in St. Petersburg as part of a five-city global documentary series. St. Petersburg has been selected as the U.S. launch city, joining host cities in China, Spain, Peru, and Ghana in a transformative exploration of how women—particularly mothers and grandmothers—are perceived as they age.

The project requires $30,000 by December 1, 2025, to cover artist materials, labor, and the professional film crew’s travel and production costs. In these uncertain times, when many are navigating financial challenges, every contribution—large or small—makes a meaningful difference in ensuring this important story is told. Limited exclusive sponsorship opportunities are available at various levels.

This is more than a mural project—it’s a movement to reshape how we see and value women as they age. It’s an opportunity to position St. Petersburg on the international stage as a city that champions inclusive representation and celebrates the fullness of women’s lives. See the full PRESS RELEASE.

Viejas Glorias (Glorious Old Women) Donation Link 

HAVE YOU MET US YET?

A diverse group of five smiling individuals stands together, waving at the camera. They are positioned against a background featuring autumn leaves and the text 'Team MoM' in a stylized font.
Pictured left to right: Jamika Rollins, Dre Harsany, Lizzie Zacharis (and Julian), Darlene Ceron

Jamika Rollins: Scheduling@MOMmuseum.org – Logistical Coordinator, event scheduling and calendar

Dre Harsany: Program Manager, Store and Seminars

Lizzie Zacharis (with Julian): USF intern, student of Public Health, content creation and Whole Girl coursework

Darlene Ceron: Volunteer, translations to Spanish, special projects

REGULAR HOURS AND EVENTS

Monday Pink Fitness | 6:00 PM Tuesday • Pink Fitness | 7:00 AM – 11:00 AM, Thursday
Pink Fitness | 7:00 AM – 11:00 AM, Saturday 7:00 AM – 11:00 AM Contact: louannehardtke@pinkfit.org

Wednesdays 1:30 Baby Cafe – lactation and food support for infants. Just show up!

Thursday-Sunday Regular Hours and Activities

Escape Womb pre-book please

See you at MoM! For Love! For Life! For Fun & Education!

FUTURE EXHIBIT FEEDBACK: MYTH BUSTING

"Bad Mother" Myth Busting promotional poster featuring abstract pink and orange watercolor background with bold, red text announcing the event. Includes a call to action to join the Museum of Motherhood's arts-based project in January 2025.

Click the pic to add your rant.

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 ResiliencyKnowledge 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 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

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 WalkDownloadable 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
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).

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 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

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

*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.