YOU ARE INVITED! Free Museum Day is September 20th, 2025 in St Petersburg, FL. Together we are making love happen all around the Sunshine City. We will be open 12-6PM with fun activities for all. Just show up. Directions to MoM are here. Take the bus, the car or walk – we can’t wait to see you.
Then, Sunday Sept 21st is Black Maternal Healthmini-conference with brunch and learn. We are grateful to our entire team for making this event possible. Thanks to our sponsors, organizers, speakers, audience members and all those people who are interested in this essential subject matter because together we rise!
The CFP for our MoM Annual Academic & Arts Conference March 27-29, 2026 in St Pete and online is posted. Please join us by submitting your art, academic research, authoethnographic work on the subject of Reproductive Identities and Resistance: Mothers and Others in Culture, Community and Collaboration. The full Call for Submissions is at JourMS.org and on our museum site.
New programming at MoM aims to our ongoing work in the realm of health, wellness and education with new seminars coming soon supported by Community Empowerment Leader Sierra M. Clark and Radiant Dre Marie. Registration is here! Questions: write INFO@MOMmuseum.org or call 877-711-MOMS (6667) and leave a message.
Upcoming Seminars at the Museum of Motherhood
Seminar Series with Sierra M ClarkRadiant Alignment with Dre MarieRadiant Alignment with Dre MarieRadiant Alignment with Dre MarieRadiant Alignment with Dre MarieRadiant Alignment with Dre MarieRadiant Alignment with Dre Marie
Radiant Alignment with Dre Marie
Thank you to our Black Maternal Health Brunch and Learn Sponsors
Black Maternal Health Orlando HealthBlack Maternal Health Sponsor St Anthony’s HospitalBlack Maternal Health Sponsor Unlimited PediatricBlack Maternal Health Sponsor Healthy Start Coalition
Huge gratitude to FloridaRAMA and all our sponsors, presenters and organizers with a special shout out to Jill M. Wood for serving as conference chair and Mary Havlock of Little House nonprofit for organizing.
Courtney West on TV for Black Maternal Health Brunch and Learn at MoM
MoM Conference Flyer
Call for presentations Annual Academic MoM Conference 2026
JOIN US ON SEPT 21st, 2025 10:30AM-1PM with the Museum of Motherhood at FloridaRAMA
Black Maternal Health Brunch & Learn, Mini-Conference
Black Maternal Health Sponsorships at the Museum of Motherhood
Sponsored by FloridaRAMA
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the United States spends more per birth than any other similarly industrialized nation in the world, yet maternal morbidity and mortality rates in the US are far worse than in any other peer nation. US maternal death rates have risen substantially among all US women in recent years, but maternal death rates are the highest for Black women living in the Southern US.
The Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health reports that in 2024, Florida’s rate of maternal death was more than 3 times higher for Black women (50.5 deaths per 100,000 live births) as compared to white women (14.5 mortality rate).
Maternal death rates, and associated racial disparities, are expected to worsen in the near future amidst proposed cuts to Medicaid that will drastically impact both maternal and infant healthcare. Nearly 40% of all births in Pinellas County were paid for by Medicaid last year. Black women and their babies will undoubtedly suffer the most from Medicaid cuts with both maternal and infant mortality rates expected to rise as a result of funding cuts to these programs.
The fate of Black women and their families does not have to be predetermined; the purpose of Black Maternal Health Brunch & Learn is to collaborate with local birth workers and healthcare professionals to understand the causes and correlates of challenges to Black women’s maternal health in order to implement changes in Pinellas county.
To improve Black maternal health, health care itself must make institutional and structural changes to transform the delivery and quality of care. Decision makers at all policy levels must establish comprehensive policy change to address the social drivers impacting health, such as the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that also affect a wide range of quality-of-life outcomes.
WE ARE HARD AT WORK SEARCHING OUT VIRTUAL OPTIONS FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA. STAY TUNED. ALSO, YOU CAN MAKE JOIN OUR MEMBERSHIP DRIVE TO SUPPORT THE WORK.
LET US LIFT EACH OTHER UP – TOGETHER WE RISE
Even if you can’t join us in person, you can support the cause!
Courtney West is a proud St. Petersburg native and the owner of 3 Gems Birth Services where everyone deserves care. Courtney is a full spectrum doula, doula educator, and a licensed practical nurse with a background in pediatric home health, and mental health nursing. Courtney has led several initiatives at MoM.
Shamella “Mel” Joy is a trauma-informed therapist, her background includes working with veterans and refugee families, providing her with extensive experience in helping clients process and heal from past traumas and PTSD. Mel’s passion lies in supporting new parents grappling with the challenges of postpartum life, as well as those facing the uncertainties of fertility struggles and perinatal loss.
Presentation Panelists
Tracie Williams is the proprietor of The Natal Network and the founder of Jehovah Rapha-Jireh Transformation Health Inc. She serves on the Health, Wellness and Education Committee at MoM. She established The Natal Network, a Tampa Bay-based maternal wellness doula service, to enhance maternal-fetal outcomes.
Tracy Cook-Person is a hoodoo practitioner, doula, folk Herbalist, educator, lecturer, professional storyteller and a published poet. She has been an Assistant Professor at LIU in the School of Education and Technology as well as an Instructor of Pedagogy and Clinical Practice for the TR@TC2 program in the Office of Teacher Education at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Black Maternal Health Facts
Black Maternal Health Facts
Black Maternal Health Facts
Black Maternal Health Facts
Black Maternal Health Facts
Black Maternal Health Orlando Health
Black Maternal Health Sponsor St Anthony’s Hospital
Black Maternal Health brunch and mini-conference MoM
DRAFT! For Immediate Release: August 20, 2025
Brandy Gottlieb, Director of Communications and Marketing
Champions for Children
Bgottlieb@cfctb.org
(813) 673-4646 ext. 1114
Champions and Museum of Motherhood announce their partnership in support of moms
(Photo c/o Regina Roig-Romero)
Tampa Bay, FL – August 20, 2025– Champions for Children (CFC) and the Museum of
Motherhood (MoM) are pleased to announce their partnership in support of mothers seeking breastfeeding support.
Champions for Children’s abcProgram, licensed by Baby Café USA, will provide free lactation consultation and breastfeeding support services, beginning September 3, at the Museum of Motherhood, 538 28th St N, Saint Petersburg, FL 33713. MoM will serve as the program’s new Saint Petersburg location.
The abcProgram offers International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs), credentialed through the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE). IBLCE is the gold standard in clinical lactation care.
Families can access English and fully Spanish support services free of cost and without any eligibility requirements. While registration is encouraged, walk-ins are also welcome. Families should register at cfctb.org/abcprogram.
“We are grateful to the Museum of Motherhood for their partnership. Together, we look forward to providing compassionate, supportive expertise to families who need help to reach their breastfeeding goals with confidence.” says Regina Roig-Romero, program manager for Champions for Children’s ABC Program.
Of the partnership, Martha Joy Rose, MoM Founder and Executive Director says, “We are thrilled about this new partnership with Champions for Children. Their abcProgram speaks to the heart of what we do — working in community to foster compassionate, inclusive environments that uplift individual stories and celebrates women’s vital role in our cultural narrative. By partnering, we are fostering a stronger support system for mothers in the region.”
MoM has been serving the community through its programing, exhibits and collaborative platforms in Pinellas County since 2019 and is Tampa Bay’s first and only women’s museum.
CFC’s ABC program offers breastfeeding support at 10 community locations in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties. Hillsborough County services are made possible by the generous support of BayCare, REACHUP, Inc. and the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County. Pinellas County services are made possible by the generous support of BayCare.
For more information on CFC’s free breastfeeding support services, the abcProgram, Baby Café or free lactation consultation services, visit cfctb.org/abcprogram.
About Champions for Children:
CFC’s mission is to build stronger families with thriving children throughout the Tampa Bay area through child abuse prevention and family education programs.
CFC has served the Tampa Bay area since 1977 and envisions a world free from child abuse and neglect. The work follows a proactive, prevention-first model that is committed to building strong families as support for thriving children. Through nationally accredited programs, CFC provides parents and other supportive, caring adults with education, support, and resources. CFCTB is a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt organization, supported by the generosity of funding partners and private donors.
For more information about CFC, please visit cfctb.org or contact championsforchildren@cfctb.org.
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.
*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 5-8PMwith 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!
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 inviteor 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
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.
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.
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!
March at MoM is going to be AWESOME! We are looking forward to our Annual Academic & Arts Conference, BIPOC Allies and Birth Worker event, recap on our visit with Girls Rock St. Pete, gratitude to ABC News for the recent coverage and more at the Museum of Motherhood in March for Women’s Herstory Month!
Our conference kicks off at the end of the month, but first here’s what you can expect:
LINK TO SCHEDULE for the Conference info is ONLINE at MoM, Fri-Sat, March 22-24 in St. Pete.
The conference is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC VIA ZOOM & IN PERSON. If you are interested in attending via Zoom contact us: INFO@MOMmuseum.org / SATURDAY RESERVATIONS IN PERSON @ EVENTBRITE $25 includes lunch with some Friday and Sunday seats available in person as well. Read more about this year’s content below and we hope you’ll join us!
Join a half a dozen artists with a special exhibition at Heiress Gallery, Keynotes by Courtney Kessel and Andrea O’Reilly with a special crochet circle lead by Madison Hendry and international artists present from March 16- 31st. Press Release is here with more info coming….
MoM Conference 2024 Partners
Threads of Connection: Mother (and other) blame, shame and pain, with a focus on resistance and healing. Blame and shame can be self-imposed or projected by dominant social narratives that hyper-focus on the performative nature of m/otherhood as reinforced by unrealistic hegemonic constructions. This can be true for adult children reviewing familial relationships and the world writ large as well.
We encourage presenters to unpack the sociocultural domain of mother (and other) blame and the psychological, personal, professional, and media environment within which this topic is situated. Who is harmed by blame, and whom does it serve? How are oppressive systems reinforced or even sustained? How can we resist or dismantle these systems in large and small ways?
Threads of Connection Conference 2024
Kick Off to Conference With BIPOC Allies & Birth Workers
Welcome to **BIPOC & Allies Birth Worker Speed Dating**! Are you a birth worker looking to connect with others in the industry? Join us at The Factory St. Pete on **Thu Mar 21 2024** at **6:30 PM** for a fun and interactive speed dating event. This is a great opportunity to meet and network with BIPOC and allies in the birth work community. Whether you’re a doula, midwife, lactation consultant, or any other birth worker, this event is for you! Come ready to mingle, make new connections, and potentially find your next collaboration partner. Don’t miss out on this exciting event in **St. Petersburg, FL, USA**! Please get your free ticket here
Join MoM Empowerment facilitator and certified life coach, Sierra M. Clark on her journey to joy.
But, first-pay attention and HOLD THE DATE AEHK 7th Annual Studio Tour is coming March 16 & 17th! This is a wonderful opportunity to explore local artists studios “Where Art Lives” @historickenwood
We love our community collaborators. Thank you to Girls Rock St. Pete for visiting MoM and asking all the great questions as we celebrate Women’s Herstory Month together throughout March this year. We can’t wait for more music, more fun, and more connections!
Girls Rock St Pete
Flash Feminism –Do you know your ‘women’s herstory’?
https://mommuseum.org/her-story/In order to understand the profound impact women’s history has had on our policies, culture, and world, it is important to discern the multiple waves of feminism, the fight for the freedoms we enjoy today, and the manner in which women’s struggles for equality have been challenged, and continue to be challenged, even in contemporary society. Below is an overly simplified, yet effective overview of the four U.S. feminist waves, for students of all ages! Go to our herstory page to get an idea of where we’ve been and where we hope to go in the journey towards equality for all. [CLICK]
“There are only four kinds of people in the world—those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers.” Rosalynn Carter.
What is a m/other, if not someone who sees to the wellbeing of her family whenever and if-ever possible? From birth on, the person who both gave us life and also the person who often sees to our care and upbringing are forever linked through body, mind, and psyche to the one’s whom they are connected.
Through our biologies, our relationships and our care-work, we are all connected in unfathomable ways
Our children’s cells live on in our brains. Whether we are caregiving forward towards our offspring or adopted children, or our neighborhood, or caring backward for a parent or grandparent , the circle of life involves constant attention to our collective well-being.
Research shows women who live near each other affect the other’s reproductive cycles. It is also scientifically proven that we share more than just our pregnant bodies with our offspring. “Women have microchimeric cells both from their mother, as well as from their own pregnancies” (Link). These remain in our bodies throughout our lives. We are indeed present in not only our physical reality but also our energetic one.
We honor the work of Rosalynn Carter and of all the mothers and others who have devoted large portions of their lives to caring for others: this can mean mental health care, infant care, healthcare, domestic care, professional care, partner care, community care, parent care and even environmental and pet care.
MoM needs your help as we nurture the nurturers and empower the future caregivers of the world
At the Museum of Motherhood we work everyday, round the clock to share the art, science and herstory of mothers. In September, we moved to a new 1,000 sq. ft venue in the arts district of St. Petersburg, Florida!
With over a dozen volunteers who reach thousands of individuals each month, we require the dollars to stay open, accessible, and free to the public.
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Fundraiser Museum of Motherhood end of year 2023
Our ‘Mothers Give Everyday’ Campaign is a call to raise $30K:
Can you help us pay the rent and utilities in 2024 at our new venue?
Can you help us make our website ADA compliant.
Will you add a name to our Tribute page?
MAKE A LEGACY DONATION IN THE NAME OF SOMEONE YOU LOVE ON OUR TRIBUTE PAGE! Donate here [Link at bottom) or on our GoFundMe page!
Join this campaign in memory of your mother, grandmother, and those people you hold near & dear: the blended families, the non-traditional families and the individuals that have nurtured you. Or, honor a professional who has impacted your life by taking care of your reproductive health: the midwives, obstetricians, nurses, doulas, and pediatricians. The teachers, aunties, and other mothers who have and are impacting the future leaders of our world!
After 20 years of creating conferences, working with students around the world, mentoring young women (and men), and creating a safe and then significant space for family members, we have landed:
HELLO ST PETERSBURG WE HAVE JOINED THE CITY OF MUSEUMS!
Make a tax deductible donation in any amount to the MOM Art Annex 591c3 for the Museum of Motherhood .
MoM loves you and values your participation.
Remember there is only one degree of separation between YOU and MOM.
We are thrilled to open our doors at our new location in the arts district of St. Petersburg, Florida. Make sure to plan a trip to The Factory and schedule your visit today! Our doors are open to everyone – by donation~ Some events are pre-registration only. They are notated below.
Monday: 5-10 PM Motherhood in Motion; The Mother Founders marching from the past towards the future. Sign up for a class $25. Special film screenings, and private group tours (Pre-Registration Required)
Tuesday-Saturday: 12 PM – 7 PM(See our schedule to determine which hours require pre-registration)
Tuesdays: 11 AM – 12:30 PM Empowerment for All- Mothers Club. Join the Mothers’ Club / 4-7 PM Neurodiverse-friendly for those craving a quiet, low-stimulation experience. (Pre-Registration Required)
Sunday: Book your private event with us!
Monthly
First Thursday: 6-7 PM Women in the Arts (week before Second Saturday (Pre-Registration Required)
Fourth Thursday: 12-2 PM Book group/collage making (Pre-Registration Required)
Second Saturday: Art Walk 5-8:30 (Every month – open to all)
Third Saturday: 2-3PM History on a cushion for ages 5-up. Spend an hour learning about herstory + playtime (Pre-Registration Required)
A Year’s Worth of Exhibits
Sept- Oct 2023: Motherhood in Motion; action & embodiment – featuring the art of Amy Wolf. The seesaw; practicing balance & cooperation in a civil society, and the Founding Mothers (of sociology and beyond)
November -Jan 2023: Mother The Job; 1950’s to Present– featuring the works of Alexia Nye Jackson along with multidisciplinary community narratives.
Feb-April 2024: Threads of Connection- MoM conferencefeaturing: I’m sorry/not sorry; confronting mother blame and healing in contemporary culture and beyond– featuring the Mother Tree by Helen Hiebert & Madison Hendry.
May- July 2024: Interiors – Goddesses & the Geography of a Woman: featuring Christen Clifford and the Goddesses of Malta.
WHO: The Museum of Motherhood (MoM) – empowering women and mothers to take their rightful place in the museum world.
WHAT: Motherhood in Motion; embodiment in action- One of four quarterly exhibitions featuring the art, science, and history of women, mothers, and families inclusive of all reproductive identities at our new space in the Warehouse District.
WHERE: The Factory, 2622 Fairfield Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712
WHEN: Grand opening September 9th, 2023 (Second Saturday Art Walk) 6-8PM
Motherhood In Motion; embodiment in action- presents interactive installations that celebrate the transformative journey of women, m/others, and families reimagining women’s place and progress in society.
MORE ABOUT MoM: The Museum of Motherhood (MoM) is the first and only exhibition and education center devoted to the art, science and history of women, mothers and families inclusive of all reproductive identities. MOM is organized and activated by our community. We support evolving, interdisciplinary perspectives within the field of mother studies while working with partners around the world. The MOM Art Annex 501c3 non-profit serves as the incubator for increasing the footprint and impact of MoM in St. Petersburg, Florida. We celebrate the complexities and joys women and mothers as they take their rightful place in the museum world.
Please join us as we celebrate the power and resilience of mothers, others, and families embracing the complex web of interconnectedness that binds us all. Motherhood In Motion beckons visitors to explore, learn, and participate in new narratives that forge a collective future that embodies the values of education, compassion, and care for our planet and for each other.
We are especially pleased to highlight the works of Amy Wolf as our featured artist. Her ‘wearable artwork’ collection’s theme of “reincarnation/transmutation” is based on her practice of transforming found, reclaimed and ordinary materials into something unexpected. She has shown her work both locally and nationally since 2018 and was a 2023 Creative Pinellas Emerging Artist grantee, as well as a 2021 emerging Florida CraftArt artist. In 2022, she was the recipient of both an individual artist grant from The St. Petersburg Arts Alliance and a Gobioff Foundation microgrant. In addition to art exhibits, MoM will feature women in history, the science of motherhood, a discussion area, special programming, interactive exhibits, a film by founder Martha Joy Rose, sculptures by Sallie Hackett Brown, and a library as well as a vibrant store focused on MoM’s mission.
LONDON ENGLAND – I attended the Procreate Project’s Oxytocin Conference, organized by Dyana Gravina, and team, mid-May for two days of intensely powerful commissioned art, scholarship, and workshop work at Kings College. Scholar, poet, and accelerator Hannah Brockbank and I were scheduled to lead a workshop together.
Inspired by the work of Sierra Clark, the workshop was titled “Repair Work, from Sweet Nothings to Sweet Everything,” the title of her chapter in Repairing the Black FamilyAnthology, edited by Sister Nayyirah Muhammad. The aim of the workshop was to disrupt narratives in order to facilitate healing, which was indeed the goal of the entire conference.
The power of stories shared and the work we did together to dialogue about contemporary issues facing mothers and the women who labor through this important work could not be denied. Laura Godfrey Issacs shared information about the Birth Cafe (see more at http://www.birth are.org), PhD candidate Anna Horn’s interactive workshop on ‘Inclusive Infant Feeding’ compelled.
The conference itself was funded by the Public Arts Council of England amount others. The Procreate Project, Museum of Motherhood, and MER: The Mom Egg Review have been working together since 2015 to feature the art and literature of m/others. I am looking forward to bringing new knowledge(s) back to Florida when I return. But first, the second portion of my trip takes me on a three hour flight to the island of Malta in the Mediterranean Sea.
Scenes from Oxytocin, London England
XEMXIJA, MALTA with its windswept bay, Mellieha with views that stretch past the isle of Goza, Mostar, with its magnificent dome, Mdina the silent city, and Rabat. Hot, dusty, and international. Roses, cactus, olive trees and lemons. In Malta, we go to see the Goddess temples Hagar Qim and Mnajdra. These two temples comprise one of the three UNESCO Heritage sites on Malta, but together there are seven megalithic temples. So, of the three sites heritage sites, one represents all of the temples combined, plus the city of Valletta, and the Hypogeum. Additionally, located at the island of Gozo are the temples rumored to built by the giants.
These Megalithic temples comprise some of the oldest free-standing structures on earth. Older than the pyramids, they are thought to be Goddess Temples for both fertility and transformation as part of a prehistoric culture that appears to be centered around women and the three spheres, heaven, earth, and the underworld as embodied through the pot, house, temple and tomb. We catch the bus and hold tight swerving up narrow inclines twisting and turning above the sea.
When we get to the temple, I am quivering with excitement. We buy tickets, walk through the small but impactful museum, and head outdoors along a windswept path towards the structure which overlooks the Mediterranean. The breeze is slight. Hagar Qim is crowned with a giant white canvas to lessen the impact of the elements. As one approaches her entrance, the tent fades away and all focus turns to the massive rocks shaping what appears to be her portal beyond the giant curved walls. According to Cultural Anthropologist Veronica Veen, we enter the Goddess’ body through her vagina (Pg. 8 The Goddess of Malta).
Goddesses of Malta
There is so much to write about here. Both portions of my trip have offered so much in terms of knowledge, blessings, friendship, and collaboration. I’ll bring all this newfound knowledge of Goddesses and the art of many m/others back to the Museum of Motherhood with me. It will certainly inform my work moving forward and I look forward to the future conversations, creativity, and future collaborations this will inspire.
Yours in Love, Light, and M/otherhood. I hope my American friends have a great Memorial Day Weekend – Martha Joy Rose
More about my personal perspectives can be found at my blog: MarthaJoyRose.com
Spring has sprung! But first, ‘About My Mother:’ Submit your poem or short story about your mother by April 30th for a Mothers’ Day publication with MoM on our Blog, Newsletter and Social Media. Submit via word document, 1,000-2,000 words for the short story/essay. Poems of any length. First prize is $50 for the story. Poem is $25 and the runner up gets love and publication too. Share widely, just one week left! Send to: INFO@MOMmuseum.org
Thank You Authentic Florida for including us on your website as we approach May (Mothers’ Month). MoM is working hard to increase memberships – 300 in the next 3 months! See our special offer and JOIN OUR FLOCK! We are grateful to work with Melanie Lentz-Janney at Authentic Florida towards this mutual goal of sharing information and cool stuff to do in the Sunshine State. Authentic Florida.
Welcome New MoM Facilitator Sierra Clark
Welcome Sierra Clark our new Empowerment Facilitator at MoM. Her workshop designs- based on her chapter “From Sweet Nothings to Sweet Everything” in Repair Of The Black Family as part of the edited collection by Nayyirah Muhammad- are transformational. We are all better for her leadership and strong voice! More about Sierra at www.sierraclark.life
INTERNS
April has us bustling with a new group of amazing interns from around the world. Please welcome these amazing international collaborators (from left to right):
Audrey Paquet-Frey: My name is Audrey Paquet-Frey, I’m a 32-year-old Master’s degree student from the TEMA+ program 2021-2023, an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree program. I am currently in Paris at the EHESS completing my degree. Prior to this program, I did a bachelor’s degree at the Université Laval in Canada, Québec in historical sciences and heritage studies in museology, ethnology, and archeology. During my studies, I worked at the Canadian museum of history from 2015 until 2020, where I worked in the photographic archives divisions and the documentation of artefacts divisions. So why am I doing an internship at the Mom Museum? Simply because in the last years I’ve developed an interest in museum communities and especially now with the new museum definition from ICOM (International Councils of Museums) redirecting their attention to communities and the public, I felt it was time to explore that avenue. After this Master’s, I hope to be able to create an online museum directed at and for different communities of women to empower them through their immaterial heritage and their collective memory. I would like to give a voice to different communities of women through online exhibits. I hope to learn a lot from this internship and to be able to apply it to my future projects.
Megan Hsu: I will be assisting MoM with identfying, researching, and applying for local or national grants in order to assist with fundraising efforts that can further assist MoM in being able to achieve its goals and create deeper connections with the local community. A native of Tampa, FL, Megan (she/her) is in her final year at the University of Florida, where she is pursuing a double major in International Studies and Hispanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics along with a minor in European Union studies. A lifelong student, she believes that education never ends and is always eager to learn more about the world around her. She has worked with non-profit organizations in the past and is excited to devote her skills to MoM and its mission of educating and celebrating women and mothers of all reproductive identities.
Clea Dobrish: I am Clea Dobrish, a junior at Eckerd College studying Sociology and Women and Gender Studies. Especially with the political climate, it is more important than ever to join together and educate ourselves and others about feminism and gender studies, this is my main goal through this internship. Working with the EC Feminist club on campus has ignited a passion in me to further my education on the matter as well as helped me find my calling in helping people desexualize and accept how amazing their bodies are through the events done on campus. I hope to bridge the gap between Eckerd and MoM by helping others get internships here and collaborating with the feminist club. I also hope to learn about and assist with grant writing for MoM.
REMOTE RESIDENCY AT MoM
Yes, it is possible to do a Remote Residency at MoM. It’s also possible to have a remote internship at MoM as well! Apply through our website on the appropriate page, work with your institution, and make progress on your project through interactions with the Museum of Motherhood and Director, Martha Joy Rose.
Christina Doonan PhD: is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Political Science and Gender Studies at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. Her research interests include the politics of health, human rights, the right to health, and motherhood and parenting in the context of chronic illness.
My current project, “Mothering Through Cancer,” explores how breast cancer affects motherhood for mothers of young children, and how mothering young children affects the experience of cancer. Taking my own experience as a starting point, I am interested in how idealized versions of motherhood work in both directions, influencing what mothers expect of themselves as they experience cancer and what others expect of mothers—and how this translates into the types of supports that mothers receive (or not).I first presented a portion of this work at the M.O.M. Conference in 2022: “Creativity for a Cause.”I felt invigorated by the supportive feedback I received from the M.O.M. community.Staying in touch with the project has been difficult given the dual demands of work and reproductive labour.My residency with M.O.M. this week allows me to reconnect with and refocus on this project and give it the time that it deserves. Thank you to Joy and Tracy for arranging the details and for welcoming me so warmly. I’m grateful and delighted to be here as part of this vital community! (Christina is pictured about with her husband Lincoln and MoM Director, Martha Joy Rose).
Today is V-Day. It’s a time for lovers, a time for mothers, and a time for social change. Valentine’s Day, the holiday, is an age-old tradition. According to historians, Valentine’s Day originated in ancient Rome, stemming from a Pagan celebration called the feast of Lupercalia, a festival of fertility and purification. NPR states:
“The Roman romantics “were drunk and naked.” According to Noel Lenski, a religious studies professor at Yale University, “Young women would line up for the men to hit them.” They believed this would make them fertile. The brutal fete included a matchmaking lottery in which young men drew the names of women from a jar. The couple would then be coupled up for the duration of the festival — or longer, if the match was right.”
The festival was made more civilized through subsequent interpretations. Ultimately, the pagan influences were reduced, Christianity took over, and the story of the martyred St. Valentine preaching in Rome was added. The holiday took on new meaning; Less debauched, still fertility, or love-based, and romanticized by people like Shakespeare, it ultimately became the cultural and commercial event we recognized today.
For those romantics who might be focused on learning to love themselves, there are other lessons to be had. For example, coupledom is no longer top priority for some Gen Z and millennials. According to The Knot, post-pandemic trends are leaning towards prioritizing health and wellness over serial dating. In fact, according to statistics 75% of Gen Z are single as opposed to 44% of millennials who are married (source). Additionally, focusing on social movements like BLM and green-sustainability rank high on the list of priorities.
“Through the pandemic, a lot of people have prioritized wellness, particularly in terms of their physical fitness, and their mental fitness, and their consumption habits.”
I guess we have come a long way from the debauched Roman holiday of old. In fact, now we even have pushback with organizations like Eve Ensler’s V-Day, One Billion Rising, an organization begun with “a mass action to end violence against women in human history.” The movement addresses the “staggering statistic that 1 in 3 women will be beaten or raped during her lifetime.”
Today, MoM rises, along with One Billion Rising to honor 10 years of One Billion Rising and 25 years of V-Day. We join in the campaign today in 2023, which has been declared a year of INSPIRATION and ASPIRATION.
According to V-Day, this will be “A year of storytelling, building communities, strengthening solidarity, sharing dreams, planting trees, creating art, honoring women and the earth, and of dancing.”
It is the year MoM will continue “to ENVISION and CREATE new ways of being, seeing, living, loving and connecting. Of raising consciousness and deepening understanding. So that our freedom, our future, is rooted in truth, love, community, earth and body.” (Source: One Billion Rising).
To that end, join our collaboration with YesChefVillage, bringing free, healthy food to communities seeking access to dining resources and connection. This Friday, Feb. 17th, 6-7:30PM will be our second dinner with Chef Omaka and his team. You can write us INFO@MOMmuseum.org to attend, fill out the RSVP formon our website, or just show up!
Then, Saturday, Feb. 18th, come see us at Localtopia in St. Petersburg, FL, a celebration of all things local. Our booth will be in area #7, The Family Village, and we will be sharing more love, more connections, and more information and education about our mission locally. Today, LOVE EVERYBODY! Love, MoM!
AEHK 7th Annual Studio Tour is coming March 16 & 17th! This is a wonderful opportunity to explore local artists studios “Where Art Lives” 
