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In This Issue
DC Dispatch
A Big Job for a "Little Lady"
Motherhood and the Government Shutdown Threat
NAMC Applauds Reid Speech
As a Mother, Do You Matter?

Honor a Mom in Your Life for Mother's Day

on our Wall of Honor

at our Mile For Mothers

Walk a Mile in Mom's shoes

 

Mile for Mothers

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April 30, 2011

 

On the Boardwalk in Long Beach, NY

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For just $35 a year you will get discounts to conferences, free webinars and access to members-only discounts and resources. Your tax-deductible donation will also provide programs and support for the caregiving work mothers perform.  

JOIN the NAMC, the parent organization of MOTHERS, and make a difference for MOTHERS in concrete ways!

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How can one gift make thousands of women happy?
 
A portion of each purchase of a
Signature Mothers' Center Bracelet by Jewels For A Cause goes to the National Association of Mothers' Centers. Makes a wonderful gift for your mother, aunt, best-friend and for yourself. 

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Mothers' Center & New Mom Signature Bracelets
 
A great gift idea.

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 April 21, 2011

Greetings!

 

We hope this eNews finds you enjoying sunny skies and warmer, longer days.  Mother's Day is just around the corner, but we also look forward to a time when mothers are valued all year long with effective, practical public policies reflecting our multiple roles.  To bring that day closer,  this issue covers Equal Pay Day, introduces the new Chair of the Democratic National Committee, and looks at the role motherhood is playing in the federal budget debates.  Finally, we look at the latest research on the effect mothering has on children.  Thank you for being an advocate for mothers and families, and do let us know how we can help at [email protected].
 

Best, 

The mothers of MOTHERS .


P.S.  You can follow Valerie Young,   Follow us on Twitter Visit our blog Find us on Facebook and share our posts with your Facebook friends. 

 

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DispatchDC Dispatch - Equal Pay Day

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Women's advocates rally every April 12 to point out the fact that the typical woman working full-time, full year, must put in nearly 3 and 1/2 more months at work to make as much as the average man in a single year.  This year, a whole lotta shakin' was going on for Equal Pay Day, starting with the flash mob in front of the Lincoln Memorial. You will NOT want to miss

this video

!   

 

A whole lotta ink (or pixels) were spilled too.  Here is an Equal Pay Day column co-authored by MOTHERS founder Ann Crittenden about the unfairness faced by  many part-time workers (most of whom are women, most of whom are mothers, which is why they are working part-time).   

New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand wrote this piece on fair pay for the Huffington Post.  A favorite economist, Heather Boushey, posted this blog about the gender pay gap, the Wal-Mart case before the US Supreme Court, and how the Paycheck Fairness Act could diminish unequal pay, all related to Equal Pay Day. Click here to find out more.

 LittleLadyA Big Job for a "Little Lady"


Debbie Wssserman SchultzMember of Congress Debbie Wasserman Schultz

was named Chair of the Democratic National Committee by President Obama.  She's had a most distinguished political career and been in Congress since 2005.  Now she is running for re-election, and has had breast cancer, 7 surgeries, a double mastectomy, and 3 children (including one set of twins).  She claims never to be without a crayon in her purse. 

Her appointment as DNC Chair, responsible for coordinating the party's daily activities, sparked comment from other lawmakers that she might be in over her head.  These remarks, in turn, lead to accusations of sexism, which led to stout defenses and denials.  It was a good ol' Washington brouhaha with lots of outrage and finger pointing.  Do you believe the suggestions of "strain" would still have been made if the President had named a man?  Read these three articles on Wasserman's abilities.

Jezebel.com

Doublex.com

Politico.com

 

MotherhoodMotherhood and the Government Shutdown Threat

Finalizing the federal 2011 budget hinged, for awhile, on the continued funding of Planned Parenthood's routine medical and family planning services.  Ultimately, the non-profit was left alone, but a condition of the agreement to keep the federal government up and running was that the District of Columbia could not use its own funds to cover the costs of abortion for poor women.  DC, you will remember, has no vote in Congress, no Senators or members of the US House, yet it pays its fair share of federal taxes.  To be restricted by Congress on its own decisions for its own residents with its own money was a bitter pill for many to swallow. As a practical matter, women in the District may find it out of reach, notwithstanding the fact that abortion still is perfectly legal as long as no federal money is used. Motherhood is more of a political football than ever, and likely to stay in play for quite a while, with 2012 budget bills looming.  This link will take you to a one hour radio discussion of all sides of the issue.

HighCostNAMC Applauds Reid Speech

clappingAdvocating for mothers' rights is what we do, and we had to voice our agreement with Senator Harry Reid's remarks during the budget debate.  Refusing to surrender federal funding for women's health care services, he expressed his outrage, which we shared.  Women's health care policy is far too important to be used as a pawn in a political showdown.  Here's a copy of the letter sent by NAMC Executive Director, Linda Lisi Juergens. 

 motherAs a Mother, Do You Matter?

Does parenting really mold the development of our children, or does our influence pale in the face of media, technology, peers, and all the other forces our children are exposed to?  Jane Waldfogel (LOVE her!) a Columbia University professor and expert in public policy and family well-being, has done in-depth research and has good news.  As mothers, we are in a position to make a huge difference in the lives of our children.