Moms First’s Post

As a mother of three, I couldn't agree more with this message. I strive to spend as much time as possible with my daughters while also ensuring I provide for them. This is why I love what I do—offering the flexibility to be present for my girls and the excellent compensation needed to support them. In my role, I help families and small businesses plan for success by building a solid roadmap that enables them to step out of the box and start living fully. I believe we can create a new reality where families are prioritized, leading to more resilient communities. However, I recognize that not everyone has the same financial literacy and education, which can make them feel stuck in their jobs. It's essential to provide support and resources so everyone can achieve financial freedom and balance. Being there for my daughters means investing in the next generation, which is just as crucial, if not more, than the work we do today. Together, we can push for a future where affordable childcare, paid leave, and equal pay are the norms, ensuring that all parents can thrive both at work and home.

Did you know there was a time when we had universal child care in the United States? It was during World War II when the country decided they needed women to work, so they had child care in the workplace and child care centers. But once the men came back, in order to force women off of their jobs, they closed the centers. And a little discussed element of this is that they used physical intimidation and violence to force women back into the home and out of the workforce. Apparently, everything old is new again. These are the words of a representative on the House floor, a person from my home state of Wisconsin, who is just telling us all what their plan is should they get back into power. And that is to go back to a pre-civil rights 1960s what time of suffering great suffering for many people in this country. Republican Call to Return US to 1960s Sparks Backlash. "While speaking on the House floor on Thursday, Grothman criticized people who advocate for government-funded child care programs and then called for a more traditional approach to ensuring the welfare of children in the next administration. 'Every year, of course, I am lobbied by people who want the government, therefore, to take an even greater role in their children's life—be it day care, be it pre-school, be it after-school programs, whatever. They clearly want the children raised by the government,' Grothman said. 'I hope the [White House] press corps picks up on this. And I hope Republican and Democrat leadership put together some sort of plan for January in which we work our way back to where America was in the 1960's.'" #childcare #womensrights #humanrights #blackjobs #womensjobs #civilrights #workplacediscrimination

On this Mother's Day, my gift wish list represents the changes I wish to see for mothers and children around the world: 1. Affordable housing with low interest rates, ensuring stability for families. 2. Universal 4-day work weeks to promote work-life balance and family time. 3. An end to child labor, ensuring every child has access to education and play. 4. Peaceful resolution to conflict to protect the innocent, especially children affected by war. 5. Sustainable career opportunities to empower families historically held back from building generational wealth. 6. Accessible, equitable early care and safe birth experiences for Black women. 7. Protections for a woman's right to choose to become a mother or not. I am passionate about working with organizations with a mission to support healthy kids and strong families. I'd love to work with yours to help bring this wish list to life. Happy Mother's Day. #mothersday #socialimpact #changemakers #communications [Kicking off Mother's Day weekend with my littlest love.]

Programs designed to help rural Americans and people with disabilities helped me find an excellent university, supported me through my education, and gave me guidance as friends and loved ones and a parent passed away. All of those people and their work fall under the larger umbrella of DEI initiatives, and attacks on those programs are attacks on my — and others who needed that support — participation in the professional world. When my dad became a homemaker, my mother went back to work and spent long hours supporting our family. She worked her way up to Professor and Department Chair, gaining respect from those that viewed her previously-taken parental leave as something that should disqualify her years of experience. Professional attacks on the participation of those in non-traditional families in our workplaces are hurtful to all of us, whether we expect to raise a non-traditional family or were raised in one (whether it’s a same-sex couple, a single parent, a father acting as a homemaker, or however you choose to live your life). I bring up these two points because they — DEI Programs and non-traditional employees, like mothers — are explicitly condemned in Project 2025, which I’ve linked below. It’s quite long (almost 1,000 pages), but I encourage you to look over sections relevant to you to better understand the changes that are planned to happen to your professional and personal life, starting next year. https://lnkd.in/gupVzUdT

Today's Positive Thought - A Father's Role How can dads show their kids that they're committed to fairness and equality? This Is The Thing: Fathers have a big influence on their kids, not just in practical stuff but also in how they think and feel. Good parenting means teaching fairness and equality at home. Dads, as mentors and role models, have a real chance to show their kids the importance of standing up for what's right. By their words and actions, dads can teach their kids to care about others and speak up for fairness. #Fatherhood Equity and fairness aren't just abstract ideas; they're real values that shape our society. Dads, as guides for their kids' moral growth, have the job of nurturing these values at home. By creating an environment where fairness is important, and unfairness is challenged, dads give their kids the tools to handle a world filled with injustices. Whether it's through dinner discussions or shared activities, dads can teach their kids about empathy, equality, and the importance of speaking up for positive change. #Equity #Fairness Fathers have a big impact on their kids by talking to them about fairness and treating everyone equally. This helps raise kids who care about others and want to make the world a better place. By teaching their kids to think critically and take responsibility for others, fathers are helping them become advocates for fairness. These values don't just stay at home; they affect whole communities and the way society works. When fathers take on the role of teaching about justice and fairness, they're not just helping their own kids but also working towards a fairer and kinder society for everyone. #SocialChange #FamilyValues Remember to take care of yourself, stay healthy, and have a wonderful Wednesday! Artwork: Superheroes, by Linda Woods Give Back - https://bit.ly/3SdATKa Via Email - https://lnkd.in/gKMgrjVV Our Facebook Group - https://lnkd.in/g99yABW3

At Rachel Cahill Consulting, this #BlackHistoryMonth serves as a reminder that lessons from the past can inform our present efforts to create future progress. More specifically, lessons from the Welfare Rights Movement can inform how #antihunger advocates support, defend, and listen to the communities they serve. The Welfare Rights Movement involved impacted individuals leading and demanding equal treatment in accessing programs. It started in the late-1950s when Black mothers organized to defend their right to access federal assistance, and “some people have called it the largest black feminist organization in U.S. history." (https://lnkd.in/g6GTGAe4) These women organized marches, lawsuits, and sit-ins to push back against the racialized stigma and policy decisions that classified White mothers as deserving and Black mothers as dependent. They fought against policy makers and program officials challenging their dignity and right to self-determination. Black mothers fought alongside Native American and Puerto Rican communities for certain provisions, like increased benefits and the right to keep their benefits when moving states. Their efforts gained momentum in the 1960s as President Johnson waged the “War on Poverty,” and as welfare rights groups across cities combined efforts.  Black women declaring access to welfare benefits as a right was in direct conflict with the racialized stigma of welfare dependency that started in the first half of the 1900s, and later birthed insidious stereotypes like the “welfare queen.” As we celebrate #BlackHistory, let’s celebrate their bold opposition to racial discrimination and honor their living legacy by rooting out the stereotypes, stigma, and policy provisions that perpetuate racial inequity in federal assistance. Further Reading: https://lnkd.in/gEDAUH8H https://lnkd.in/gdX5Hif8 Photo Credit: Jack Rottier Collection/George Mason University Libraries Photo Credit: Johnnie Tillmon, Executive Director of NWRO 1972-1974, by Brian Lanker/National Portrait Gallery

📢 Calling all New Yorkers! 📢 As members of our community, you're aware of the critical issue we're facing: the dire shortage of direct support staff for individuals with developmental disabilities. It's a challenge that hits close to home for many of us, and it's time to take action. PCCS urges you to join in spreading awareness by sharing this heartfelt video with your legislators and anyone else in your network. Let's shine a light on this pressing issue together. 💡 But it doesn't stop there. Your voice matters. Share your personal experiences, your struggles, and your triumphs with your legislators and others. Let's amplify our collective voices and advocate for change. 🗣️ Understandably, more investment in direct care workers is needed, not just within NYS OPWDD but also within the Department of Health Services. By coming together and speaking out, everyone can push for desperately needed support and resources. Please watch this video here: https://bit.ly/3HNiejL You can also support through advocacy efforts like the New York Disability Ally Rally in which the details are listed below: WHEN: Monday, February 12th TIME: 11:00 AM WHERE: New York State Capitol Building WAR ROOM, 2ND FLOOR* STATE ST. AND WASHINGTON AVE. ALBANY, NY 12224

📢 In February Child Trends released its highly anticipated 100-year Review of Research on Black Families. The review identifies key scholars and funders of research on Black families and describes the goals of the research, as well as the methods and approaches used to conduct it. The primary goal of the work is to understand previous research focused on #Blackfamilies to glean #lessons for future research in this area. #childwelfare #researcher #research #evidencebased #evidencebasedpractices #ImpSci #Professionaldevelopment

In the ongoing political discourse, the disabled community emerges as a formidable force, boasting a substantial voting bloc that cannot be ignored. With an estimated 61 million disabled individuals in the United States, their collective voice holds significant sway in shaping electoral outcomes and policy decisions. Despite facing barriers to political participation, organizations like the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) are mobilizing efforts to empower disabled voters and ensure their voices are heard on the national stage. By recognizing the voting power of the disabled community and uniting in advocacy, we can forge a more inclusive and representative democracy for all. https://lnkd.in/gAmQ5-ic

NATIONAL BARRIER AWARENESS DAY HISTORY In 1986, Congress designated May 7, 1986, as National Barrier Awareness Day by a House Joint Resolution (544). It authorized the President to issue a proclamation recognizing the day. On May 7, 1986, President Ronald Reagan issued proclamation 5472 and called for Americans to recognize the day with events and programs that would contribute to removing the obstacles facing those with disabilities. #BarrierAwarenessDay.