Mother's Acting Up 2nd Annual Mother's Day Event

[fight4my3sons]

Portland, ME Reclaims Mother's Day
Come to our family event to honor the original intent of Mother's Day as a day of peaceful activism! Meet U.S. First District Congressional candidates, and enjoy music, children's activities, and free cake! Activist opportunities will be available at information tables, and through participation in One Sky and Standing Women projects.


May 11, 2008
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Deering Oaks Park Forest Avenue Portland, ME 04101

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1735/t/181/event/index.jsp?event_KEY=40339&t=

http://www.mothersactingup.org/

[fight4my3sons]

1. more info from an email that I got today

Dear All,



"Reclaiming Mother's Day events are inspired by the life, words and actions of Julia Ward Howe. In 1870 she wrote a Mother's Day Proclamation and called for a day when the world would honor what mothers hold most dear: the lives of our children, of all children. The events celebrate the vision that Julia spoke of 100 years ago: mothers everywhere rising up together around that which unites us rather than divides us - our global family." - Mothers Acting Up

Please join us on Sunday, May 11 at Deering Oaks Park from 12:00pm to 2:00pm for our second annual Mother's Day of Peace celebration. Our rally will begin with young actress Seren Huus reading the Mother's Day of Peace Proclamation of 1870 to remind us all of why we are gathering to reclaim Mother's Day.

Next, as this is a very important election year, you'll have an opportunity to meet some of your First Congressional District candidates before the primary in June. They'll have an opportunity to talk freely about their own moms and influences, which they probably don't have an excuse to do very often!

There will be opportunities for activism, if you like, at the tables of some local activist organizations, and an art project to work on for a "One Sky" Mother's Day action. Send "a personal and compelling portrait for climate action to members of Congress". http://www.1sky.org/mothersday


We shall join in the worldwide "Standing Women" meditation at 1:00pm (http://www.standingwomen.org/), and then have a group picture taken with our One Sky banner shortly afterwards as a show of commitment to our Congress. The banner will be sent to One Sky, who plans to display them in Washington D.C., and the photo will go to their website.

There will also be other children's activities, and free cake (Yes, cake! And I'm looking into having some vegan, gluten-free cake, in addition to the other confections.) Hope to see you there!


On a personal note, I want to thank all of you who signed up to participate in a local MAU group last year. I was supposed to organize this group, but lost my ability to focus on such an enterprise after the illness and death of my own mother. Please know that you have not been forgotten, and know that I am still interested in community building and activism with you. There is a new blog for our local group at http://mainemau.blogspot.com, and an e-mail address at [email protected] . I look forward to connecting with you again this year, whenever your busy schedules as mothers* permit!


In peace,


Helyne May

*mothers and others, who exercise protective care over someone smaller

[MaineDem]

2. Thanks for sharing this

I wouldn't have heard about it otherwise. Although I'm not in Portland I'll share this with others.

:yourock:

[fight4my3sons]

3. You're welcome!

I'm not in Portland either, I'm in Phippsburg. I heard about it last year and went down for it with my kids and had a blast. It was located near the playground so the kids had a good time playing and I had a good time listening to the music and browsing the tables that were set up with various information. It sounds like it is a little more organized this year, especially with the candidates that are going to be there. Helene also had a table at the Portland Peace Festival last summer. On the blog I noticed that they are now having playgroups! Too far for me to travel, but for anyone down in that area with little ones it would be great.