Start Your Own Group

Ultimately, your group should be organized in a way that works best for you and your friends. The point is to have fun while discussing the issues we all care about.

Eight Pointers to Get Started

  1. A Few Good Women (and Men): Invite two (or 20!) people for an evening of discussion. Gather the email addresses of all group members and share that list with all group members for easy communication.
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  2. Pick a Theme: Decide together what type of group you are going to be; a mom's night out group, a group that uses the discussion starters from the MomRising What's Cooking program, a mom-and-tot play group, a book group or a dad's group.
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  3. Choose Your Queen/Group Coordinator: After you get together for this first time, pick a group coordinator to keep all group members on the same page (and location!).
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  4. Location, Location, Location: You will need a place to hang out. You can choose an apartment, a coffee shop, a bookstore, a house, or even a library.
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  5. A Calendar: Set a time and place that is convenient for all. Make sure you discuss where you'll meet next at the end of each meeting. Better yet, set a regular monthly meeting time and place. Mark your calendars in advance.
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  6. Friendly Reminders: One week prior to each scheduled group meeting, the group coordinator should send an email to all confirming where the group is meeting, the topic, and the time.
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  7. Discussion Topics: The MomsRising What's Cooking program has hot issue-related discussion topics available for monthly meetings to spark group conversation, along with a synopsis of that issue, and a related action item for your group. New topics are available each month.
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  8. Make it Fun: Bring snacks, your children (or not), make it a potluck, a group that meets monthly to discuss the MomsRising What's Cooking hot issues, a regular moms-night out, a toddler play group, book group, or dance party (invite us!) -- you name it.

Plus...

Submit a Personal Story: Share an anecdote about your group for possible publication.

Motherhood Manifesto Poster (PDF): Download our poster of Rosie and the M.O.T.H.E.R. issues to pass out to your group or post in your neighborhood.