There’s a lot of stress and uncertainty right now — and the headlines are often worse than bad — but there’s also a lot of MOMentum. Across the country, moms and caregivers are stepping up, speaking out and sharing our stories in powerful (and much needed) ways, and making real change. From rising to help protect Medicaid to mobilizing grassroots leaders on-the-ground across the nation, to securing state and local policy wins to demanding that K-12 education isn’t dismantled, we’re proving that when moms rise together, we make an impact. And through it all, your support fuels this movement.
Thank you for standing with us. Let’s keep going.
With boundless gratitude,
Kristin, MacKenzie, Jessica, Felicia, Gloria, Sue Anne, and everyone at MomsRising
Tell your members of Congress, particularly Republican leadership who are blindly following Trump’s harmful agenda, to say NO to dismantling and defunding our public education system!
MEET THE CHANGEMAKERS LEADING THE WAY IN 2025
We're excited to unveil our largest-ever cohort of Volunteer Beacon Leaders for 2025! These 159 passionate local grassroots volunteer leaders spanning 35 states are poised to help transform their communities through long-term powerful advocacy and meaningful action. Supported by the generosity of donors like you, these leaders will receive comprehensive training and essential resources to amplify their impact.
These dedicated volunteers represent hope in motion — each one committed to creating positive MOMentum, strengthening local networks, and helping moms and families thrive. Their collective energy and commitment showcase the incredible potential of the mom movement.
Meet these inspiring leaders and discover the transformative work they'll be championing: A Joyous Welcome to MomsRising's 2025 Volunteer Beacon Leaders.
SPOTLIGHT: MOMSRISING MEMBER TESTIFIES TO PROTECT MEDICAID
MomsRising member Chris Dunham with his son, Will, and wife, Maggie.
At a House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee hearing, MomsRising member Christopher Dunham spoke out against proposed Medicaid cuts. Chris, who cares for his 16-year-old son, Will, shared how Medicaid is a lifeline for his family.
“The care economy saves lives. Please protect it. This starts with paying caregivers what they deserve. I have two herniated discs from lifting Will because, for the past few years, we’ve only had aides three evenings per week due to a lack of available staff. Slashing Medicaid would send us in the wrong direction, we must stop these cuts.” — Chris Dunham
Read Chris’s full testimony: Our Stories: Chris Dunham Testifies on the Hill. His story was covered by many news outlets including MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell.
With donor support, we train and empower members like Chris to share their stories and advocate for policies that protect families.
OUR VOICES ARE POWERFUL & NEEDED
In this past month alone, MomsRising members across the nation shared their stories with MomsRising in a big way in order to help shift the narrative, help stop bad legislation, and to expand our movement – and we’ve opened up many avenues for powerful stories to be heard just when (and where!) they’re needed the most. Here’s a sampling of some of the many powerful stories:
Molly Moon, small business owner of a dozen ice cream shops, and ice cream line, Molly Moon’s in Washington State, testified before the House Small Business committee on the challenges Trump’s tariff’s pose for small business owners and the investments businesses really need like child care and paid family and medical leave.
Daniella Knight from Maryland spoke at a rally organized by the NEA and attended by Members of Congress, to speak out against the nomination of Linda McMahon as Education Secretary and the proposed cuts by Trump and Musk to defund the DoE and public education. Daniella was quoted in The Eagle.
Julie Walters from California shared her Medicaid and IDEA story with Rep. Pelosi at a round table discussion in San Francisco. Julie is a long-time healthcare advocate with MomsRising and her daughter relies on the protections and services provided by Medicaid and IDEA funding. The event was covered by the San Francisco Standard.
Mary Beth Cochran from North Carolina spoke at a rally/press conference with Leader Jeffries and the full Democrat Caucus on the steps of the Capitol speaking out against the House Budget Resolution (the morning it was being voted on). Mary Beth spoke to the importance of Medicaid, SNAP, and Head Start in the lives of her grandchildren.
Mary Beth also recorded social media videos with Rep. Ross and the Democratic Women’s Caucus. Mary Beth also spoke the week before on a press call with Rep. Boyle and other members of the House Budget Committee, along with our partners at Families Over Billionaires.
Mary Beth was covered in The Deseret News and her photo was featured in this Guardian article (which features the story of another MomsRising member Marya Parral).
Carolina Reyes from Maryland joined a press call with Sen. Murray and child care advocates to discuss Trump’s attacks on child care and Head Start. The Fort Worth Star Telegram covered the story.
Julie Mudd from New Hampshire was a guest of Rep. Pappas’ for President Trump’s joint address to Congress. Julie was able to highlight the importance of care policies and Medicaid for New Hampshire families. Her trip was covered in the Boston Globe.
Sasheena Salvador from New York shared her story at a Save Medicaid press event with Leader Jeffries in Brooklyn, NC. Sasheena shared about how Medicaid allowed her to access prenatal care, give birth without going into medical debt, and get her daughter Avianna to all her check-ups.
Cindy Camp traveled to DC from Baltimore, MD to testify at a House Democratic S&P Hearing on the importance of SNAP. Cindy was unable to work for a while because of family caregiving responsibilities. During that time, her family relied on SNAP to buy groceries.
Eshawney Gaston from Durham, NC spoke at the North Carolina Legislature. MomsRising joined our partners at the North Carolina Families Care Coalition, the Raising Wages Coalition, and over a hundred moms, kids, and allies speaking out for paid leave, paid sick days, and raising the minimum and tipped wages.
NEW HAMPSHIRE MOMS MAKING AN IMPACT
The New Hampshire State Moms Force is on the front lines, fighting for families and making real progress in the state. Thanks to their advocacy, we’ve seen major wins in protecting essential services, advancing maternal health, and strengthening community resources. Here’s how we’re making a difference:
- Blocked an attempt to defund the state library by mobilizing nearly 4,000 actions in under 24 hours, forcing the Finance Division to back down.
- Won bipartisan support in the Senate for NH MOMnibus 2.0, a maternal health bill advancing in a Republican-led legislature.
- Helped pass full-day kindergarten in Bedford, NH, by just 13 votes, after sending 570 postcards to voters.
- Stopped a bill that would have repealed the requirement for public schools to provide menstrual products, with over 1,700 sign-ins against it — our first TikTok-driven victory!
- Joined forces with coalition partners for Invest in Kids Advocacy Day, pushing for stronger maternal health policies, early childhood education funding, and better access to school meals.
- Strengthened relationships with lawmakers, with New Hampshire member Julie Mudd attending the State of the Union as a guest of U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas.
Together, we’re proving that when moms rise, families win!
MOMSRISING IN THE NEWS
THE GUARDIAN: Medicaid recipients fear 'buzzsaw cuts' for Trump's agenda: 'We're not going to be alive forever'
We’re not going to be alive forever. We’re trying to set up a life for [our developmentally disabled sons], but that entire life that we’re working so hard to set up for them is dependent on Medicaid.” – MomsRising member Marya Parral (MomsRising Government Relations and National Budget Vice President Elyssa Schmier and MomsRising member Mary Beth Cochran are also quoted)
USA TODAY: The caregiving industry relies on immigrants. These workers fear deportation under Trump.
“Trump’s immigration policies could make a bad situation dramatically worse. Immigrants are the backbone of our community and care infrastructure.” – MomsRising Executive Vice President Donna Norton
NEWSWEEK: Parents Group Slams Decision to Try and Shutter Department of Education
“America's moms know that gutting staff and dismantling the U.S. Department of Education is part of the Trump administration's grand scheme to redirect the funds currently used to educate our kids to instead line the pockets of greedy billionaires like Elon Musk. We object, and we reject the twisted values and skewed priorities that underlie this action.” – MomsRising Executive Director Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner
FORBES: Volunteer Childcare Can Be a Lifeline After Disasters. But It's Not Enough.
“Many states pay providers [of subsidized childcare] based on attendance rather than enrollment, so if a child doesn’t show up, they don’t get paid for that day. When a disaster strikes and you have kids who are unable to attend for many reasons, that would impact their bottom line.” – MomsRising Early Learning & Washington State National Director Lauren Hipp
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