Who takes care of us?
September 2, 2016
The society we live in is not one that values supporting people. This is especially true when it comes to women.
Throughout my life as a Black woman, I have been taught how to take care of family, community, colleagues, friends and relationships, but never myself.
Having built intentionally with women in my work, I know this is true for many of us, cis and trans, where our labor is unseen and too often undermined or unacknowledged.
When I was 8 years old my mother worked three jobs. A single mom, she worked to feed, clothe and house her four children. She did not receive enough support from work, family or community. And as a Black woman, she did not know how to ask for help free of strings or judgement. I am grateful for the lessons my mother taught me, but I also hold the sacrifices she was forced to make for her children. This clearly was bigger than 'personal responsibility.' My mother and her children needed resources that would provide a particular type of security for our family. It's through these early childhood experiences that I chose to be in movement work.
It is with great excitement that I announce my new position as Senior Fellow at MomsRising. In this capacity I will be focusing on maternal mortality and morbidity. My mission is to empower and uplift the stories of families who have experienced devastation and inequity while delivering their children. I will honor and support the work happening on these issues currently, while also developing new policies that aim to protect and save women's lives.
You can follow my journey here.
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