Naming Ceremony and...ummm...Motherhood?

Hi "Society" (ha, that sounds like "high society"), but I don't know what to call us yet. I thought briefly about addressing us as "HAE-ters"....cutesy n'est ce pas? But ALL WRONG for an group whose very raison d'etre is to be supportive of one another's creative efforts. Oh well, I'm sure someone will come up with some-a-thing brilliant. Talk amongst yourselves.....

In the meantime, in between time, I post this inaugural "Discussion" for utterly selfish reasons. One of my personalities (the one that pays our rent) works at a non-profit called "The Black Infant Health" program in Cali. We provide free "support services" (i.e. counseling, parenting classes, help them get emergency food/clothing/shelter, etc). to pregnant African-American women. Infant mortality amongst AA is three to FOUR times greater than other ethnicities. The reasons are so deep, y'all...but I'll explain mo' better in a future post. Right now, I'm in the midst of planning an event for our program and would LOVE some creative input from anyone willing. So the event is sort of a post Mother's Day Tea. Well, that's what it started out to be. It has morphed into this sort of "Circle of Women" discussing the idea of motherhood specifically as it relates to the lives, truths, histories of AA women.

So, the idea/ my DREAM is to have an outdoor Garden/Tea party in a local park (a la the Mad Hatter's Tea Party) and naming each table according to a different, important woman of color (i.e. The Zora Neale Hurston table, etc.). Each table facilitated by a different African American woman speaker of note (rather than have boring old speeches), and have them facilitate a provocative discussion or activity at each table based on their genre? For example, I’d like to have one table facilitated by an artist and have them discuss the images of black women and pregnancy/fertility/ motherhood as it has been depicted in art. Maybe at another table, the discussion is facilitated by a semi-well known writer/filmmaker, and have them discussing/educating about the theme of black women as mothers in literature or film (i.e. they could discuss the mother in Toni Morisson’s Beloved or Bluest Eye, Julie Dash's "Daughters of the Dust" etc.). You with me? A third table could be facilitated by a professor of AA studies, a psychologist or maybe a counselor. I've also reached out to a female slam poet and an african dance troup to provide both entertainment and provoke further thought and discussion.

Anyway, I need help tightening up my theme. What do you think I should call this event? Any other ideas for ways to really make it interactive and high energy and uplifting and REALLY get the ladies to participate and make it dynamic? Anybody know of any great AA female contacts (musicians, dancers, artists, poets, speakers, etc) in the San Diego area? Any ideas for flyers and/ or the invitations? I have to make those up this week and I really want them to communicate that this is an event to uplift, empower, heal....rather than just sit there like a lump to be lectured to, ya know?

Okay, I talkie too much. I just have to share this amazing study/paper on the topic of infant mortality and stressors on AA women. It'll really help shed light on the WHY of the issue underlying the whole purpose of the event.

Mwah! I welcome, in advance, your creativity and heart in helping me make this event something that will truly give something REAL to the ladies who attend (understand, some of our clients are going through major life struggles along with their pregnancy --- homelessness, isolation, abusive relationships, and much much more), so I really want to make this so hopeful and nourishing for their/our spirits.

Black Lily (aka Alison)