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About Mocha Moms, Inc.



Mocha Moms is a support group for mothers of color who have chosen not to work full-time outside of the home in order to devote more time to their families and communities. While many of our members have eliminated employment altogether, others work part-time, flex-time, night shifts, have home-based businesses, consult or freelance from home or have chosen alternative, less demanding career paths so that they are more available to their families. Our goal is to support the decisions made by our members. We will never pass judgment on mothers who choose to make or are forced to make different decisions for their families. (See Mocha Moms Inc. and the "Mommy Wars"). Mocha Moms welcomes people of all religions, races, educational backgrounds and income levels. (See Anti-Discrimination Language) Anyone who supports the mission of Mocha Moms is welcome to join.


ORGANIZATION

Direction for Mocha Moms, Inc. is provided by a National Executive Board. The National Board meets regularly to, among other things, determine ways to assist local chapters in their efforts to support members, plan national community service projects and events, establish policies and procedures, and assist in the formation of chapters. The members of the Executive Board are:


 
From left to right: Kuae Mattox, Shalaun Newton,    
Dee-Dee Jackson, Cheli English-Figaro and Kim Scott

 

Dee-Dee Jackson, National President

Cheli English-Figaro, Esq., Co-Founder & President Emeritus; National Co-Director of Community Service

Kuae Mattox, National Director of Media & Publicity and National Co-Director of Community Service

Shalaun Newton, National Director of Corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships

Kim Scott, National Treasurer

Gabriela Sanchez, National Administrator

Mocha Moms, Inc. also has a National Advisory Council, which serves to assist and advise the National Board. Regional Directors and State Coordinators serve as the liaison between local chapters and the National Executive Board.

Regional Directors and State Coordinators also serve as a guide and support for all local chapters with an emphasis on coordinating activities in which many chapters throughout an area can participate.

Each local chapter of Mocha Moms elects officers who are in charge of the day-to-day affairs of that chapter.

From time to time, Mocha Moms, Inc. will establish national networks. In addition to web-based support and a regular column in our newsletter, networks address certain segments of the Mocha Moms, Inc. community, such as Home Alone Moms (at home mothers with school-aged or adult children), Work At Home Moms or Homeschooling Moms. The network coordinators are available to help plan activities for a chapter, state or region.


OUR HISTORY

Mocha Moms, Inc. began with the publishing of a newsletter called Mocha Moms in the hopes of connecting with other at-home mothers of color across the country. The newsletter was intended to encourage these mothers to feel good about their choice as well as to provide information to help them be the best and most important influence in their children’s lives. The first Mocha News was distributed to over 100 moms across the country in the spring of 1997. From this newsletter the original moms decided to form a support group called Mocha Moms, Inc. The first support group meeting was held in October of that year, in Cheverly, MD. There are now over 100 chapters throughout the United States and the organization is continually growing and evolving to meet the needs of our moms, their families, and the communities they live in.

Mocha Moms, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Mocha Moms, Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, gender, socio-economic level, education, or religion. Anyone who supports the mission and purpose of Mocha Moms, Inc. is welcome to join.


PLATFORM

Our platform contains seven main issues or pillars:

  1. The first is non-exclusivity. We wanted to create an organization where ALL at-home mothers of color would feel welcome. Our dues are relatively low. We believe the low annual membership fee makes Mocha Moms, Inc. accessible to almost any mom regardless of family income. Our policy of non-exclusivity also explains why we are not a religious organization. We want at-home mothers of color of all religions to feel completely comfortable at Mocha Moms activities. Further, we do not discriminate against any group of people. Anyone who supports the mission of Mocha Moms, Inc. is welcome to join. We have and will continue to welcome at-home dads and at-home moms of all races, as well as mothers who work outside the home on a full or part-time basis, into our organization.
     

  2. Community activism and the spirit of volunteerism: Community service clearly benefits society at large, but performing the service also benefits our members. By serving their communities, members are able to hone or cultivate skills that are not currently being used in their jobs as moms. Further, it is important for children to witness their mothers being involved in improving and giving back to their communities.
     

  3. Support for work-at-home mothers: Mocha Moms, Inc. intends to prepare a database of home-based businesses owned by Mocha Moms. This will enable mothers who work-at-home to connect and network.
     

  4. Non-partisanship: Mocha Moms of all political, religious and all other persuasions are welcome. Mocha Moms, Inc. does not support political candidates or parties.
     

  5. A strong commitment to marriage and to the support of our husbands: Mocha Moms, Inc. is committed to supporting the at-home mother of color as she sets the foundation for her family and learns and grows as a wife and/or partner.
     

  6. Self-care and taking time for ourselves - mind, body and spirit: Self-care is absent in the lives of many at-home mothers, but it is crucial to maintaining a sense of well-being and balance.
     

  7. The education of our children: Whether our children attend public, private, charter schools or are homeschooled, at home mothers are committed to educating their children and Mocha Moms, Inc. is committed to help in this endeavor.


COMMUNITY SERVICE
Community service and outreach is a key part of Mocha Moms, Inc. Each local chapter of Mocha Moms, Inc. is required to perform two community service projects each year, one of which must focus on the National Community Service Initiative (for 2008 – Closing the Gap in Minority Health, Prosperity and Achievement). This is easily accomplished because most members are eager to use their energy doing something positive for their communities.  For more information, click here.


ACTIVITIES

Our activities are consistent with our goal of supporting other stay-at-home mothers of color and the communities we live in:

Weekly Mother's Support Group Meetings
Every local chapter of Mocha Moms, Inc. sponsors a weekly or bi-monthly mothers' support group meetings, which must be held during the week between the hours of 10am and 2pm. An informal discussion led by one of the Mocha Moms or an invited facilitator is an integral part of the support group meetings. Support Meetings are approximately two hours in duration and serve as opportunities for mothers to gather and talk - an activity that most adults take for granted, but missing from the daily lives of at-home mothers. Ideas are exchanged, friendships are formed, and at-home mothers of color discover that they are not alone.

Monthly Moms-Only Potluck Events
Moms-only nights are sponsored monthly by each local chapter. Moms-only nights are the only time each month that members meet without the distraction of children. Often, it is the only opportunity members have to "recharge their batteries" and focus on themselves. Members may go to the movies, out to dinner or to a health club or spa. Most of the time, however, a chapter will invite an expert in a field to come to a member's house to discuss such issues as educational options for children, financial planning or operating home-based businesses.


MOCHA MOMS, INC. IN THE NEWS

Mocha Moms, Inc. has been featured on national television programs, such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, GPTV and in national publications such as the New York Times, Miami Herald, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Mothering, Essence, Jet Magazine, and Parenting Magazine. The good work of our chapters have also been featured in many local and community publications and television programs.

General

 
The trademark Mocha Moms is a registered trademark of Mocha Moms, Inc.
The trademark Mocha Moms can only be used upon expressed written permission from Mocha Moms, Inc.