MAMA is born!

My work with the International Museum of Women (IMOW) comes to a close as we launch MAMA: Motherhood Around the Globe!  MAMA is a global online exhibition that fittingly enough, took 9 months to develop and will take 9 months to unfold, via topic galleries highlighting key issues related to motherhood and maternal health.  As Content Producer for the exhibition, it is with great pleasure that I invite you to explore MAMA at mama.imow.org, and hear from a powerful new generation of global mothers through art, multimedia, and creative writing.

For me, it was truly a labor of love to have had the opportunity to help compile the creative ideas and expressions of so many different women related to motherhood. 

Visit MAMA and you’ll hear from:

Lusina, a tribeswoman and mother of six from Kenya who says motherhood in a word is a “manager,” with a grin. (Meet the Mamas, Mamas’ Voices video installations)

Shira Richter, an artist from Israel whose incredible photography poses profound questions to a woman’s transformation into motherhood. (Art Gallery, Hero feature, Mama & Me)

Samina Ali shares in the short story Labor of Love, a gripping account of her near-death experience during the birth of her son, and what it taught her about life. (Stories)

These are just a few of the many contributions that inspired me. We hope MAMA will be a springboard for creativity, awareness and action on vital issues that affect mothers on every continent, and we have reason to believe our hopes may be fulfilled.  Just a week after launch January 24, 2012, MAMA had over 15,000 unique visitors from around the world!

If you sign up for IMOW E-news or Friend IMOW on Facebook or Twitter, you’ll get a reminder to visit the site as soon as a new topic gallery opens.

Here is a list the topics to be covered throughout the exhibition: 

MAMA TO BE?:   Who decides if, how and when a woman has a child? (Jan Launch)

HEALTHY MAMA, HEALTHY BABY: What are the realities of 21^st Century Pregnancy and Childbirth? (Mid Feb - March)

MAMA THEN & NOW: How do the experiences of mother, grandmothers, and daughters compare? (April)

MAMA’S WORK: How do women around the globe juggle work and motherhood? (May)

PAPA: What is the changing role of the modern Dad? (June)

MAMA IN MANY WAYS: How is the role of “mother” evolving? (July)

MAMA & ME: How do mothers’ identities shift and change? (August)

MAMA POWER: What kind of power do mothers wield? (September)

Please come back to see new content, explore the virtual galleries, engage in ongoing creative conversation, or take action on an issue you care about. MAMA: Motherhood Around the Globe is an evolving and vibrant creative community that needs you to thrive!

I hope you will be inspired to help spread the word about this exciting new exhibition. Please visit MAMA online and:

·         Post a Facebook status update about the exhibition

·         Follow Christy Turlington’s lead and Sign the Maternal Health Pledge, then send it to at least three friends

·        Leave comments on the exhibition content that most inspires you

My colleagues at IMOW and I are passionate about getting this exhibition out to the widest possible audience – at least 100,000 people. If every one of our friends does just these three things, we’ll be so much closer to that goal!

Thank you for spreading the word about MAMA!

My future blog posts will cover my work as a Consultant for the International Rescue Committee in Cote d’Ivoire, where we are launching a social marketing campaign to combat Violence Against Women on March 5^th across the country. If you are interested in learning about the mechanics of a social marketing campaign, as well as our progress/challenges as we head to launch, please subscribe to this blog by adding your email up at the white box at the top of the blog page.  


Thanks very much for reading, and please tell me what you think! 


Virginia