The fight for Black lives is one of the most urgent and important moments in our communities. Motherful stands with Black mothers, grandmothers, aunts, daughters, sisters, and families protesting and mourning the life of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and so many others. On Sunday, May 31, 2020, one of our co-founders made a public statement that does not reflect the values centered (see next section below) at Motherful.
As of Monday, June 1, 2020, this individual resigned from our organization and no longer has a position of leadership within Motherful.
As an organization dedicated to supporting marginalized single mothers, we stand with Black mothers and families hurting because of systemic racism. The majority leadership of Motherful are Black mothers, and we commit to always centering the experiences of Black families. As such, we are developing an accountability plan to ensure our success in this area, and will share with our community upon completion.
For more information on Motherful and what we stand for, contact info@motherful.org.
Motherful is a nonprofit organization in Columbus, Ohio dedicated to supporting, empowering, and nurturing single mothers and their families by providing resources, community and education.
WE ARE MOTHERFUL
A Mom-Profit Organization
OUR FOUNDING STORY
Founded in 2018 by three single mothers, Motherful (Mothers In Arms) seeks to bridge the gaps experienced by single mothers and their children in Columbus, Ohio. The co-founders recognized the great need for the fellowship and community of other single mothers in their own lives. They also recognized that often the resources and support that they needed as single mothers were hard to come by and not available in one place or location. Motherful was born from a desire to create an organization that would provide a respite of community for single mothers and their children where they would be understood and supported both emotionally and physically.
MISSION
Motherful supports, empowers, and nurtures single mothers and their families in Columbus, Ohio by providing resources, community and education.
VISION
Our vision is to create a Motherful world in which all mothers and their children are valued, nurtured, supported, and cared for, and where single mothers never again feel alone, abandoned, cast aside, stigmatized or marginalized systemically or personally. We seek to build a safe, intentional community where single mothers joyfully and peacefully work together,, uplift each other, and share an abundance of resources in a collaborative, equitable collective.
CORE VALUES STATEMENT
We believe all single mothers are sacred and worthy of support.
We believe in valuing the work of mothers.
We believe in an inclusive, representative democracy, which includes:
Acknowledging the damages inflicted on Black Americans through enslavement and post-emancipation exclusionary policies
Acknowledging the damages inflicted on Indigenous people through colonialism
Protecting and upholding voting rights
Championing and fighting for Civil rights
Support for reparations
We believe in healthcare for all.
We believe in reparative justice.
We believe in reproductive justice.
We believe in justice reform and rehabilitation.
We believe in LGBTQIA rights.
We believe in strong public education.
We believe in equitable economic prosperity for all, which includes:
Paid family leave
Equal pay for women and femmes, particularly women of color
Acknowledging and addressing racial inequity
Access to affordable housing and childcare
Food security
Workforce policies & labor force equity
We believe in humanitarian crisis support, which includes:
Supporting immigrant & refugee neighbors
Volunteering for local humanitarian aid requests
We believe in safe communities and healthy relationships, which includes:
Stronger common sense gun laws
Support for survivors of domestic & gun violence
Support for survivors of sexual assault and abuse
We believe in upholding disability rights, which includes:
Equitable transportation
Equal opportunity to employment and education
Access to affordable health care
Workforce development
We believe in a thriving and sustainable environment, which includes:
Clean air, water, and parks
Access to outdoor community spaces
Homes free of toxins and poisonous chemicals
Access to affordable and sustainable energy sources
Impact Report (December 2018 – July 2020)
We are proud to highlight the collection of our work. Motherful's success is due to the dedication of many volunteers, sponsors, donors, and supporters. We greatly appreciate you.
AS FEATURED IN THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH, MARCH 2020
MOTHERFUL TEAM
CHERE HAMPTON
President
Twelve years as a Senior Healthcare Contract Analyst with UnitedHealthcare, Chere is currently a freelance writer, a healer, and lightworker. She is a godmother/earthmother to eight children.
What I Love About Motherful: We get to touch so many lives by showing grace, care, compassion and love. This community needs that in a time where most people would ignore them or turn a blind eye to what these mothers need. I was raised by a single mom, and I know how much an organization like this would have helped her. It makes me feel proud to serve on this board and make a difference in the lives of these mothers and children.
An Accomplishment I Am Most Proud Of: Healing myself from childhood trauma.
What's On My Bucket List: Seeing the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis), going to Paris, and writing/creating my own television show.
LESLEY CARTER
Treasurer
Lesley has worked for the City of Columbus for the past 13 years, and has spent 10 years also working in the financial services industry. She’s gained training, knowledge, and experience to help navigate single parent households towards optimizing their budget and becoming debt-free.
What I Love Most About Motherful: The opportunity I get to connect with a diverse group of supportive women who are a part of the “single moms club.”
What's On My Bucket List: To become completely debt-free!
SHIKERA COPELAND
Secretary
Shikera is a native of Columbus, OH, where she currently resides. She is an aspiring entrepreneur and mother of three children. She has a passion to see mothers restored, whole, and fulfilling their destiny. In her free time, she enjoys attending church, listening to music, reading, traveling, volunteering, and engaging in health and wellness activities.
LISA WOODWARD
Program Manager
Co-Founder
Lisa was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio and studied Modern Dance. She is a single mother of three ladies and is a true Jack-Of-All-Trades. After relocating to New York in 1999, she studied fashion design, and started work as a Personal Assistant in the music industry. She currently does Bookkeeping and Operation Management for various small businesses. Lisa is a vegetarian and loves a garage sale.
What I Love Most About Motherful: I love the Sisterhood that we create in everything we do. I don't need to explain my journey because we all meet at a oneness and are excited about building a village. I feel protected by like minds. It's a true honor and blessing.
What's On My Bucket List:
Owning an Airstream and traveling to Bora-Bora.
HEIDI HOWES
Executive Director
Co-Founder
Heidi is a Co-Founder and Executive Director.
A single mother of two children for nearly a decade, Heidi is a Healing Artist, Musician, Writer, and Community Organizer whose passion is to create support and healing for mothers, communities, and the world.
PRISCILLA D. AGUILA
Marketing
Priscilla found success in the advertising industry for over twenty years by combining her skills as a copywriter, graphic designer, and project manager. She recently launched a youthful party/event branding and parent-child workshop boutique with her children, Zoey and Max. The Meet Cute Co. brings to life the parent-child collaboration for their clients. Priscilla is the self-published author and illustrator of a series of children’s books. She is also a freelance graphic designer and copywriter.
What I Love Most About Motherful: As a single mother, it's easy to feel alone. So it's vital to find a community that supports not just you, but your entire family unit as well. This group of ladies have made me come alive again in a creative sense. On a personal level, it's comforting to know I've finally made it home.
What's On My Bucket List: Being a game show contestant (Wheel of Fortune to be exact); taking another stab at an improv or comedy class; and spending time in an Air B&B tiny house or dreamy log cabin.
WE ARE PURPOSEFUL
A Bit of Background
Founded by three single mothers in 2018, we know that mothering alone is an unsustainable proposition. We are committed to creating community, education, and resources for single mother families.
WE ARE GRATEFUL
You Can Make a Difference
Your support is important to our work at Motherful. There are many ways you can contribute towards our causes, and every little bit that you commit goes a long way in helping us fulfill our mission. Learn more about how you can get involved and take advantage of the opportunity to do some good.
WE ARE IMPACTFUL
Activities & Resources
COMMUNITY DINNER
Feeding Families
CAREER COACHING COURSE
Educating Moms
"Mama was my greatest teacher, a teacher of compassion, love and fearlessness. If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love."
Stevie Wonder
CONTACT US
16143738941
