Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996
“We commend state legislators in Maine for their vote to close Long Creek Youth Development Center – a youth prison – within two years, and instead invest the funds in community-based alternatives. We look forward to Gov. Mills signing the legislation into law. Like every state and our federal government, Maine should invest in children, not prisons.
“Maine spends $250,000 per year to incarcerate a child and just $13,000 to send a child to school, and youth of color are grossly overrepresented at Long Creek.
It is a failed institution and incarcerating children is a failed practice.
We need a new model of youth justice that promotes healing for individuals and communities.
“Long Creek is just part of the problem. In the United States today, nearly 60,000 youth under age 18 are incarcerated in jails or prisons and approximately 10,000 who were tried as adults are housed in adult facilities. We incarcerate more young people than any other country. Youth prisons are ineffective and expensive and do less to improve community safety than supporting young people with the services and opportunities they need. We need a continuum of community-based alternatives to incarceration for all our kids.”
Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996
Aug 3, 2021 | For immediate release
The third week of this August (August 16 - 22) will be the very first national Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Breastfeeding Week. Activists across the country are leading a movement to reclaim the tradition of breastfeeding in Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities.
Los Angeles—The third week of August 2021 will be the very first national Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Breastfeeding Week, an effort that seeks to reclaim API families’ breastfeeding traditions led by API breastfeeding activists.
With support from the US Breastfeeding Committee (USBC), California-based BreastfeedLA and API Breastfeeding Task Force created this specific week to engage AANHPI breastfeeding families, advocates and health workers across the country. The theme of this year is “reclaiming our tradition.” In 2000, the founding organizations lobbied and received a local resolution from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors proclaiming the third week of August as Asian Pacific Islander Breastfeeding Week. The event has since then grown it into a national movement.
“Breast/chestfeeding reduces the risks of both acute and chronic health conditions for infants as well as lactating parents,” stated Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, in the motion to proclaim AANHPI Breastfeeding week, along with National Breastfeeding Month, World Breastfeeding Week, Native Breastfeeding Week, and Black Breastfeeding Week 2021.
While breastfeeding is traditionally a common practice in most Asian countries, Asian American women have been shown to introduce foods other than mother’s milk to their infants earlier than any other ethnic group, according to a 2016 study.
AANHPI breastfeeding families are also one of the most underserved groups in the United States. Nationwide, there are only four cultural breastfeeding coalitions currently serving API communities. In Los Angeles County—the largest home to Asian people outside of Asia— only 6% of lactation professionals speak an Asian language.
Hannah Halliwell, a-Los Angeles based IBCLC of Vietnam descent and Clinical Director for BreastfeedLA, observed the same stories over and over again: Asian family members breastfed in their countries of origin, but the members moved to the States, decided to formula feed due to social pressure, concern, and miseducation, often in the name of “trying to be American.”
“Many of our elders coming here (United States) felt assimilation was key to survival,” said Halliwell, adding that systemic issues such as pressure from formula company marketing, miseducation and lack of culturally congruent medical support have led many AANHPI families to choose formula over breast milk.
"AANHPI members may not always have the adequate resources when it comes to breastfeeding; this may be due to cultural stigma in a process of trying to assimilate and appear more modern,” said Tasmiha Khan with MomsRising. “It is imperative to support and encourage their choices to ensure that the next generation is having the nourishment they need without facing discrimination in any form."
To promote the theme of this AANHPI Breastfeeding Week, the founding organizations have created a logo based on the drawing of an 8-year-old Chinese American boy from San Diego, CA.. A high-resolution image is available upon request. Experts from the organizations are also available to discuss AANHPI week or provide a brief guest column and/or essay on the topic.
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About MomsRising:
MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.
About BreastfeedLA:
Formerly known as Breastfeeding TaskForce of Greater Los Angelos, BreastfeedLA is dedicated to improving the health and well being of infants and families through education, outreach, and advocacy to promote and support breastfeeding.
About API Breastfeeding Task Force:
Founded in 2017, API Breastfeeding Task Force recognizes the unique cultural and education needs of Asian, Pacific Islander and API-American parents. The Task Force seeks to decrease inequities and normalize breastfeeding in Los Angeles County’s API communities by improving breastfeeding education, support practices, and by removing systemic barriers that prevent breastfeeding from flourishing.
Media Contact:
Lisa Lederer
202/421-5825
To-wen Tseng
978-390-4238
Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996
With Congress expected to vote on the Build Back Better plan this week, MomsRising and its Spanish-language community, MamásConPoder, are intensifying their grassroots and advertising activity to tell Congress that #CareCantWait. The on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people is urging Congress to build back better by investing in the care infrastructure that our country, our economy, our businesses, and our families need. This week’s actions follow a summer of intense grassroots activity, with MomsRising members reaching out to the Senators and Representatives hundreds of thousands of times online, by phone, and in person.
Beginning yesterday, a mobile billboard truck is moving around the U.S. Capitol, White House and other well-trafficked sections of Washington, D.C. carrying humorous messages to urge Congress to pass the care agenda. Messages will change over the course of the next week. The first one is: Your Mom Called! She’s expecting you to build back better now.
A mobile billboard will also travel around the congressional softball game this evening carrying a billboard that reads: Moms says: “Keep your eye on the ball.” Build Back Better. #CareCantWait
“Moms recognize this moment as a once-in-a-generation chance to finally build the care infrastructure our country needs.” said MomsRising Executive Director and CEO Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner. “Doing so will lift families, boost our economy, enable parents to work, help businesses, and create good jobs. Moms will continue speaking out and reaching out until Congress passes these policies and we build back better.”
MomsRising is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to organize moms and caregivers, run digital ads, send direct mail, and purchase billboards and display ads in key states. Activities this week include:
Caregiver Parades in more than 30 communities over the next week. Kids are dressing up in honor of caregivers – including teachers, health care workers, grandmas and grandpas – to amplify the message that we LOVE caregivers, and Congress should too. Video of some of the parades will be available.
Deliveries of Storybooks featuring MomsRising members discussing how the lack of a care infrastructure is affecting them, their families and communities. MomsRising members have hand-delivered the storybooks to several hundred congressional district offices and this week, every member of Congress will get one via mail. U.S. Senators will also receive paper flower bouquets from MomsRising urging them to help our families and economy bloom.
Calls, Texts and Targeted Digital Ads thanking select members of Congress for voting in support of the budget resolution and urging them to also support the Build Back Better plan.
Increased Constituent Contacts via email, calls, and electronic delivery to members of Congress. Thus far this year, MomsRising members have made 780,000 constituent contacts in support of building back better and a care infrastructure.
“America’s moms know that a full and just recovery from the pandemic, and a thriving economy, depend on a care infrastructure that includes investments in child care, paid leave when a new baby arrives or serious illness strikes, access to home- and community-based services for people with disabilities and the aging, a permanently expanded Child Tax Credit, living wages, health care equity, the Momnibus, and a path to citizenship for care and essential workers,” Rowe-Finkbeiner added. “We will keep pressing for the policies and reform the country needs until Congress acts.”
Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996
This Saturday, and on several other days leading up to – and including – election day, November 8, MomsRising volunteers (wearing MomsRising t-shirts) will have “Treasure Boxes” near the polls with small toys, voting-related crossword puzzles for children, and coloring pages in English and Spanish that say: My mom is a superhero. She voted!
The election in less than two weeks is critically important and there is a lot at stake for moms and kids. So MomsRising is working hard to share relevant information to help moms vote, help parents who bring kids with them to vote, and provide tools so they can remind others to vote.
In North Carolina, MomsRising volunteers will be outside the polls this Saturday, October 29 from:
Noon – 4 pm at Durham County Main Library, 300 N. Roxboro Street, Durham
10 am -2 pm at West Asheville Library, 942 Haywood Road, Asheville
10 am – 2 pm and 4 – 7 pm at Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library, 2412 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte
Additional sites will be announced next week for similar events on Saturday, November 5 and on election day, November 8.
MomsRising pioneered the “Be a Voter, Raise a Voter” MomsVote program in 2016 in North Carolina. It has grown into a national effort. The multi-layered GOTV program aimed at infrequent mom voters has a strong history of success.
Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996
MomsRising Volunteers to Greet Voters & Kids at the Polls Tuesday in Canton, Charlotte and Durham
On election day tomorrow, November 8, MomsRising volunteers (wearing MomsRising t-shirts) will have “Treasure Boxes” near the polls with small toys, voting-related crossword puzzles for children, and coloring pages in English and Spanish that say: My mom is a superhero. She voted!
The election tomorrow is critically important and there’s a lot at stake for moms and kids. So MomsRising is working hard to share relevant information to help moms vote, help parents who bring kids with them to vote, and provide tools so they can remind others to vote. In North Carolina, MomsRising volunteers will be outside the polling places tomorrow, election day in:
MomsRising pioneered the “Be a Voter, Raise a Voter” MomsVote program in 2016 in North Carolina. It has grown into a national effort. The multi-layered GOTV program aimed at infrequent mom voters has a strong history of success.
Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996
“Last night’s 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling was, quite simply, appalling. America’s moms are counting on SCOTUS to reaffirm the FDA’s authority and ensure that mifepristone – which is safer than Tylenol and Viagra – remains as available to people in this country as it was before Judge Kacsmaryk ruled last Friday night. Anything less will create mass confusion and unacceptable delays for patients with urgent reproductive health care needs, with devastating consequences for moms and pregnant people who need abortion. Low-income women and moms, women of color, young, rural and immigrant women, people with disabilities, and those who are LGBTQIA+ will suffer the most.
“Most people who have abortions are moms, and moms want abortion care to be accessible to all who need it, regardless of where they live, their financial status, or the source of their health coverage. Being able to choose if we have children, and if so, when and how many children to have, which includes access to abortion care, is a fundamental right.
“Everyone must be able to access the health care they need. Reproductive rights are human rights. Denials of safe medications and other health care, and forced births are never okay. SCOTUS must act immediately.”
Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996
“Today the U.S. Supreme Court rightly and decisively rejected the outrageous attempt by anti-abortion extremists to take away our access to mifepristone, a safe and effective medication that has been used safely in the United States for more than 20 years. While this decision is great news for women, mothers and people who need alternative ways to access abortion, the fact remains that the case should never have made it to the U.S. Supreme Court.
“Most people who have abortions are moms, and moms want abortion care to be accessible to all who need it, regardless of where they live, their financial status, or the source of their health coverage. Being able to choose if we have children, and if so, when and how many children to have, which includes access to abortion care, is a fundamental right.
“There is still work to do to secure that right, and moms are motivated, as demonstrated when tens of thousands of MomsRising members joined a people’s amicus brief in this case. Moms know that everyone must be able to access the health care they need. Reproductive rights are human rights. Denying safe medications – or any health care – is never okay.”
Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996
“North Carolina moms are deeply disappointed that the legislators we elected made the terrible decision to override Governor Roy Cooper’s wise and necessary veto of H.B. 10, and make this horrendous, harmful bill our state’s law. This anti-immigrant, anti-education law will cause significant harm to North Carolina moms, families, schools, and our state’s economy. Beginning on December 1, our local sheriffs will be forced to collaborate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), undermining community trust in law enforcement, removing protections for immigrant victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and other crimes, and discouraging immigrants from reporting crimes and serving as witnesses when criminals are prosecuted. And our tax dollars will now be used to provide vouchers to wealthy families to subsidize their private school tuition. This is a sad day for our state.”
-Statement of Beth Messersmith, Senior Director, MomsRising North Carolina
“Moms want the lawmakers we elect to make our state safer, improve our public schools, and make child care and housing affordable. Instead, they are amplifying anti-immigrant hate messages and sowing hardship and division by requiring local sheriffs to collaborate with federal ICE agents, increasing the risk of arrests and deportations, even for minor offenses. And instead of making much-needed funding available so public schools can hire teachers, counselors, and bus drivers, this new law will put nearly $500 million in taxpayer dollars into school vouchers – and through them into private schools.
“As an immigrant who was brought to this country at age 12, and who has lived here now for 27 years, my heart breaks knowing that North Carolina’s immigrant parents, children, and communities will continue to face fear, sadness, cruelty, and the heartache of potential separation. Yet, despite these challenges, our immigrant community is resilient and strong. This new law is destructive and will cause grave harm – but we will continue standing together for what is right, just, and fair to everyone in our state.”
-Statement of Sheila Arias, Campaign Director, MomsRising/ MamásConPoder North Carolina
Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996
“It’s hard to imagine anyone more vulnerable than a migrant child, alone, without parents, who’s in the United States to escape gangs, sexual or domestic violence, trafficking, abject poverty, or other horrors. Denying legal representation and orientation services to those children as they try to navigate the immigration court system is cruel and unethical and will leave them at grave and unnecessary risk for trafficking and other forms of exploitation.
“For decades, lawmakers and administrations of both parties have acknowledged the vital role legal service programs play in ensuring fair representation for vulnerable children in government custody. The Trump administration's Stop Work Order to nonprofit organizations that provide free legal counsel and representation to children will force many to contend with complex, chaotic immigration courts on their own, which will obviously be impossible for most, including those who are infants or toddlers. This Order puts the safety, health, lives and futures of children in government custody at risk.
“America’s moms want all asylum-seekers and immigrants to be treated with dignity, compassion, and respect. As caring people, we know that every child, regardless of where they were born, deserves to live in peace and to be free from danger. This shameful Stop Work Order makes that impossible. It should be rescinded now.”
NOTE: MomsRising has leaders available to discuss the Stop Work Order in English or Spanish.
