SOMN Monthly Newsletter Vol 3
The Shades of Motherhood Network is dedicated to empowering Black and Brown mothers and families by providing culturally relevant support, education, and resources. Through our doula program, peer support groups, and community-driven initiatives, we strive to nurture and uplift families in every stage of their journey.
The Shades of Motherhood Network is dedicated to empowering Black and Brown mothers and families by providing culturally relevant support, education, and resources. Through our doula program, peer support groups, and community-driven initiatives, we strive to nurture and uplift families in every stage of their journey.
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<strong>Vol</strong> 03 | sept 2024<br />
S O M N N E W S & U P D A T E S<br />
H O P E<br />
S U P P O R T<br />
T h e s h a d e s o f m o t h e r h o o d n e t w o r k
What’s Inside<br />
This Issue<br />
VOL #3<br />
<strong>SOMN</strong><br />
Sept 2024<br />
<strong>SOMN</strong> - TEAMN<br />
Your <strong>Monthly</strong> Update on Support,<br />
Education, and Community Impact<br />
Lumen Classes<br />
Welcome to the September<br />
issue of The Shades of<br />
Motherhood Network<br />
<strong>Newsletter</strong>! We're excited to<br />
share what’s happening this<br />
month, with a focus on NICU<br />
Awareness and our<br />
commitment to supporting<br />
families.<br />
Thank you to all of our donors,<br />
partners, sponsors and<br />
volunteers. Your dedication<br />
allows us to keep providing<br />
critical care through our<br />
network and resources for<br />
Black, Brown and Multicultural<br />
families.<br />
In September, we’re excited for<br />
the return of Lumen Classes on<br />
September 3rd, providing<br />
young parents with the<br />
resources they need to thrive.<br />
On September 4th, we invite<br />
you to join our Black Healing<br />
Spaces for a sacred evening of<br />
healing, community, and<br />
connection.<br />
On September 17th, our Lunch &<br />
Learn on NICU Awareness will<br />
help equip families with<br />
knowledge on how to advocate<br />
for their NICU babies.<br />
For our birth workers and<br />
doulas, we have an Anatomy<br />
Class on September 21st,<br />
focusing on building up our<br />
skills to provide culturally<br />
attuned care. We will also be<br />
gathering for our Annual Board<br />
Meeting on September 19th to<br />
celebrate our milestones and<br />
set our intentions for what’s to<br />
come.<br />
Thank you for walking this<br />
journey with us and helping us<br />
center Black motherhood at the<br />
heart of everything we do. We<br />
are so blessed to have you as<br />
part of our village.<br />
Enjoy this month’s newsletter<br />
and stay connected for all the<br />
events and updates!<br />
Somn team x<br />
Black Healing<br />
Spaces<br />
Sister Hood<br />
Circle Peer<br />
Support<br />
Board Meeting<br />
(Annual<br />
Meeting)<br />
Anatomy<br />
Classes<br />
October<br />
Executive<br />
Board Meeting<br />
Page 1
Impact Overview (August)<br />
In August, our programs made a significant<br />
impact by serving 29 clients and delivering 80<br />
food boxes to families.<br />
With a current client total of 26, we are<br />
committed to maintaining and expanding our<br />
support network.<br />
In September, we opened family enrollment,<br />
addressing a waitlist that had 7 families in<br />
August.<br />
This ongoing effort reflects our dedication to<br />
meeting community needs and effectively<br />
supporting those we serve.<br />
Grant Awards Q3 2024<br />
We are thrilled to announce that this<br />
quarter, the Shades of Motherhood<br />
Network has been awarded four<br />
impactful grants, totaling over $400,000.<br />
These include $10,000 from the EHD Map<br />
Community Engagement Pilot, $225,000<br />
from LaunchNW to support early<br />
childhood education, $150,000 from the<br />
Community Healer Grant for peer<br />
support programs and operational<br />
support, and $30,000 from The Share<br />
Fund. These generous grants will<br />
significantly enhance our ability to<br />
engage the community, expand our<br />
programs, and continue making a<br />
meaningful difference for families.<br />
9/2-9/13<br />
Operational Updates<br />
Office Audit<br />
September 9th-13th: Office closed<br />
during this period.<br />
The office will be closed during this<br />
period. No one will be aloud outside of<br />
internal staff.<br />
Page 2
UPCOMING EVENTS<br />
BOARD MEETING (ANNUAL<br />
MEETING)<br />
September 19th: 10:30 AM via ZOOM (Open<br />
Meeting)<br />
LUMEN CLASSES<br />
September 3rd: Classes Resume (2024 - 2025)<br />
OCTOBER EXECUTIVE<br />
BOARD MEETING<br />
October 24th: 6:30 PM<br />
Join us in supporting Lumen, a communitydriven<br />
initiative. If you would like to learn more or<br />
assist with a class, please connect with the<br />
Shades of Motherhood Network team at 509-<br />
818-0216<br />
BLACK HEALING SPACES<br />
September 4th: 6:30PM-7:30PM / Location: 631<br />
S Richard Allen Ct<br />
SISTERHOOD CIRCLE<br />
PEER SUPPORT<br />
September 12th: 11AM-12PM / Virtual via ZOOM<br />
FUNDRAISER LUNCH HOUR<br />
Join us on October 25th from 12 PM to 2 PM for our<br />
Fundraiser Lunch Hour, a special event dedicated<br />
to supporting our community programs. The<br />
location is yet to be determined, but we promise<br />
an engaging and impactful gathering where<br />
every contribution will make a difference.<br />
Page 3
Doula Corner<br />
Lunch & Learn<br />
Anatomy Class<br />
Join us for this month’s Lunch<br />
and Learn series, where we’ll<br />
be hosting a valuable Q&A<br />
session focused on NICU<br />
Awareness. This session will<br />
provide essential insights into<br />
what families can expect and<br />
how to navigate the NICU<br />
experience.<br />
We’ll be offering a 3-hour<br />
training class once a month,<br />
with all updates, schedules,<br />
and announcements available<br />
in Mighty Networks. Stay tuned<br />
for the final schedule—we’ll<br />
keep you informed!<br />
Sign Up Here<br />
Highlights<br />
Child Feed that<br />
Baby Don't You<br />
Worry About A<br />
Thang!<br />
When the Shades of<br />
Motherhood Network<br />
introduced the book “Child<br />
Feed That Baby, Don’t Worry<br />
About a Thang,” I was<br />
honored and endeared to<br />
be a part of telling this story.<br />
It is very personal to me,<br />
being a Black, breastfeeding<br />
mother from the 80’s.<br />
Breastfeeding offers<br />
numerous benefits for both<br />
mother and child, including<br />
improved health outcomes<br />
and emotional bonding.<br />
Published in Black Lens<br />
Written By: Stephy-Noble-<br />
Beans<br />
Read Full Article<br />
Feed That Baby,<br />
Don't Worry<br />
About a Thing!<br />
By Stephaine Courtney, M.Ed<br />
Add this must-read to your<br />
collection. It’s all about<br />
feeding your baby with<br />
confidence and care.<br />
Purchase Book<br />
Page 4
Multicultural Corner<br />
Hispanic Heritage Month<br />
A Path to Inclusive<br />
Maternal Health<br />
Spotlight<br />
Hispanic Heritage Month is an<br />
important occasion to celebrate<br />
the rich cultural contributions<br />
and achievements of Hispanic<br />
and Latinx communities. This<br />
month provides a valuable<br />
opportunity to honor their history<br />
and traditions, promoting greater<br />
understanding and appreciation<br />
of their diverse heritage. By<br />
recognizing and valuing these<br />
contributions, we foster inclusivity<br />
and representation.<br />
For Black and Brown women,<br />
Hispanic Heritage Month<br />
highlights the shared cultural ties<br />
and experiences within these<br />
communities. It offers a chance<br />
to reflect on their intersectional<br />
identities and experiences,<br />
emphasizing the solidarity and<br />
mutual support among them.<br />
This celebration helps address<br />
common challenges and<br />
acknowledges the unique<br />
perspectives within these<br />
communities.<br />
In the realm of maternal health,<br />
Hispanic Heritage Month<br />
underscores the need for<br />
culturally competent care. By<br />
focusing on the specific needs<br />
and challenges faced by<br />
Hispanic and Latinx mothers, we<br />
can improve maternal health<br />
outcomes through tailored<br />
support and inclusive practices.<br />
Celebrating this month reinforces<br />
the importance of community<br />
and cultural sensitivity in<br />
enhancing maternal health for all<br />
women.<br />
Hola, I'm<br />
Monica Guzman<br />
As a dedicated doula, I take<br />
joy in supporting families<br />
during their special moments<br />
and strive to foster positive<br />
birthing experiences. My<br />
multilingual approach helps<br />
me connect with diverse<br />
families and create a<br />
nurturing environment that<br />
overcomes language<br />
barriers.<br />
Page 5
<strong>Monthly</strong> Observances<br />
nicu awareness<br />
Ovarian Cancer<br />
Pregnancy Loss<br />
Infant Mortality<br />
Newborn Screening<br />
Childhood Cancer<br />
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders<br />
Birthdays<br />
Athaleyah Jones<br />
Sept 5th<br />
Happy Birthday, Athaleyah (Pamela)!<br />
Your nurturing spirit and dedication as a<br />
Doula uplift so many in our community.<br />
Today, we celebrate you and the incredible<br />
light you bring to all of us. Take time to enjoy<br />
your day—you’ve earned it!<br />
Stephaine Courtney<br />
Sept 20th<br />
Happy Birthday, Stephaine Courtney!<br />
Your leadership and vision continue to inspire<br />
us all. We’re grateful for the strength and<br />
wisdom you bring to our team every day.<br />
Wishing you a day filled with the same joy<br />
and brilliance you share with others. Keep<br />
shining, Queen!<br />
Page 6
Empowerment In Every Page:<br />
A Mental Health Resource Book For Black and Brown<br />
Communities<br />
Our comprehensive mental health resource book is dedicated to supporting Black and Brown<br />
women and men of color. Packed with culturally competent resources, this guide provides essential<br />
tools and contacts for mental health services, community support, and self-care strategies.<br />
Empower yourself with the knowledge and connections needed to prioritize mental well-being and<br />
thrive.<br />
Thank you for reading!<br />
Read More<br />
Page 7
T H E S H A D E S O F M O T H E R H O O D N E T W O R K<br />
THANK YOU FOR<br />
SUBSCRIBING!<br />
THE SHADES OF MOTHERHOOD NETWORK<br />
in