Women United, Women Advancing host Moms First screening

Held in a sold out theater at Charlottesville’s Violet Crown–chosen because it was recently saved by three local mothers–the screening was introduced by United Way of Greater Charlottesville President and CEO Ravi Cooper alongside Women Advancing Founder and Host Kate Byrne. To kick off the event, they shared why it was important for each organization to play a part in bringing this film, which is only being released for private screenings to foster discussion and connection, to the Charlottesville community.

“When Kate approached us about cohosting this screening, we knew it perfectly aligned with Women United’s mission to support women and mothers in our community,” shared Cooper. “In our 20 years, we have awarded $1 million in grants to 60 different local organizations supporting women and families.”

Byrne, one of the 2,500 Associate Producers of the film, said she was excited to share the film with the community to spark conversations “about something we still too often treat as private when it is profoundly public: what happens when we build workplaces, communities and systems that depend on mothers while making the work of motherhood difficult.” (Click here to listen to Moms First Chief Marketing Officer Deborah Singer on Byrne’s Women Advancing podcast!)

Before the screening, City of Charlottesville Mayor Juandiego Wade also joined to announce The Charlottesville Commitment to Families, which encourages every resident, employer, nonprofit organization, educational institution, business, health care provider, faith community, and civic leader to recognize that strengthening families is a shared responsibility.

After the screening, attendees participated in a panel discussion moderated by Angilee Shah, CEO and Editor-in-Chief at Charlottesville Tomorrow. Panelists including Jenny Lynn Walding, Founder of Milkmade, Doreen Bonnet, Executive Director of Birth Sisters of Charlottesville, Rebecca Berlin, Member of the Albemarle County School Board, and local stay-at-home mom Kristin Longhauser Smith discussed themes from the film around approaches to motherhood, family participation in parenting, policies working for and against families, the need for more supportive communities for moms, and more. (Click here to listen to Jenny Lynn Walding on Byrne’s Women Advancing podcast!)

The panel finished with an engaging discussion around local organizations working to support women and families. Attendees and panelists agreed that a resource guide for those looking to get more involved would be helpful, which Women Advancing and Women United are collaborating on and will share soon.

Women United was honored to play a part in bringing not only this screening but the corresponding conversation, connection, and curiosity to the Charlottesville community. We learned that people’s experiences with motherhood and parenting, whether you are a mom or not, are more similar than they are different. We all need support, community, and understanding. As No Country for Mothers demonstrated, the divisions that are created amongst mothers distract from the real issue: the lack of structural support for moms and families. These challenges facing moms and families affect us all, and it is time we demand more.

Thank you to every person who showed up to this screening. We are so inspired by your stories and can’t wait to see how this movement grows both locally and beyond. We hope to continue offering events like this in the future.

If you are interested in being a part of Women United, consider becoming a member. Membership fees are redistributed to local nonprofits supporting women and families and help Women United continue offering community events.