The Red Thread: A Cause for Mom Salon

Yesterday on my weekly visit to the library with my three-year-old son, I leafed through a copy of Grace Lin’s storybook “The Red Thread: An Adoption Fairy Tale” The story incorporates an ancient Chinese parable that when a child is born an invisible red thread connects that child’s soul to all those people – present and in the future – who will become involved in the child’s life.

This metaphor reminded me of LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER. I pictured red threads joining the women and audience of the May 2010 production, with those who will read and attend the Mom Salon in Ojai at Creative Alliance 10 this Saturday evening. Production by production, I pictured all of these red threads unraveling and spooling out into the greater community one mother, daughter, grandmother, sister and auntie at a time.

The mission of each LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER production is to take the audience on a well-crafted journey that celebrates and validates mothering through giving voice to motherhood–in all of its complexity, diversity, and humor. LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER aims to support motherhood creatively through artistic expression, and also financially–through contributions to non-profit organizations supporting families in need.

The cause I selected for LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER: SALON—based on a suggestion from Anna Lefler, Producer for LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER 2010: LOS ANGELES (see “bios” tab)– is Ocean Park Community Center’s Sojourn program, which serves as a safe haven. The program leaves their doors open 24 hours, so that women and children can flee abusive situations.

From their website:

MISSION STATEMENT:
SOJOURN provides battered women and their children a safe space to regroup, rebuild, and reestablish their self-esteem and lives.
SOJOURN honors diversity, serving without discrimination clients of any class, culture, race, ethnicity, age, faith, sexual orientation, physical and mental ability or immigration status, including those who are traditionally underserved.
SOJOURN fosters solidarity among women and children, educates the community and society, and is committed to effecting political and social change through grassroots activism and a philosophy of individual empowerment.

Here is more about OPCC from the Executive Director John Maceri (directly from website):

OPCC is the safety net for low-income and homeless youth, adults and families, at-risk youth, battered women and their children, and people living with mental illness in Santa Monica and on the Westside of Los Angeles County. As the largest and most comprehensive provider of housing and services to very poor people in this region, we have a bold vision for making our community a better place for all of our residents, regardless of their economic circumstances or the multiple challenges they may be facing. And we do all of this amazing work while continuing to be good stewards of the precious resources that have been entrusted to us. 83 cents of every dollar received by OPCC goes into direct services for our clients. We don’t need billions of dollars to make a tremendous, life-changing impact on those we serve. Our passion for serving those who are most in need and vulnerable, combined with a zealous responsibility to wisely use what is given to us, means we will put your donations to good use in helping individuals live again with dignity and hope

I hope that Creative Alliance 10 attendees will contribute 5$ at the event (or whatever amount feels appropriate to you) as a suggested donation on behalf of LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER: SALON to support some of Los Angeles’ most vulnerable citizens.

Thank you,

Ann Imig, National Director

Tagged as: MotherhoodShow