Item 4 - Chamber of Mothers Presentation — original pdf

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A U S T I N , T X C H A P T E R p r e s e n t i n g t o C I T Y O F A U S T I N C O M M I S S I O N F O R W O M E N @atxchamberofmothers | austin@chamberofmothers.com | www.chamberofmothers.com A Grassroots Movement to Advance Maternal Rights in America. COM ATX Facilitators COM ATX Facilitators Mallory Lehenbauer Shelley Mattingly Neha Erford O V E R V I E W Chamber of Mothers is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) uniting mothers as advocates to create a better America. Mothers in the United States are fed up and fired up — we won‘t wait for change. We‘ve mobilized to create it ourselves. F R O M S T A R T U P T O T R U S T E D L E A D E R I N M A T E R N A L A D V O C A C Y Since our founding in 2021, Chamber of Mothers has experienced remarkable growth, building critical relationships across the policy and advocacy ecosystem, becoming a valued partner to lawmakers and federal agencies, and establishing itself as a trusted resource for mothers nationwide. 42 local chapters across 29 states, Washington, D.C., and an interstate military chapter – and growing! 100,000+ activated mothers nationwide, with a 146% increase in chapter-building inquiries from November 2024 – January 2025. 45 bipartisan congressional meetings in Washington, D.C. in 2024 to advocate for policies that benefit moms and families. 4–20M monthly digital reach – a unique slice of American mothers. T H E P R O B L E M Motherhood in the U.S. should not be this hard 85 million+ mothers in the U.S. lack basic human rights. The U.S. has the worst rate of maternal mortality across develope d nations. 1 in 4 women return to work two weeks after giving birth. T H E P R O B L E M THERE IS NO FEDERALLY PROTECTED PAID FAMILY LEAVE. CHILDCARE IS INACCESSIBLE AND UNAFFORDABLE. MATERNAL MORTALITY IS A NATIONAL EMERGENCY. In 2024, the U.S. Surgeon General warned about the impact on communities without better support for mothers and parents. The well-being of mothers is the foundation of strong family structures and thriving communities, yet systemic barriers keep women out of leadership and decision-making where they could advocate for much- needed change. Mothers are overwhelmed and underrepresented, and this failure not only jeopardizes the health of mothers but also undermines the stability of families, communities, and our economy. T H E O P P O R T U N I T Y Despite being underserved by America's laws, systems, and culture, and underrepresented in leadership, mothers control the voting and spending power in the U.S. It’s time to harness that power. MOTHERS IN THE US: Control 85% of consumer buying power. Make up 1/3 of the labor force. Have purchasing power worth up to $15 trillion an nually. Represent a critical voting bloc. SOURCES: Neilson, Women’s Bureau, McKinsey, Center for American Women and Politics THE BOTTOM LINE MOMS UNITED ARE POWERFUL WE UNITE AROUND THESE C O R E P I L L A R S AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE CHILDCARE PAID FAMILY LEAVE IMPROVED MATERNAL HEALTH OUTCOMES Safe, accessible, high-quality, and well-compensated childcare for every child ages 0-18, while upholding the right of families to choose the childcare structure that works best for them. A robust, national plan that reflects paid leave’s 85% public approval rating and provides a floor of support to keep families from having to choose between their jobs and their loved ones. Tackling systemic inequities through public and private sector solutions that reduce maternal mortality and bias in care and make motherhood a joy, not a threat. We uplift the lived experiences of mothers to build organic, grassroots connection and action, address the undeniable links between maternal health, access to paid leave, and affordable childcare, and build bipartisan power to advance policies and shift cultural narratives. ADVOCACYORGANIZINGNARRATIVE LET’S KEEP THE MOMENTUM Together, we can change policy and culture to create a nation where all mothers (families, communities, and our country) thrive. We can do better, together. To learn more about our work, contact: austin@chamberofmothers.com @atxchamberofmothers | www.chamberofmothers.com Join us in 2026! Monthly Lunch Gathering for moms and people who care about them January 16 11 am - Easy Tiger at the Linc th Chapter Meeting January 25 1-3 pm - Brentwood Social House th Chapter Meeting Feb 22 2-4 pm - Cafe Creme (Oltorf) nd J O I N O U R E M A I L L I S T / B E C O M E A M E M B E R