Mocha Moms

Mocha Moms is a support group for mothers of color who have chosen not to work full-time outside of the home in order to devote more time to their families and communities. While many of our members have eliminated employment altogether, others work part-time, flex-time, night shifts, have home-based businesses, consult or freelance from home or have chosen alternative, less demanding career paths so that they are more available to their families. Our goal is to support the decisions made by our members. We will never pass judgment on mothers who choose to make or are forced to make different decisions for their families. Mocha Moms welcomes people of all religions, races, educational backgrounds and income levels. (See Anti-Discrimination Language) Anyone who supports the mission of Mocha Moms is welcome to join.

ORGANIZATION

Direction for Mocha Moms, Inc. is provided by the National Executive Board, a dedicated group of volunteers. The National Board meets regularly to, among other things, determine ways to assist local chapters in their efforts to support members, plan national community service projects and events, establish policies and procedures, and assist in the formation of chapters. The members of the Executive Board are:

From Left to Right: Kenya Robinson, Kim Scott, Gabriela Sanchez, Kuae Mattox, LaShaun Martin, Shalaun Newton, Cheli English-Figaro

Cheli English-Figaro, Esq., Co-Founder & President Emerita
Kuae Mattox, National President
Shalaun Newton, National Director of Corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships
LaShaun Martin, National Director of Social Media and Community Service
Kenya Robinson, National Director of Community Service
Gabriela Sanchez, National Administrator
Kim Scott, National Treasurer

Mocha Moms, Inc. also has a National Advisory Council, which serves to assist and advise the National Board. Regional Directors and State Coordinators serve as the liaison between local chapters and the National Executive Board.

Regional Directors and State Coordinators also serve as a guide and support for all local chapters with an emphasis on coordinating activities in which many chapters throughout an area can participate.

Each local chapter of Mocha Moms elects officers who are in charge of the day-to-day affairs of that chapter.

From time to time, Mocha Moms, Inc. will establish national networks. In addition to web-based support and a regular column in our newsletter, networks address certain segments of the Mocha Moms, Inc. community, such as Home Alone Moms (at home mothers with school-aged or adult children), Work At Home Moms or Homeschooling Moms. The network coordinators are available to help plan activities for a chapter, state or region.

Our History

Mocha Moms, Inc. began with the publishing of a newsletter called Mocha Moms in the hopes of connecting at-home mothers of color with each other. The newsletter was intended to encourage these mothers to feel good about their choice as well as to provide information to help them be the best and most important influence in their children’s lives. It was distributed to over 100 moms across the country in the spring of 1997. During the summer of 1997, moms in Prince George’s County, Maryland decided to form a support group called Mocha Moms, Inc. There are now over 100 chapters of Mocha Moms, Inc. throughout the United States and the organization is continually growing and evolving to meet the needs of our moms, their families, and the communities they live in.

Mocha Moms, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Mocha Moms, Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic level, education, or religion. Anyone who supports the mission and purpose of Mocha Moms, Inc. is welcome to join. Click here to view a message from our Co-Founder and President Emerita.

Our Mission and Purpose

Mocha Moms, Inc. is a support group for mothers of color who have chosen not to work full-time outside of the home in order to devote more time to their families and communities. While many of our members have eliminated employment altogether, others work part-time, flex-time, night shifts, have home-based businesses, consult or freelance from home, or have chosen alternative, less demanding career paths so that they are more available to their families. Our goal is to support the decisions made by our members. We will never pass judgment on mothers who choose to make or are forced to make different decisions for their families.

The organization is essential because historically, mothers of color, particularly African-American mothers, have not had the opportunity to devote the majority of their time to caring for their own families. Mocha Moms, Inc. serves as an advocate for those mothers and encourages the spirit of community activism within its membership. In 2006, Mocha Moms, Inc. adopted the community service initiative entitled Closing the Gap on Minority Achievement which focuses on the health, educational and financial disparities which currently exist in our country. We are honored to partner with:

America’s Promise Alliance
Black Women’s Health Imperative
Boys Booked on Barbershops
National Cares Mentoring Movement Scholastic, Inc.
National Institute for Literacy
National Marrow Donor Program
Zero to Three

Source: http://www.mochamoms.org