By Winnie Caldwell
Google mom. I’m serious. Like right now (just make sure you come back to finish reading this because I highlighted A LOT and I’m sensitive about my word count 😩). So this is what Tanya Hayles did, as well as just experienced the result in real life and online. There are thousands of spaces for moms to convene but the spaces aren’t as inclusive as you’d think.
There’s layers to being a mom. We have moms of different ages, cultures, religions, color, lifestyle, and more. One space that wasn’t easily accessible on Facebook alone was a space for black moms. Tanya Hayles, Founder of Black Moms Connection noticed this and created a solution. Black Moms Connection started as a small group of black moms that just wanted to confide in each other, now that group consists of over 11,000 black moms all over the world!
So what do you do when you connect thousands of people around the world? Give them access to connect in person! I had the honor to speak at the 2nd Annual BMC Summit in Toronto, Canada!
Photo Cred: Eva Wilson
The wonderful @CamilleDundas gives a land acknowledgement as the #BMCSummit kicks off pic.twitter.com/X8LWFMvmlU
— nam kiwanuka (@namshine) September 15, 2018
Thank you Tanya for the opportunity to speak on your Moms + Bosses panel and thank you KidBox for being the sponsor to ensure this experience would happen!
KidBox is truly a blessing. My son, Sidney, had a chance to apply to be on the Kids Board of Directors for KidBox and now he’s the Chairman! Not only is KidBox giving him access to give away $10,000 worth of brand new, name brand clothing to the community in 2019 but also supporting his muva as well!
Thank you KidBox for supporting all of the kids around the world as well as their families. It was empowering to be able to gift all attendees of BMCSummit with a $20 gift card towards their first KidBox box! Wanna try KidBox? I still have a deal for you. Use code SidneyKeys at kidbox.com and save 20%!
So what happened at the conference?? Ok here’s the tea:
The Intro!
When you’re greeted by @Kestheband‘s “Hello” playing softly in the background at @BlkMomsConnect‘s #bmcsummit… Ya’ll I feel so at home right now. #soca pic.twitter.com/hpLcGEkBXq
— Eva Wilson/SocaMom® (@SocaMomDC) September 15, 2018
Some of The Speakers!
My husband and I have a rule, that anytime we need to go to the school, that we go together so that way they know that this child comes from an entire support system. – Danielle Dowdy on School & Education
One of the things we are trying to challenge is this mentality of social workers, that being black is a crisis. Single black parenting is not a crisis. Poverty is the crisis. – Tina Garnett, BMC Summit Speaker on Foster & Adoption
Keynote w/Melanie Fiona!
Now in this space he has to have a limitless perception but he also has to be aware of the climate. I just don’t want him to put the climate on himself. – Melanie Fiona speaks on raising her son in America.
 And I can’t forget about myself! When I was asked, “What brings you to Toronto?” I was excited to say, “Black Moms Connection.” Furthermore, that encouraged conversation about Books N Bros and KidBox which completed the story. I have been advocating for my child all of his life. I noticed more experiences of him being treated differently the older that he got. The assumptions that he’s old enough in the 3rd grade to talk about ‘What’s going on in Ferguson?’ as one of two black boys in his class during the unrests. Or the assumptions like, ‘Oh let me guess, basketball.’ from strangers that don’t relate to his skin tone. Conversations like these aren’t definitive to just being black in St. Louis. Attending the BMC Summit made me aware that black moms in Toronto, the UK and beyond experience similar situations on a daily. I am just honored to be able to advocate for my son full time now thanks to our development of Books N Bros. It hasn’t been easy and it still isn’t as funding is becoming minute and the need is bigger than membership fees can handle. But I didn’t come this far to stop. Maybe I could have planned better. Maybe I could allow others to help more (I’m working on it). But I am happy to have had the opportunity to share my testimony with the moms of BMC for a memorable experience. They even got a laugh out of my transparency…*whispers* maybe because it’s relatable.
“She asked me ‘do you have a years salary saved up?’ I was like, “naw I don’t have a year’s salary saved up – you know what you’re paying me?” 😂😂 – @WinnieElizabeth on what happened when she handed her boss her resignation letter. #bmcsummit pic.twitter.com/eqOcxMvGyh
— Eva Wilson/SocaMom® (@SocaMomDC) September 15, 2018
But even in that moment of fear, I still pressed forward. I haven’t looked back even as my back has been pressed against the wall. From being able to travel now out of the country to advocate for my child, I’ll never regret gaining the courage to take that leap of faith.
“I couldn’t just let my son’s dream die… knowing where this job would go.” – @WinnieElizabeth on quitting her job and working for @booksnbros full time at #bmcsummit
— Eva Wilson/SocaMom® (@SocaMomDC) September 15, 2018
I wish I could include EVERYTHING about BMC Summit but it was sooooo much. Like literally each session needs a separate blog post and Sidney will be home from school soon sooo Mama doesn’t have that much time but I’ll have another write up! Stay tuned! Subscribe. And for black mamas interested in joining Black Moms Connection, submit your request here.
thewirehangerbywinnie.com 