Free event with workshops, networking, and resources held for Milwaukee mothers

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Just a week from Mother's Day, moms of Milwaukee gathered for a special event that's a first of its kind.

The event was hosted by the city and Dominique Johnson, First Lady of Milwaukee and included a full day of resources for mothers.

The idea for the Mothers of Milwaukee Symposium came from a similar event for fathers held annually in the city that's hosted by Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson.

"Mayor Johnson, he had a fatherhood summit and I asked him do you have anything for mothers, and he said, 'well actually, no' and I said, 'that's going to change,'" said First Lady Johnson.

The free event held at American Serb Banquet Hall on Oklahoma Avenue on Saturday, May 4 included no shortage of resources with workshops and panel discussions all geared towards supporting mothers.

Darryl Davidson is the director of the Milwaukee Fatherhood Coalition. He helps organize the city's fatherhood event and also helped put this first M.O.M.S event together.

"The extension of providing services for the family is extremely comprehensive and there's a variety of needs – these are social services needs and physical and mental needs and that's what's being provided at this event," said Davidson.

Knowing that moms pour so much into their children and the community, Johnson wanted the city to host something to help moms fill their own cups. "So many times, mothers don't receive the support they need just because people think, oh moms got it and that's not the case," she said.

There was a lineup of speakers to offer insight and solutions to help tackle the challenges of motherhood. One topic of conversation impacting many women in Milwaukee was domestic violence.

A panel discussion addressing the impact was also part of the day. Michael Washington, a panelist whose family has been personally impacted by domestic violence served on the panel. Washington lost his sister to domestic violence years ago and says the topic is important for moms to talk about.

"I was a homicide detective for Milwaukee Police for seven years. I delivered a lot of bad news to mothers who lost sons and daughters to gun violence and to domestic violence...I know how that feels, and I think mothers need that support from other women as well," Washington said.

Johnson says she hopes mothers walk away from this event feeling rejuvenated.

"I really do hope it becomes an annual event for moms in Milwaukee, because you can never have enough information and you're not going to run out of mothers, so I want this to be available to them for years to come," she said.