Janna Parker, Krystal Oriadha, County Council Member, Gilbryonna Shaw and Natasha “Chef Tash” Waller. **PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROB ROBERTS // PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE & MEDIA**

Young Mothers Get A Chance To Exhale Through New Program

By Raoul Dennis // PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROB ROBERTS

Krystal Oriadha (D-Dist. 7), Prince George’s County Council Chair. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROB ROBERTS // PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE & MEDIA

Since the days of the first organized societies, there have been technological advances that have taken people from one side of the globe to the other in days, rockets to Mars and phone communication that can tie millions of people into a single conversation in real time.

But with the exception of the baby monitor and a few others, new-parent infant care is still exactly the same demanding, exhausting, high-energy, emotionally draining work that it has been since humans started walking upright.

The first three years of raising an infant can push two parents to the edge—especially first-time parents. Try it as a single-parent without a solid support network and the mental and physical exhaustion can lead to devastation.

County Councilmember Krystal Oriadha isn’t just the new Council Chair, she’s a new mother as well. She knows firsthand the challenges that young mothers face – and she’s in a position to do something about it.

“I know what mothers face, especially our mothers of color,” she said at the announcement of the Mothers First program. “Too often, mothers are expected to do everything without the resources and support that they need. I'm really excited to launch this program.”

“As I started on this journey, we hear so much about the issues, especially for Black mothers, around Black maternal health and about support that I learned about in the fourth trimester,” Oriadha continued. “It really set me on a journey when I found out about the gaps, the needs, and the resources, to not just do it for myself, but to make sure that as many residents as possible could benefit from the types of resources that are needed in our community. I'm excited that today we are announcing the official launch of Mothers First, a community care initiative. This program will have multiple facets. One of the exciting things is that we're going to be helping 1,000 moms in District 7 with the helping hand.”

Janna Parker, Executive Director of Community on the Frontline. **PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROB ROBERTS // PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE & MEDIA**

The Mothers First program, centered in District 7, will allow 1,000 accepted applicants access to in-home support services. The support services will range from kitchen help, meal prep and even garbage take out to mental health support and virtual aid services.

Young mothers are encouraged to apply for participation in the program at mothersfirstinitiative.com.

Oriadha launched the program with $250,000 that will aid 1,000 young women who are in the program’s first year.

There will also be a county-wide Moms Meet Up that will provide an opportunity for young mothers and experienced mothers to have a monthly social where they can support and learn from one another.

Gilly Shaw, founder and Executive Director of Nü Momish. **PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROB ROBERTS // PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE & MEDIA**

“It's all about how we can have a holistic approach to serving our mothers and our families,” says Oriadha. “What we know is that when we help our mothers, we help our entire community.”

The program is partnered with Community on the Frontline, a non-profit organization that addresses poverty, racism by providing resources, mentorship, and advocacy and Nü Momish, a resource and relief center for new mothers in the DMV.

“We understand that mothers need a village, and part of that village can be expansive or can be small, but they always need support, and they need help,” says Janna Parker of Community on the Frontline. “We're so excited about this Moms First initiative.”

Gilly Shaw, founder and Executive Director of Nü Momish, said: “For the last three years, Nü Momish has been hosting incredible events for moms, but also providing moms-to-be a hand, where we go into the home, fold their laundry, do their dishes, help them [with everything that includes] working from home, take a break, take a nap. With this initiative, not only will they get on-demand, tangible income support, and extended resources, but also a virtual community for almost the entire year where they can plug in with lactation specialists, mental health support, child support, and also autism resources for their children as well.”

Tash “Chef Preddie” Waller, a new mom who was born and raised in the county, is an experienced – and satisfied – client of Nü Momish.

“I didn't know what resources I needed when I first became a mom because I really didn't know what it was to be a mom,” Waller said. “When I found Nü Momish, I saved the meetups. I think my first event was a brunch, the Vision Brunch. From that point on, Gilly, the organization, the other moms, the mom meetups, I got to talk some more. I would literally hop on a highway, 30 minutes, 25 minutes. The conference this year was amazing. I think I should just get trained up for the conference this year. I really love the resources they provide because, as a mom, she saved a life. She really helped me.”

Oriadha says the program will step in where hundreds of women need it the most.

“It says we're going to come in and do the other things so that you can focus and have a breath and a moment to just sit with your child and be a mom,” she says.