The Single Mothers’ Alliance B.C. is looking for stories from single mothers in Vancouver.
The goal is to figure out the most pressing obstacles facing single mothers and develop a campaign to improve services for them.
The grassroots non-profit will hold “The Listening Project” sessions at Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House at 4065 Victoria Dr.
Each session will include childcare in a room adjacent to the meeting room, bus tickets, grocery gift cards and snacks for both mothers and children. The next session is on March 31.
Viveca Ellis, co-founder of the group, said there are many obstacles facing single mothers in B.C.
“We’re working on developing platform for advocacy and platform for action. We want to create awareness in British Columbia of issues facing single moms.”
At the listening sessions, stories will be recorded and the alliance will go over the transcripts. The members will examine the stories to find out what prevents single moms from having better lives.
Reports and studies are helpful, Ellis said, but they miss the details and intimate stories and put distance between those in power and single moms who are directly affected by decisions made by authorities.
Ellis wants to challenge the myth of low-income families are too busy to be engaged on a civic level.
“We are focused on breaking down barriers in participation in organizing and that’s why we offer free childcare during all our meetings, participation incentives like grocery gift cards and transportation cost coverage because it isn’t true that people in poverty and single mothers are too busy to organize and engage politically.”
Ellis insists the alliance is more than a support group. “We’re an advocacy group. Our mandate is to provide opportunities and empower low-income single mothers to get politically engaged and participate in democracy.”
Melanie Baker, a single mother with an eight-year-old son, participated in the first listening session last year. She signed up because she wanted to be part of a community and feel less isolated.
It was difficult for Baker because she is used to being self-reliant and doing what needs to be done alone.
“I have a hard time asking for help. I don’t like to impose.”
Somehow, between juggling two part-time jobs and a landscaping company, she made it out to the session. The opportunity excited Baker because she said she didn’t want to be in a support group where everyone dwelled on the negative.
“I wanted positive. I wanted to support other women. I wanted goal-setting and empowerment.”
She says that’s what she found.
The 42-year-old mother believes change is possible from a united voice.
“We’re a silent minority but there are so many of us out there.”
What Baker hopes to get from the alliance is a mentor, opportunities to self-development courses and opportunities to host workshops about gardening and art.
“Once you’ve got support, you feel safe,” she said.
Supporting a single mother affects more than a single demographic. “By helping mothers, you’re then helping their children,” Baker said.
Ellis has seen proof of this. “People have checked us out and donated to our cause. Daughters of single moms. Sons of single moms. Fathers of single moms.”
Last year’s First Call report said B.C.’s child poverty rate from 2000 to 2012 has remained consistently higher than the Canadian average. The report also said one out of five B.C. children are poor.
For more info, visit singlemothersbc.org.
