On September 11, more than 100 people gathered at Stone Brewing in Liberty Station for an evening centered on mothers, families and a question that feels more important than ever:
What would it look like to build a community where families don’t just get by they get to be?
Children First Collective hosted an exclusive screening of No Country for Mothers, a documentary exploring the disparities, expectations and systemic obstacles mothers face every day in America.
The film takes a look at the pressure women often feel to choose between two competing versions of motherhood: the “trad wife” and the “mom boss.” But the reality for most families is much more complicated. Parents are working, caregiving, navigating childcare, raising children, building careers, supporting one another and trying to simply make it through the day.
And sometimes, what families need most isn’t another expectation to live up to.
They just need a community that makes it a little easier to be.
Before the film, we brought the conversation home to San Diego with a panel featuring four incredible mothers who are actively creating change for children and families across our region; Kim Richards from Caring for Mama, Mayor Pro-Tem Priya Bhat-Patel of Carslbad, Nancy Behm from SD Families for Liberation and Priscilla Dicken, a local childcare provider.
Their stories, experiences and perspectives reminded us that meaningful change doesn’t always start with a sweeping solution. Sometimes it starts with one person asking, How can we make this easier? Then slowly, inviting your neighbors into the conversation and eventually finding your community to put words into action.
We also welcomed our special guest of the night, Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, to help kickoff the night with some incredible words of unity and hope for children and families, remind us that showing up is the hardest part, yet there we all were.
The conversation was honest. It was motivating. And it was deeply unifying.
One of the most meaningful parts of the evening was that families were invited to show up exactly as they are.
More than 100 guests joined us. Many with children in hand.
While adults talked about the future of families, kids were busy creating their own little community around us. Bubbles floated through the air. Children played together. They helped lead each other. Families connected. And for a few hours, we got a glimpse of what family-friendly community can actually look like. Harmonious is an understatement.
Kids didn’t have to be somewhere else so the adults could have an important conversation. They were part of it.
The documentary is called No Country for Mothers.
But as we listened to our panelists and looked around the room that night, we couldn’t help but imagine something different.
What if there could be a San Diego for families?
A city where parents don’t have to choose between being present for their children and participating in their community.
A city where child care is recognized as essential infrastructure.
A city where businesses welcome families.
A city where children are considered in the decisions that shape our neighborhoods, schools, workplaces and public spaces.
A city where parents feel supported rather than isolated.
A city where families can simply be.
That vision may sound big. But so does every meaningful change before people decide to build it together.
The event was more than a movie screening about systemic obstacles. It was a reminder that community is part of the solution.
When we bring parents, caregivers, advocates, community leaders and children into the same room, we begin to see that we aren’t facing these challenges alone.
And if there is one thing we took away from this night, it’s this:
San Diego has the people, the passion and the possibility to become an even better place for children and families.
Perhaps a country for mothers is build first with cities for families. And building a city for families means staying informed about the decisions and policies that shape our communities .
Children and families are on the ballot this November. To learn more about Measure B, the Health & Safety Act, visit San Diego Foundation’s voter education guide Understanding Measure B.
We support local artists and thank Hanna Gundrum for bringing loving illustrations to our work.
CFC Brand Development produced by our PB&J Fellows in partnership with the Nectar Digital Collaborative.
