Fifteen Years of Welfare Mothers Voice--1986-2001
In the Spring of 1986 a small multi-racial group of Milwaukee single mother came together to create a newspaper that would provide a voice for mothers in poverty where none existed. We envisioned a media that would allow moms to exchange information, offer each other support and inspiration, and combat the media lies about, and government indifference to, families in poverty. As mothers who depended upon government child support for our children, we were tired of the demeaning stereotypes--in the media, schools, medical establishments, jobs and even in the streets--that assaulted our families. We determined to make the truth about our communities visible by creating a poor mothers' media.
Within a few months of that initial meeting, we named
ourselves Welfare Warriors and our newspaper, Welfare Mothers Voice,
because as Warrior Mothers fighting for the children we wanted to remove the stigma
attached to what had become a dirty word, "welfare." By the Fall
of 1986 we produced the first issue of the Welfare Mothers Voice, a
quarterly publication by, for, and about mothers in poverty. Inspired by Maria,
Liberation of People, a Mexican mothers' newspaper, the Voice has
grown from a type-written publication pasted together in co-founder Pat Gowens'
kitchen, to a 28-page bilingual, international, activist mothers
newsjournal. The Welfare Warriors have grown from an informal group of
moms who met in each other's homes to an organization that educates and inspires
mothers to activism around the world.
In honor of this occasion Welfare Warriors held a 15th Anniversary Awards Dinner on December 2, 2001. The Dinner was an exciting opportunity to recognize the many people who have helped to make the Voice the exciting newspaper that it has become. Over drinks and music we were able to look back on 15 years of struggle, challenge, and rewards. Thanks to the massive community support we have received these past fifteen years, the Voice has indeed become a powerful voice of mothers in poverty, as well as the voice of activist movements fighting to end the worldwide war on the poor. We expect the next fifteen years to bring more exciting breakthroughs as well as a far more humane world that honors and respects the motherworkers. We know that you will be there supporting the struggle.
And...A New Name for the Voice
This past year some readers suggested a name change for the Voice. Others objected to any change. Welfare Warriors Board of Directors has decided to change the name of the Voice, beginning in 2002.
The name chosen is Mother Warriors Voice. With this name change, we finally put MOTHER first. The name Warriors will identify the paper as an activist newsjournal. Our goal is to increase subscriptions by appealing to all types of activists--and all kinds of mothers. Our organization name remains Welfare Warriors. We will still be working to stop the war on the poor. We are NOT in the closet about being moms who use welfare, SSI, food stamps, etc., for our families' survival.
One of the best ways that you can support the Welfare Warriors and help us in our fight to end the war on the poor is to subscribe to the Mother Warriors Voice. Subscriptions are $5 (more if you can, less if you can't) for mothers in poverty; $15 for other individuals, and $25 for organizations and other countries.
You can also help by becoming an active member of the Welfare Warriors, by distributing the Voice in your neighborhood, or by becoming a supporting member, with a $50 suggested gift.
Mother Warriors Voice
2711 W. Michigan Ave 53208
414-342-6662