Happy Mother’s Day from First Shift Justice Project!

You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.

-Winnie the Pooh

How many times have I shared similar words of encouragement?

As a mother of teenagers.

As a lawyer to my clients.

As a friend.

And it wasn’t a platitude; it was true. We may look fragile. We may feel fragile. But we are strong.

The hive on the front of the card is in a tree in front of my house. I took the photo in the winter, when the trees were bare and I noticed it for the first time. As you can see, it was (is) hanging by a thread, with a very small, seemingly tenuous connection to the tree. The hive looks so big and heavy. Since January, I have been sure it was going to fall out of the tree with every snowy or windy day.

A few times a week, I check just to make sure it is still there. Here we are in May and it is still attached! I am reassured to know that the fragile connection with that tiny, weak looking branch is strong enough. Indeed, it is stronger than it seems.

First Shift works with pregnant and caregiving clients who are trying to hang on to their jobs. In the face of ever-worsening circumstances, they are braver and stronger and smarter than you can imagine. Your contributions to First Shift allow us to support them to tap into that reserve of capacity, to stand up for themselves and their families at work.

Thank you for your generosity.

Laura Brown, Executive Director