Several weeks after her son was born, Gilbryonna “Gilly” Shaw felt isolated and overwhelmed. “I had always been a doer, the person who others turned to for help,” says Shaw. “For the first time, I had to ask for help.”
The pandemic made personal connection difficult; Shaw had nowhere to vent and no one to vent to. So, she shared her story online, hoping it might resonate. “So many women shared my experiences but lacked a safe space to talk about them,” Shaw says. “What I really needed was a community. So, I created one.”
What started as monthly Mom Meet-Up gatherings for moms to share and learn from one another, has become a suite of offerings to serve moms from preconception through empty nest. Nu Momish helps moms find family-friendly jobs, provides trusted referrals to mental and medical healthcare practitioners, curates discussions and educational sessions about topics that concern moms – such as wellness, intimacy, and communicating with your partner – and hosts a yearly conference of moms. Their core program, Mama Needs a Hand, is an on-demand, in-home support service to help with childcare, laundry, and home organizing, provided by experienced moms and grandmoms. Providers are CPR-trained, background checked and complete a four-step certification process.
This past year, Nu Momish was able to host 44 events, execute their annual Nu You Conference, employ moms from the community, and successfully launch the Mama Needs a Hand initiative. “BGE’s funding will be invested directly into the systems and operations that power our ‘Mama Needs a Hand’ service,” says Shaw, who plans to support this growth by investing in new software and hiring additional staff.
“I am super excited and grateful. I serve the ones who constantly pour out and serve others. I remember being a mom who needed a village. I am proud to have created that village,” Shaw concluded.
