“Advocating for my child enables me to advocate for the inner child inside of me.” - Patrice Sterling, Co-Author of The Moms’ Truth: Authentic Stories of Motherhood.

On Saturday, September 17 2022, the Friends-Stewards of African American Museum and Library at Oakland (FSAAMLO) gathered to enjoy an iteration of AAMLO’s Meet the Authors Series. We had the pleasure of meeting the authors of The Moms’ Truth: Authentic Stories of Motherhood. 

The Moms’ project showcased a collective of African American women advocates and ‘story sharers’ - a term that The Moms’ co-author Briana Dixon introduced us to. Draped in shades of purple attire, authors Marie Gilder, Jazzman Brown, Patrice Sterling, Briana Dixon and Jennifer Thompson graced AAMLO’s second floor gallery space ready to bestow their wisdom upon us. We learned that the authors are natives of the Oakland Bay Area and some of them have held lifelong friendships since grade school. What shined through as most prominent on this afternoon, was the show of sisterhood that bonded them. Evident in the ways that they supported and affirmed each other throughout the event. 

Each author read excerpts from their respective chapter and left us all hanging onto their every word as they courageously shared insights into their world of maternal intuition, challenges, achievement, loss and transformation. For more information about how to connect with the authors, search Sterling Patrice on Instagram and click the link below if interested in purchasing a copy of the book:

https://checkout.square.site/buy/Z2DDVDJYPUIDRM6BBWOVGA2C

By Joymara Coleman, MSW

In celebration of Jazz Appreciation & National Poetry Month 2022

The Friends-Stewards of AAMLO presents

Creative Writing Young Author

Chloe G.M. Fischer-Bouche, Oakland School for the Arts, 8th grade

Chloe participated and completed the Friends-Stewards of AAMLO 5-week pilot creative writing workshops held at AAMLO in the Fall 2021.  During the creative writing workshops, she penned original work that we are excited to share with you.  

Chloe loves taking care of animals and playing video games.  What brings her joy is reading and cooking.  At this time, her career goal is to become a Dietician.  She is interested in nutrition education because she likes learning how the body processes food. 

Chloe participated in an art camp for fashion design and gives back to the community by working as a counselor in training at the Studio One Art Center in the art camp.

Interview by Janet Noble-Maxwell, Cofounder, FSAAMLO

Standards

Confidence is one thing.  Self-confidence is another thing but on a whole new level.  You gain self-confidence through incidents that have affected you.  Then, you take those moments and turn them into something beautiful.

One day you could feel your life is falling apart, and the next, you are on top of the world.  Feel as if you could stomp on anyone who decides you are not worthy enough or not good enough.  But in reality, it's just you, not them.  Those people are just side characters in your story.

Living the life, you imagined for yourself a long time ago.  Hoping this is enough to make you go up.  Hoping to not feel afloat again.  Hoping to grow into something more than just people's standards.  Hoping I can love and cherish myself unconditionally as I wish I had a long time ago.

Written by Young Author: Chloe G.M. Fischer-Bouche

Image: Left: Karen Oyekanmi, Vice-President, FSAAMLO; Center: Chloe G.M. Fischer-Bouche; Right: Claudia Noble-Levingston, President, FSAAMLO

Photo credits: Jalia Noble-Burks, IG: @liadmnd