On view May 12 – 26, 2023
A photovoice project and exhibition highlighting Black and Latina/x motherhood in all forms.
Led and curated by Lauren Temple
with support from BIZ Stoop & Stay Arts
Opening reception
Friday, May 12, 2023
6pm – 9pm
About the project
Black and and Brown people are the backbone of LA’s culture. Yet, sometimes we forget to talk about and recognize how we are more similar than we are different. motherHOOD is a photovoice project and exhibition led and curated by Lauren Temple, with support from BIZ Stoop & Stay Arts. This project focuses on Black and Latina/x motherhood in all forms, with the purpose of enabling community members to explore the unique ways that we all view motherhood, as well as give our mothers the spotlight they deserve.
Twelve local mothers were provided with film point-and-shoot cameras to document their experiences and perspectives on motherhood over the span of two weeks. This exhibition highlights their chosen photos and personal stories.
Featured mothers
Camille Tyas, China Oseguera, De Anna Pittman, Karla Carrillo, Londyn Douglas, Ninoska Tamayo, Rosa Martinez, Sandra Mejia, Shaqueal Adkins, Sopavy Seng, Sunumi Jackson, Tanya Lewis
Made possible by
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BIZ (Black Intergenerational Zeal) Stoop is a premier social enterprise built for and by millennials. BIZ Stoop’s vision is to exponentially increase the life expectancy of Black youth beyond the age of 25 years - by way of access. The organization realign individuals with healthier visions of self using holistic approaches to wellness - shifting the boundaries that circumscribe our environment. The collective voice of the BIZ Stoop responds to the establishments that govern our (financial) ecosystem: expanding concepts of worth, skills gap, risk-taking, and transformative social impact.
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Stay Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that engages and empowers Southeast Los Angeles - Gateway Cities communities through the arts, creative exploration and cultural expression. Their programs operate from Stay Gallery, a community art gallery and creative space located in the heart of Downtown Downey. Stay’s mission is to provide access, space, and visibility in the arts for local artists, youth and families through community-led exhibitions, workshops and creative experiences.
Meet Lauren
Long Beach
(she/her)
Lauren Temple is a creative, communicator, and community builder that believes knowledge is power. While this is true, she also believes that the education system isn’t the only place to gain it. Lauren has worked with various organizations and collectives in Southern California to make sure the community (on all fronts) receives access to education on topics that are often gate-kept in academia.
Meet the featured mothers
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Crenshaw District
(she/her)Who am I? Such a tough question. I am a complex and unique woman striving to reach my highest potential. I am Camille Tyas, mother of Troi LèVay Dedeaux. I am me, unapologetically! I am ART and my life is a masterpiece. I appreciate all that is creative such as music, movies, books, and poetry. I value every form of self-care and expression. My goal in this lifetime is to support and inspire by creating a safe space that promotes individuality and a strong sense of self.
Everything is Everything.
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Compton
(she/her)
I am China. I am a mother to a two year old baby girl. I currently work in law enforcement, and passionate about community work. A goal of mine is to help bring equity to areas where equality falls short. I love all things pink and tik tok. I also host a small podcast (The Finest BBW) about dating, Christianity in youth, parenting, and pop culture. I love spending time with family and friends and cultivating comforting communities. In the past I have I been a cofounder to a nonprofit (The Helpful Homegirls) and began a parenting group for bipoc moms (Not Your Average Moms Club). I want people to know there is no correct way to be a mom. I am often considered the unconventional mom, that loves her child unconditionally. Being a mom doesn’t require you to lose yourself but to be yourself unapologetically. Thank you and God bless. ❤️
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Compton
(she/her)
De Anna is the daughter of a Mexican American mother and an African American father. Her mother’s parents migrated from Leon, Guanajuato to Compton during the 1970’s in search of greater economic opportunities. During the Great Migration, her father’s parents arrived in Compton in the 1950s fleeing the Jim Crow south. Today, it is De Anna’s lifelong commitment to serve the very community that her family sacrificed so much to get to. De Anna is a mother, an organizer, a UCLA grad, and a student for life.
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Los Angeles
(she/her)
My name is Karla, the person I am is ever so developing. After becoming a mom, I have been finding myself again and came to find groups that I enjoy being apart of. I’m a council member of YPLC , I’m a volunteer with Community Loving, and a continuing student. I aspire to continue my trades in healthcare and technology into potential careers. My goal is to enjoy life, parenthood, and be self sufficient. As a hobby, I started collecting items that give me a spark of joy, such as figurines.
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Los Angeles
(she/her)Londyn Douglas is a multi-dimensional fashionista, storyteller, creator and mother. Originally from the DMV, working in fashion brought her to Los Angeles where she hit the ground running and began to assist LA’s top celebrity stylists. Londyn is known for unique style of streetwear and archival pieces, her styling work has been featured in major fashion campaigns and ads. If she's not styling or vintage shopping she can be found capturing street photography on film (@shotbyyagirl). She is a proud mother to her son, Lotus Bloom, and is currently working on a vintage shop specializing in unique clothing and handmade goods for the entire family. Follow up to keep up with her outfits, motherhood and life @londyndouglas (ig).
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Los Angeles
I am a Los Angeles citizen. I was born and raised in Los Angeles. My mother raised me and my sister on her own. I am a Gemini sun, Gemini moon, and Sagittarius rising. I am traveling school psychology for Los Angeles County and a part-time professor at Los Angeles Harbor. I also have my own business I.you.we were I get to create all natural tonics and tinctures that align with the planets and solar system. This is a family ran and owned business. I am a mother of a wonderful 6 year old Gemini boy, John Nabil. He is a rue gift from god. My partner is a strong and loving Taurus and my biggest cheerleader. I am able to be all these amazing roles because I have an entire village by my side. My future plan is to incorporate celestial information and personal events ( baby showers, Bday party, weddings, business opening) and therapy sessions.
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Long Beach
(she/her)
My name is Rosa Martinez, and I am a dedicated mother, student and Higher Ed advocate. I am a very simplistic person who enjoys spending time with my family, enjoys homecooked meals and taking walks in nature. I LOVE watching my boys grow up and experience new things that their father and I could not when we were their age. I can say that as a mother who has gone through child adversity, I became the person I needed while growing up to my beautiful boys and that is the greatest gift from life.I am very passionate about our student-parents, formerly incarcerated/systems impacted individuals and gang-impacted youth who are pursuing Higher Ed due to my personal experiences. My goals are to continue my education and earn my master's degree in counseling or educational leadership to better serve formerly incarcerated scholars and gang impacted youth pursuing higher education.
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Los Angeles
(she/her)
Sandra Mejia (aka The Plant Chica) was born in South Central LA to Salvadoran immigrant parents. Sandra connects plants with a feeling of family and has worked to turn The Plant Chica into a family business. After having her own son, Alem, she took inspiration from her mother’s love of the native plants of El Salvador to create The Plant Chica, a greenhouse and community hub that serves as an oasis in South Central Los Angeles.
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South Central, Los Angeles
(she/her)I’m a single mother (not by choice) and I don’t play about that title. I own a bookstore and I want to excel on all levels. Im so damn ambitious. I still work full time, too. My children are my life and I am proud to be their mother. Gentrification will not put me out.
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Long Beach
(she/her)I love basketball. I enjoy being around the game still so I referee and just joined a women’s league that starts in May. I’m trying to get a small business of reselling going so I can be my own boss and also create different streams of passive income in order to spend more time with my son. I love hanging out with my friends and being able to enjoy that time because life has thrown a lot at us and we’ve still managed to remain friends and have slowly become sisters since playing together at city. I love reselling, doing pop ups, selling online, and I’m going to start selling on whatnot app. I’ve been trying to get an inventory, it’s all easier said than done. Overall, I love being a mom, seriously. Best job ever. Hardest job without a doubt, but the most amazing one at the same time. My son is my world, my best friend and I seriously could never imagine it any other way.
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Los Angeles
(she/her)
My name is Sunumi Jackson, I myself am a mother, full spectrum doula, entheogen educator and out of inspiration of my own motherhood journey founded an incredible nonprofit organization called Village Of Mothers native to LA. I do many things but best of all I am a self aware human being and I assist thousands of mothers per year in learning practices that will contribute to them expanding their minds. Ive made it my priority to show women that with the development of mental sovereignty, they can enhance the quality of their life experience tremendously and by giving mothers techniques that bridge them closer to who they are will in turn make stronger, wiser and safer community. Our ultimate goal is to not only provide these techniques but first and foremost to support motherhood through sisterhood, exchanging stories, opportunities and sharing sweet yet transformative experiences with eachother to build relationships that last a lifetime.
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Whittier
(she/her)
Mother. Daughter. Educator. Community member.Tanya Lewis grew up in East Los Angeles and spent various school breaks in Aguascalientes, Mexico with her father's family. These moments cultivated a love for Mexican culture and brought awareness of not quite belonging. Tanya cares deeply for others and enjoys spending time with her family and community.