When Jacquelyn Hunt’s children when too young to take her out or buy her gifts for Mother’s Day, community leader and Umoja Publisher Milele Chikasa Anana would take her family out to brunch to celebrate. Each year Anana would celebrate mothers this way so they could take a small break from the tasking realities of motherhood. After a while, Hunt decided to spearhead this annual brunch which has now evolved into a Mother’s Day celebration expected to serve over 200 guests.
To honor the generosity Anana showed her and the legacy of her own mother Mary Lousie Hunt, the Pre-Mother’s Day Brunch has grown into an ongoing multigenerational event that is now in its tenth year in existence. Guided by the theme “Generation to Generation,” this year’s programming will be focused on not only showing appreciation for Madison’s mothers but also to emphasize the role of community mothering, according to event organizer and F.O.S.T.E.R. of Dane County founder Jacquelyn Hunt.
In order to make mothers feel special, this year’s brunch will be at the Madison Concourse Hotel for the first time, this Saturday, May 12, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“I wanted to give the moms an opportunity to get out in the community and to be in a space some may not otherwise have an opportunity to experience,” Hunt tells Madison365.
This Saturday, guests will get the chance to sport their nicest spring attire. Attendees will also be ushered and escorted around by men from the community who will be dressed in suits to ensure they are getting the full experience. This year’s programming will include a number of musical selections, dance ministry, various speakers and a keynote address by Andreal Davis.
“Andreal is an awesome educator and motivational speaker and I’m really looking forward to hearing what she brings,” Hunt says. “There will also be someone who will speak about health and our overall mental wellness.”
The topics will range from financial responsibilities to a discussion about the varying types of motherhood found in the community from foster to surrogate mothers and the importance of their presence.
For the first time, The Pre-Mother’s Day Brunch will recognize those who have supported the event and the community at large in honor of the event’s 10th annual celebration.
“There have been some really key community partners who have helped to make this event possible year after year,” Hunt says.
At this year’s festivities, violinist Lexus Carter will be performing selections for the fourth year in a row. Songstress Malika Monger-Evanco will also be performing at this year’s brunch.
Hunt has always treated this event as her baby, however, and with growing popularity, the event has expanded considerably. Helping her with this expansion are sponsors such as One City Early Learning, The Boys and Girls Club of Dane County, Fountain of Life Covenant Church, Project Respect, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Diversity Equity and Educational Achievement and many more.
“[They] really stepped up to the plate,” Hunt says of the sponsors who have helped bring this event to fruition.
However, Hunt credits her daughter Jacquesha Hunt with being one of the biggest supporters of making the event possible.
“When I tell you she’s amazing … she’s amazing!” she says. “From her graphic arts design to the planning and implementation of this event from start to finish, I couldn’t have done it without her.”
Tickets for the Annual Pre-Mother’s Day Brunch are $25 and will be available until May 12.
