“My favorite part about the event is hearing the speakers and watching the impact that they have on the different moms because the event is focused on generations,” Jackie Hunt, founder of the Pre-Mother’s Day Brunch, tells Madison365. “We have moms that are grandmoms and they attend with their daughters and granddaughters. One year, we have five generations of moms attending the Pre-Mother’s Day event. That was pretty cool.”
Every year, Hunt brings mothers together from all walks of life to celebrate at a Pre-Mother’s Day Brunch with delicious food, special guest speakers, meaningful music, and a rose petal walk. This year’s theme is “Living A Legacy of Health and Wellness from Generation to Generation.”
The multigenerational celebration will take place Saturday, May 7, at 10 a.m. at Fountain of Life Covenant Church, 633 W. Badger Rd. on Madison’s south side. Hunt says that she is encouraging those attending to wear a “crown” (hat) that has significance to them.
“We’re going to wear our crowns … our best church hats … and we’re gonna have brunch and a great program with dynamic speakers,” Hunt says.
The event will benefit F.O.S.T.E.R. of Dane County, a wraparound, nontraditional case management and counseling agency serving families in Dane County for more than 15 years. Hunt is the founder and CEO of F.O.S.T.E.R.
“The first year [of the pandemic] we did it totally virtually. The second year we had meals catered and delivered by [my daughter] Suga. And we had Black Men”s Coalition delivering meals to moms all over Madison and Dane County,” Hunt remembers. “It was definitely a lot of coordinating and a lot of work. So it’s cool for us to be back in person. I’m really excited about being able to hug somebody and really be face to face in a space where we’re all connected.”
Food for the event will be prepared by Kevin Evanco and speakers will include Diana Shinall, Dr. Jazmine Zapata, and Dora Monroe.
“There will be corsages by Andreal Davis and Black Men’s Coalition will serve as ushers and servers. There will be a song by Pamela Soward,” Hunt says. “There will be a special tribute to moms who are no longer here and an extra-special tribute to moms who have lost a child. There will be raffles, gift baskets, and fun activities throughout the event.”
The Pre-Mother’s Day Brunch was created in order to give moms a special space to be able to come and enjoy brunch and a program was created in honor of Hunt’s mother, Mary Louise Hunt, and her dear friend and mother figure, Milele Chikassa Anana.
“Ms. Milele used to take me and other several other single moms out on Mother’s Day for dinner after church so we wouldn’t have to go home and cook for our small kids,” Hunt says. “And when she first got sick with cancer, she couldn’t do that for us anymore. And I know how much that meant to me. So when I was in a better position in my life, I created a way to give back to other moms who might be like myself.”
The 14th Annual Pre-Mother’s Day Brunch will take place Saturday, May 7, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Fountain of Life,633 West Badger Road in Madison. For more information about the event, contact Jackie Hunt at [email protected] or click here.
