Mothers are Makers is a new project for women who are mothers and clients of OpenDoors, a local nonprofit, social service agency that is the first and largest to serve formerly incarcerated people in Rhode Island. These women are working to rebuild both their lives and their families.

Mothers Are Makers is conceived as a new annual gathering to resource these women and support them in envisioning new possibilities and pathways for themselves and their families, reiterating that they are not defined by the worst things that they have done and they are capable of so much more.

AFRI's funding will help support an inaugural Mothers Are Makers event, an interactive art-making brunch to be held at the Women & Children’s House on Mother’s Day weekend 2025. Providence-based artist, mother, educator, and changemaker Lilly Manycolors will collaborate with us to develop an art-making activity for women and children inspired by themes of empowerment, affirmation, motherhood, and care.