Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America announced today that mothers across the country are coming together to create quilts that symbolize the human toll of gun violence in America. The “Mother’s Dream Quilt Project” takes its name from a uniform quilting pattern that will be used in all of the quilts made by Moms Demand Action members and supporters.
The “Mother’s Dream Quilt Project” will be a collection of quilts created from fabric submissions from around the country. Each quilt will contain at least one block composed of meaningful fabric from a victim or survivor of gun violence such as a piece of clothing or a beloved blanket. This “survivor block” will be surrounded by submissions from supporters expressing their collective sadness over too many lives ended by gunfire.
“Gun violence has become a sad part of the very fabric of America. These quilts will honor victims of gun violence and show how American mothers are resolved to fight for solutions to end our national gun violence epidemic,” said Jennifer Hoppe, Program Director for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “Our quilts will represent both the toll that gun violence has taken in all of our communities, and the commitment of mothers to join together, support each other, and work to protect our children. Our collective Mother’s Dream is a safer America.”
Moms Demand Action chapters throughout the country are sponsoring “Community Quilting Bees” where attendees will create blocks to add to a Mother’s Dream quilt. Each block representing a victim or survivor will be accompanied by information about that individual and each supporter block will be accompanied by a statement of the quilter’s “dream” for American children.
The next event will be held in New York City on Sunday, March 2, at 7 p.m. at Congregation Beth Elohim, 274 Garfield Place in Brooklyn, New York.
“I am happy to be part of something that is bigger than all of us, and I am glad my son’s name will live on,” said Natasha Christopher, whose son Akeal died from a gunshot on his 15th birthday in 2012.
Christopher joined moms in New York City earlier this month to quilt her block using fabric from her son’s favorite shirt.
“I felt nothing but love at the Community Quilting Bee,” said Christopher. “It was the first time in a long time I felt happy. Mothers need to stand together and fight for tougher gun laws, and never give up. We all have to protect our kids.”
To find out more about the Mother’s Dream Quilt project, including individual submission guidelines and information about upcoming Community Quilting
Bees, visit www.momsdemandaction.com/mothers-dream-quilt-project