Fortune 52

Lorri Slepian was a pioneer of mothers’ rights before most women even acknowledged that they needed someone to advocate for them. In the 1970s, she wanted to find a solution and validation for mothers who were raising their children while working both in and out of the home, and were isolated from one another.

Lorri, who describes herself as a reflective person, has been involved for years in various consciousness-raising efforts, says, “I wanted to bring these mothers together.” She felt that she could accomplish this by helping mothers relate to each other and, as a result, strengthen their family and community.

She co-founded the National Association of Mothers’ Centers (NAMC) with Merrick native Patsy Turrini, who Lorri describes as the catalyst of the group, and opened the original Mother’s Center in Hicksville in January 1975.

The NAMC’s mission has never deviated from its grassroots objective: to create a place where mothers can learn from and support each other. The organization has grown into a network of more than 35 neighborhood centers, with 17 located throughout LI in libraries, community centers and houses of worship.

NAMC, now based in Jericho, offers programs that advocate for and support mothers and caregivers. Offering referrals to professionals and organizations, NAMC also distributes educational materials and provides ongoing training, coordination and support for program leaders and NAMC members. These programs serve more than 800 LI mothers and more than 4,000 nationwide, and include MOTHERS (Mothers Ought To Have Equal Rights), an initiative that focuses on the economic well-being of mothers and other family caregivers who look after children of other dependent family members.

Lorri has helped with NAMC’s growth and maturation over the past 30 years and has kept the organization strong and thriving, serving NAMC in many capacities including Leadership Advisor and as a member of the Board of Directors. She also travels around the country speaking to different organizations about strengthening the NAMC network by working with other diverse groups.

“If we don’t find ways to serve our young families in this frenetic, stressful time, we will never make the changes needed to achieve a higher humanity and a less violent world,” she says. Lorri believes that a Mothers’ Center in every neighborhood can help nurture strong families and bring about social change, and is working toward that end.
“We need public space and some resources. We need to find some smart visionary(s) who could understand the potential of such centers to promote personal growth; strong, happier families; connected, safe communities; and needed social change,” she adds.

Lorri is committed to helping these women better relate to their family, community and in their workplace, and acknowledges that there is still a lot of work to be done.

A champion of the family unit, Lorri has been married for 56 years, is the mother of four boys and the grandmother of seven.

Sadly she told me, “The U.S. is one of five industrialized nations worldwide that does not mandate any paid [maternity] leave…the other four countries I can’t pronounce. It’s still not a right in the U.S.

“At a Mothers’ Center, everyone is on the same level. Decision making is by consensus and everyone ‘owns’ the centers. It is of mothers, by mothers and for mothers.”

For more information on NAMC, go to www.motherscenter.org or call 516-939-MOMS (6667).
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