My Invitation

Click here to view the recording of our research group’s virtual art gallery event (90 minute webinar.)

On June 20, 2020 you are invited to a personal virtual art exhibition event created by six mothers of children with medical complexities — I am one of them. This past year, we (Six Moms & A Researcher) worked together on a PhotoVoice project — a method of participatory action research — with the goal of increasing empathy in the medical community through storytelling or perspective sharing. During this time, we took photos of some of our most intimate moments to document and discuss our day-to-day lives. This event has no sponsor, but is the product of a grassroots research effort through UCLA. You are welcome to extend this invitation, on our behalf, to those within your personal or professional community.  

Some of you know I co-created this study with a fellow medical mother, Darlene Abrams, and my college roommate, Melanie Sonsteng-Person. And yet, as I consider sharing my voice through photographs and descriptions, I am feeling quite exposed and vulnerable in a way that’s new for me. You’d think that because of my blog that lives here with you, in this quiet corner of the internet, I might feel more prepared to share my voice at a public event. 

But, I’m not. 

Because, I don’t know the audience. 

Lately, in an effort to create a vision of this event’s potential audience, I close my eyes and paint a portrait of the event’s “ideal attendee.” Do you know who comes to mind? YOU – my readers. You, a kind and empathetic listener (reader), you an encouraging and tender voice, and ultimately you, the expert perspective taker. 

When I first started sharing pieces of my writing in this space, Tia told me to “Trust your audience.” As I’ve leaned into this advice, I have seen my voice and, in many ways, my confidence, bloom and grow. You my friend and reader, have been hugely impactful in supporting this growth simply by being you and listening, loving, praying, and encouraging. I hope you will consider my invitation to this event — other than being “the ideal attendee” you are also the ideal guest: a person I would love to introduce to the incredible group of mothers I have been collaborating and creating with these last few months. 

Please let me know if you have any questions about this event or our research efforts. You can RSVP for this event here, and learn more about this project through our researcher’s website here.

With Love & Gratitude,

Jesse Van Leeuwen

P.S. If and when you RSVP to this event, you will be asked if you would like to donate to this project’s research fund. All donations will go to the project’s transcription costs, and to disseminating the project/ findings. Please do not feel obligated to donate to this fund — your presence is more than enough, but thank you in advance to those who choose to financially sponsor this project; our team is grateful for your support.

Invitation Design: Nick Abrams