To the Mothers of the Surge Community,

Mother’s Day has me reflecting on stewardship in a deeper, more personal way. Not just how we define it in our work, but how it shows up every day in motherhood. In our community, motherhood is not something we carry quietly or alone. It is part of how we lead, how we advocate, and how we create meaningful change. It shapes how we pour into others while still making space for ourselves–and that balance is where so much of our strength lives.

To every woman at the Surge Institute who holds a maternal role in a child’s life in any way, I see you. We are a team that is majority women and I am constantly moved by the way you balance the strategic rigor of our mission with the tender, relentless demands of home. You navigate the complexities of organizational growth and community impact, all while holding the responsibilities of your children in your hands. You lead with a brilliance that is informed by the multitasking, empathy, and resilience that often goes unnoticed.

To the mothers and maternal figures across our Surge community, I see you too. You continue to show up in spaces that were not always designed with you in mind, carrying both the responsibility of your work and the care of your children with intention and strength. In every room you enter, you are not only doing the work, you are reshaping what leadership looks like. And in the process, you are showing the children in your lives what it means to take up space, to lead with purpose, and to move through the world with both conviction and care.

This recognition is deeply personal for me. As a working mother to my 8-year-old son, I live in the same tension that many of you navigate. I know the feeling of a calendar filled with high-stakes meetings while my mind is simultaneously checking the clock for school pickup or wondering if I’ve done enough to support his growth that day. I know the unique exhaustion that comes with being a woman of color in leadership—the “double shift” where we must navigate systemic challenges in the workplace and then come home to be the emotional and physical anchor for our families.

When I look at the children the Lord entrusted in my care, I am reminded of why we do this work. And I think about my mother, the love she poured into me, the sacrifices she made, and the promises she carried so I could live more fully and freely than she was ever allowed. I carry Pratty with me in how I show up as a mother, in how I lead, and in what I believe is possible for my children. 

We are not just fighting for equity as an abstract concept; we are fighting for the world our children will inherit. We want our children to see mothers who are powerful and soft, who lead and rest, who give and still remain whole. We want them to know that our dedication to our communities is an extension of our love for them, not a distraction from it.

However, I also know the weight of the sacrifices. I know the guilt that can creep in, the moments of feeling stretched too thin, and the quiet, unseen labor it takes to make it all work. This Mother’s Day, I want to release us from the pressure of being everything to everyone all the time. Instead, I want to honor your humanity. I want to celebrate the fact that you are enough! Your value isn’t contingent on how much you produce or how many roles you fill, but is because of the love and intentionality you pour into everything you touch.

This weekend, my hope is that you find a moment of true, uninterrupted peace. I hope you are celebrated with the same fervor with which you celebrate others. I hope you feel the collective embrace of a community that understands your journey and honors your strength.

With love and solidarity,

Janaia Nash
Chief Program Officer
Surge Institute