ABOUT

Since 2015, Raising Mothers has served as a digital literary platform publishing creative writing and art in all genres and media that honors both the parenting and personal narratives of the Global Majority.

Raising Mothers amplifies and provides a supportive and inclusive space exclusively for Black, Asian, Latine(x), Indigenous and other marginalized identities from the Global Majority to share their experiences and creative works, while also advocating for social justice and equity.

OUR MISSION IS SIMPLE: CREATE A COMMUNITY IN OUR OWN IMAGE.

We are rewriting the definition of parenting by centering what has been neglected: our voices, examining and preserving our history, representing our expansive cultures, and celebrating our joys in community and in ourselves.

We actively seek out and support work by and about those often marginalized in the literary conversation, including all people of color and gender non-conformists, and Black and brown members of the LGBTQIA+ and disabled communities. We continually aim to represent all walks of life and every stage of parenting.

Raising Mothers reserves the right to remove previously published content for any reason, including but not limited to situations where we believe that doing so will protect the integrity of the publication and its mission.

We are a Bookshop affiliate who earns from qualifying purchases.

Who we are

Sherisa de Groot | Founding Editor

Sherisa de Groot (she/her) is a writer, community builder, and founder of Raising Mothers, the creative membership community Literary Liberation, and pens A Home Within Myself. Her work has been featured in various publications, including Kindred by Parents, Refinery 29, Mutha Magazine, and Oldster Magazine and she was a contributor to the book ‘100 Diverse Voices on Parenthood’ by A Kid’s Company About. With a focus on intersectionality and social justice, her writing explores the nuances of motherhood and the experiences of mothers and marginalized genders of the Global Majority. Through her work, she aims to amplify the voices of those who have been historically silenced and create a more equitable world for all. Raising Mothers was the 2021 Romper People’s Choice Iris Award Winner.

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, she is a first-generation American turned immigrant living in Amsterdam, NL with her husband, two young children, and cat.

Monique Quintana | Editor, Flash Friday

Monique Quintana is a Xicana from Fresno, CA, and the author of Cenote City (Clash Books, 2019). Her work has appeared in Maudlin House, Wildness, Lost Balloon, The Acentos Review, and other publications. She has been supported by Yaddo, the Sundress Academy for the Arts, the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center, and the Community of Writers. She was also the inaugural winner of Amplify’s Writer of Color Fellowship,nominated for a Pushcart, Best of the Net and Best Microfiction, and listed on Wigleaf’s Top 50 Very Short Fictions. You can find her at moniquequintana.com.

Tonya Abari | Editor, Books on Books (Adult)

Tonya Abari (she/her) is multigenre storyteller – freelance journalist, author, editor, and book reviewer for children and adults. As “one of sixteen rising voices in children’s literature,” Abari was a 2021 We Need Diverse Books mentee. Additionally, the Hurston Wright Foundation Writers Week creative nonfiction alum and Roots.Wounds.Words. Penning My Pieces participant has been nominated for Best of the Net – and has read her work widely. Abari has several published (and forthcoming) children’s books with Mudpuppy/Galison, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Innovation Press, and HarperCollins – and is working tirelessly on her adult WIPs.

Ojus Patel | Editor, Books on Books (Children’s)

Ojus Patel (she/her) is a former teacher turned writer/editor whose work largely focuses on the exploration of motherhood as a complete story within the human condition. She writes Letters from Motherhood and her work has also appeared in publications such as Babylist, Cubby, Apartment Therapy, The Kitchn, Romper, and The Everymom. She reads a lot—to herself and to her three kids.

Ain Heath Drew | Editor, Fiction

Ain Heath Drew is a fan of every flavor of storytelling, from literary fiction to narrative non-fiction, to children’s literature. She’s drawn to poignant stories representing everyday people, their battles, and experiences with boundless joy. As a writer, Ain’s published two children’s books with one on the way, and worked with various organizations as a freelance editor and content writer. You can find her at https://www.ainheathdrew.com/.

Dara T. Mathis | Editor, Shop Talk

Dara T. Mathis (she/her) is a nonfiction writer and reporter whose writing has appeared in the Atlantic, the New York Times, the Week, and other places. Her work often examines motherhood, Black liberation movements, and the ways we make home where we are. She resides with her husband and three children in Maryland.

Danielle Jernigan | Editor, Nonfiction

Danielle Jernigan (she/her) is a creative nonfiction writer, devout yogini, and book coach whose writing has appeared in Your Tango, Nourishing Word Blog, among other places, and she has been quoted in the Washington Post. Her writing is strongly influenced by her experience as a doula and postpartum mental health coach and explores writing as a healing practice, self-advocacy, maternal abuse and neglect, perinatal mental health, and autism. She currently resides with her daughter, who is a non speaking person with autism, in Indiana.

Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts | Editor, Radical Joy

Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts (she/her) is a writer and thought-leader whose work offers an opportunity to explore the intersection of culture, identity, and faith/spirituality. She is the founder of HeARTspace, a healing community created to serve those who have experienced trauma of any kind through the use of storytelling and the arts. She has published 22 books including several collaborations with numerous high-profile authors. Her critically-acclaimed book, Black Joy: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration (Gallery/Simon and Schuster) won the 2023 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional. She has been published in print and online publications such as Oprah Daily, The Washington Post, Essence Magazine, The Guardian, The Chronicle for Higher Education, Ebony Magazine, TheRoot.com, and more.

DW McKinney | Editor-At-Large

DW McKinney (she/her) is a Black American essayist and interviewer living in Nevada. She writes about life and graphic novels for CNMN Mag and is an avid book reviewer. Her creative nonfiction and fiction have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, Best of the Net, and Best Microfiction. And DW’s work has been featured in Los Angeles Review of Books, Narratively, JMWW Journal, wigleaf, [PANK] Magazine, The New Southern Fugitives, Raising Mothers, and elsewhere. She’s always interested in meeting new people.

Volunteer

ILLUSTRATORS

Crucial to building our brand image, good Graphic Designers and Illustrators are always in high demand at Raising Mothers! Team members in this role cover the artistic need of our many departments. Please submit a portfolio link along with your introduction.

Email us at HELLO at RAISINGMOTHERS dot COM

Extended Family

Over the years our staff may have to move on for various reasons. We are still extremely thankful for their time and energy they devoted to our mission. They will always be considered part of the Raising Mothers family.