Utah hosts national celebration of motherhood

SALT LAKE CITY — Sporting heels instead of sneakers and holding glasses instead of Sippy Cups, moms from across the country flooded the Little America Hotel April 29–May 1 to attend the American Mothers Inc. national convention.

This three-day celebration of motherhood recognized women and their essential role as mothers.

“Often times moms get overlooked,” said Conell Branan, newly appointed AMI national president. “They are just at home doing their job, taking care of their children and their families, but they are making a significant difference. Strong moms strengthen their families. When you have strong families you have a strong country and everyone is elevated.”

Under the theme of “Motherhood Elevated,” the Salt Lake AMI committee welcomed moms of all ages and backgrounds to recharge their motherhood muscles at the 76th annual AMI national conference.

Each year, AMI selects a “mother of the year” and a “young mother of the year” from each participating state. Utah’s 2011 young mother of the year, Emi Dalton, triumphed through difficult odds to become a mother and says there is nothing she loves more. The state “mothers of the year,” including Utah’s Sally Ann Fitzgerald Olsen, were honored in a candlelit procession during a gala dinner.

The culminating event of the convention was the announcement of AMI’s “National Mother of the Year.” This year’s honoree, Ernestine Allen, hails from Washington, D.C., and was one of 18 children growing up. Allen is not only the mother to her own children but has also mothered countless neighborhood kids and even struggling adults.

“It has been an amazing journey,” she said. “I’m so grateful to God for where he has brought me from. I would encourage all the mothers out there to become part of this organization and to enjoy life and thank God for being a mother.”

AMI is a nonprofit, non-political, interfaith organization. It recognizes the critical role of motherhood in America through educational and community outreach programs. AMI aims to empower and applaud mothers and to promote the message that “strong moms strengthen families.”

These women meet regularly in local state chapterstproviding service, promoting hands-on parenting and mentoring one another.