Our Children’s Place: Presents Mothers of Bedford

by Deona Hooper, MSW

Our Children’s Place, a local Chapel Hill nonprofit, in partnership with Meredith College will be hosting a screening of the acclaimed documentary Mothers of Bedford on February 12, 2013 at 6:30PM EST. Mothers of Bedford explores the complexities of motherhood while being confined in a maximum security prison. The harsh reality of our day is that 80 percent of women in US prisons are mothers of school aged children. The film examines the lives of five women, and the challenges they face being parents behind bars.

The screening will be held at Kresge Auditorium in the Cate Student Center at 3800 Hillsborough Street in Raleigh, NC. Suggested donations for the public is $30.00 for the community and $10.00 for students. Our Children’s place is local nonprofit in Chapel Hill, NC that is committed to serving children of incarcerated parents. They are one of the leading advocates and resources in the state for this population. To reserve your tickets go to Our Children’s Place.

According to the Mothers of Bedford website:

Many parents find it hard to imagine being away from a child for a week. Imagine being separated for ten or twenty years? Mothers of Bedford explores the effects of a long-term prison sentence on the mother-child relationship.

The film examines the struggles and joys these five women face as prisoners and mothers. It shows the normal frustrations of parenting as well as the surreal experiences of a child’s first birthday party inside prison, the cell that child lives in with her mother, and the biggest celebration of the year, Mother’s Day in prison! Read More