#124 Honk If You Love a Mom
How Deshi Singh and her Mom Squad are Fighting for Maternal Rights
Hi! New here? Welcome to the Uplifters! I'm Aransas Savas. I've spent the last 20 years at the intersection of behavior change research and coaching. On The Uplifters Podcast, we share diverse stories of trailblazing, change-making women who have done big, brave things and show us how we can too!
Listen to the latest episode if:
You're a mom who's frustrated by policy decisions that directly affect your life
You've wondered how to channel your passion into meaningful change, but don't know where to start
You're curious about what real grassroots organizing looks like in action
You need proof that you don't have to choose between caring for your family and fighting for systemic change
You want to understand how hope, not happiness, might be the secret ingredient we've all been missing
This Week’s Featured Uplifter: Deshi Singh
Women who do big, brave things all have one thing in common: they stop asking "Am I ready?" and start asking "How can I start?" It's exactly what happened for Deshi Singh, who went from following the traditional path laid out for her, while constantly asking "What will people think?", to becoming co-founder and board chair of a national movement.
After years in finance and various entrepreneurial ventures, it was motherhood that awakened Deshi's true calling. In fall 2021, when federally protected paid leave was about to be quietly stripped from legislation, she and her co-founders refused to let this happen in the shadows. What began as a simple social media experiment—asking moms to share their raw, unfiltered back-to-work stories—unleashed something unexpected: a torrent of truth that demanded action.
Today, Chamber of Mothers is the largest nonpartisan nonprofit fighting for maternal rights in the U.S., uniting 85 million mothers nationwide around three critical issues: paid leave, affordable childcare, and maternal health investment. With 100,000 members and 43 local chapters across 30 states, they've created something revolutionary: a modern-day "village" that pools mothers' dollars, votes, and political will into unstoppable force for change. From local chapters driving state legislation to bipartisan advocacy in Washington D.C., they're proving that when mothers unite, we become impossible to ignore.
And right now, Deshi is taking this movement on the road with the Mothers United Tour, a 10-city roadshow featuring a bus emblazoned with "Mothers United", that's driving across the country as a rolling billboard, calling all moms to action, and helping us all stop asking "Am I ready?" and start asking "How can I start?".
5 Ways Deshi Shows Us How to Build Our Courage Capital:
Convert overwhelm into action by starting with community. Deshi discovered that when we feel powerless individually, we can find power collectively. Trying to change systemic inequity is a lot less scary when we’re not doing it alone.
Experiment your way to your calling. Before Chamber of Mothers, Deshi was a finance executive, then launched a healthy food startup, a jewelry business, and a technology platform. These experiments led her exactly where she needed to be.
Use your spending power as your voice. By 2028, women will own 75% of discretionary spending. Deshi reminds us that "we are the backbone of our economy" and that our financial choices are a form of advocacy. Every dollar we spend is a vote for the kind of world we want to live in.
Align with your values, not your fears. When Deshi makes decisions—whether it's getting her master's degree or launching the Mothers United tour—she asks whether it aligns with her true north of supporting women and girls globally.
Reframe the narrative from "impossible" to "not yet." Instead of accepting that things are just hard for moms, Deshi and Chamber of Mothers are rewriting the story. They're proving that when we unite our voting power, spending power, and voices, we become impossible to ignore.
Support Chamber of Mothers:
Join the movement: Become a free member at chamberofmothers.com to stay connected and amplified
Show up: Check the Mothers United Tour schedule and attend a stop near you
Support the mission: Even $1 donations add up
Spread the word: Follow @chamberofmothers on social media and share their message in your networks
Get involved locally: Connect with your local chapter or start one in your area
If You Liked This Story, Check Out These Stories:
Lia De Feo shows us how to transform the deepest grief into advocacy for others facing similar struggles in their family-building journeys.
Kate Milligan reminds us that all it takes is one girl to start a revolution.
Terry Grahl, founder of Enchanted Makeovers, shows us what can happen when we take tiny steps into our purpose
Laura Kavanagh, the first female Fire Commissioner in FDNY's 157-year history, demonstrates how leadership isn't about being born ready, but about doing the work to become who you're meant to be.
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