This weekend, the city of Chicago is putting the spotlight on mothers in a series of heartfelt celebrations.
On Saturday, various events unfolded across the city and its suburbs, each dedicated to honoring mothers and their invaluable contributions, just in time for Mother’s Day.
It’s not only families showing appreciation; mothers are also coming together to uplift one another.
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In a lively celebration, the 2026 Magnificent Mothers of Praise and Power Extravaganza lit up the West Side on Saturday, featuring the presence of Barbara McGowan, an 81-year-old mother and grandmother.
“Motherhood is an everyday role, not confined to just one day,” McGowan shared. “Being a mom is a constant journey.”
The event, organized by 37th Ward Alderwoman Emma Mitts, was a community effort to recognize and celebrate the achievements of local mothers.
“It just became a tradition, because now we’re celebrating six years of the Mother’s Day Extravaganza, and we just go all out,” Ald. Mitts said.
Special guests along with elected officials attended the pre-Mother’s Day event, which featured appliance giveaways and the gifting of other essential items donated by Black Men United.
“You name it, it’s out there, icemaker, air fryers,” said Bishop John Harrell with Black Men United. “We’re just here to say, mothers, we love you.”
In west suburban Oak Park, Illinois U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth hosted local leaders, community activists and moms to talk about the challenges of motherhood and what families now face under the current administration.
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For many moms this Mother’s Day weekend, the holiday is bittersweet because they’ve tragically lost a child. Around 125 moms attended this year’s Purpose Over Pain Mother’s Day Brunch.
Dantingnac Lock lost her 36-year-old son Cordero in December 2022.
“We all we all walk in the same shoes,” Lock said. “Our stories may be different, but we all have lost somebody that we birthed.”
Co-organizer Pam Bosley says she hopes to help mothers coping with their pain. She lost her son Terrell to gun violence in 2006.
“You get a chance to talk about how you feel,” Bosley said. “If you don’t even talk about it, we could look at you and know what you feel. So it’s a sister circle that no mother wants to be in.”
The moms received a “sip of healing” tea cup symbolizing their emotional journey and released balloons in their children’s honor.
More events and celebrations are being over the weekend across the Chicago area.
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