Meet Ashley Mejia of MAEVE Burbank

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Mejia.

Hi Ashley, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
After delivering my first child in 2017 I was adjusting to motherhood but yearned to meet other stay-at-home moms in my area. I took classes with my little girl, mainly to meet other moms and get myself out there. We attended the local adult school which had Parent Education classes and I ended up meeting a mom who I started to form a friendship with. She recommended I join the local Mom’s Group so that I could meet more moms and attend fun events. I wasn’t sure if it was right fit for me, but was curious about it and wanted to find out more. I went to the Christmas Party, which is usually one of the biggest events of the year and put myself out there in a room full of women I didn’t know. The night went great and I ended up meeting many friendly and welcoming moms. I knew then that I wanted to be a part of this welcoming circle of moms, and I quickly joined the group.
In 2019 I had my second child, found my footing with having two under two and started attending more events within the group. I became more involved and took on the Playgroup Coordinator role where I organized a park meet up each week. I attended as many events as I could- the Moms Night Only activities, Family Weekend Playdates, as well as Mommy and Me classes with many of these same moms. Then the pandemic hit, and all of our fun gathering were put to a halt. Everyone turned to our Facebook page to interact with each other and engaged in many fun themed Zoom events to keep our connection going strong.

Once everyone was ready to meet in person again the group took off and more mamas started to join. In 2021 I was approached by the upcoming President of the group if I wanted to take on an Executive Board position as VP of Communications where I would manage the monthly newsletter and social media posts. After being a stay-at-home mom for over two years I craved something outside of motherhood and home life, something creative and fulfilling to be involved with, and deeper connection with these like-minded mamas I was getting to know better. This role came about at just the right time for me, and I was excited about the opportunity and happily accepted. Our community was growing rapidly online and with the commitment of other Executive Board members we decided to branch off and start an official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization chapter of MAEVE (Motherhood, Alliance Equity, Values, and Empowerment), a charitable organization that seeks to empower all who mother in support of one another and their communities. That summer with the commitment of the four other Executive Board members and myself, we officially co-founded MAEVE Burbank. Word within the city got around and we started to gain recognition in our local papers and websites about our charitable events, such as our 2021 5k Breast Cancer Awareness Hal.loween Run, 2022 5k Breast Cancer Color Run, and 2022 Women’s Rights March. In 2023 we were voted myBurbank.com “Best Non-Proft” in the city! Our organization was growing and thriving with members joining each month.

In July of 2023 the current President was stepping down and was encouraging me to take on the role. I knew it would be challenging, but I also knew that I couldn’t turn it down. I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone of being a supportive player to now take on a leadership role, which is unique and quite a different stance for me. The thought of taking on a role that I know would challenge me and help me grow was something I felt I really needed. I knew I could do a great job in the role, but there is always that fear of the unknown and the challenges ahead. I decided to trust my gut and embrace the confidence within myself, and I took on the role. Taking on more responsibility and ultimately growing personally as well as professionally as well as having the ability to lead this amazing community was something that I felt really excited about. Being involved for three years already, I recognize the ins and outs of how to keep our organization thriving, keep our membership engaged and interested, and I wanted to expand on that. Our mama village has a solid foundation with a dedicated Executive Board & Assisting Board members I was eager to see where I could take the next year.

July of 2024 marks my second and final term as President. It’s been a fun and fulfilling ride, so much so that I committed to taking on President another year. As an organization we have welcomed 123 members, 11 new babies, donated over $2,800 to charities that are important to us, have 400 members and counting, AND have thrown some epic parties! So proud of what we have accomplished so far and grateful to be involved in this amazing community.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We have encountered struggles along the way-just like any new organization- but have managed to work through them by having open, problem-solving discussions within our Executive Board. All five founding Executive Board members, including myself, knew that we would encounter hurdles along the way-it’s a given when creating something new. We are a very close-knit team and whenever there is an issue at hand, we discuss all angles, and everyone’s input is encouraged and taken into consideration. Our communication is open with no judgment and no decision we make as a team is ever taken lightly.

We have learned how to navigate our sisterhood community throughout the years by continuing to improve on our interaction and communication with our members with end of year surveys. It has helped to gain insight on what our members like, what we can improve on, and what we can expand on. As President, I pride myself on having open communication and being available to any member when they have suggestions and ideas. I know how important it is to have this haven and communal support and continue to strive to make it the best it can be.

Finding balance, as a mother can be a struggle. Balance between the craziness of motherhood and trying to maintain a personal life can be challenging for sure. When I need to take a pause to feel more balanced, I take extra steps to time manage things that take priority. I’m a big list maker and plan tasks week by week so that I don’t become overwhelmed. Exercise, going out with my husband, going out with friends, traveling, and spending time outside are all the things that help me feel more centered and well rounded. Now taking on my second year as President, as well starting a part time job in the fall, having two kids in elementary school- managing their schedules and activities-along with being a supportive and loving partner, AND trying to maintain my goals and social life to feel well rounded, is no easy task! My flaw is that when I commit to something I am 1000% in, hyper focused, and can’t do anything half fast. This also means that I take on a lot myself and not ask for help, which I admit I am getting better at-with time. Managing a non-profit comes with certain responsibilities and challenges, but I am also totally up for the challenge. I am so fortunate to have a husband who supports me every step of the way as well as dedicated Executive Board members who are always there to lend a helping hand. Having volunteers year after year continue to dedicate their time and energy to continue to help MAEVE thrive and grow says it all. Hearing members share with me how, “this community saved them”, has been the most heartwarming. We are celebrating our three-year anniversary next month and have grown-400 members and counting- and that is due to the extreme hard work and dedication of all our volunteers and especially the five founding MAEVE Executive Board members, including myself, who helped to create this amazing organization.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Motherhood, Alliance, Equity, Village, Empowerment (MAEVE) Burbank is a nonprofit organization based out of Burbank, CA that seeks to impower all who mother, in support of one another and their communities.

MOTHERHOOD: Our group is a beautiful mix of new mamas, mamas who have been around for a while, working mamas, stay at home mamas, single mamas, and more. We are all collectively striving to do our best while enjoying as much as the ride as we can! Our MAEVE community is a place to find friendship, have a laugh, let off steam, exchange advice, offer support, and broaden our own horizons.

ALLIANCE: We strive to be allies and regularly find ways to show our support to BIPOC & LGBTQ+ communities. We have our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility (DEIA) calendar, where each month we highlight and acknowledge a selection of cultural dates and events with the intention of creating a space for our members to share about their own thoughts, feelings and experiences from their unique cultures. Also giving members an opportunity to learn and have an increased understanding, awareness and appreciation of the world around us.

EQUITY: We believe that there should never be a financial barrier for anyone to access our community. Our operational costs, community, members-only events and charitable service contributions are supported solely by the generous contributions of our members. Volunteers are what keep our community going and we are so thankful we have so much support.

VILLAGE: We all know the saying, “it takes a village” to raise kids and this is really the foundation of our mama community. From our playdates, mom night out events, weekend playdates, SWAP clothing exchange, babysitting co-op, book lovers club, sunshine and welcome committees, community calendar, and maternal wellness committee-the function of each of these entities is to bring us all closer, to make connections, and to create that essential network of support that can help you get through the peaks and valleys as we journey the vast plains of motherhood.

EMPOWERMENT: Mothers are important and valuable members of society. We are shapers of the next generation! Our minds need to stay sharp, our voices heard, and hearts full. We seek to broaden our horizons and learn from experts on an array of topics and civic engagement and activism is wholly supported. Our mamas are encouraged to ask questions, take part, and share their passions and expertise with our community. Through our monthly community service projects, we strive to make impactful changes in our own Burbank neighborhoods. Our various community service projects have included: school supply drive for Burbank Housing Corp, Breast Cancer Fun Run for Metavivor, Thanksgiving meal bags for LA Family Housing, Adopt A Family with Burbank Coordinating Council, book drive for Children’s Book World, Valentine Cards for Belmont Senior Living Center, Children’s Hospital LA Walk & Play, Tye Die for Myotonic Dystrophy, t-shirt sales for The Destiney Education Project, pantry items for Burbank Temporary Aid Center, hygiene and snack collection for Burbank YMCA Social Impact Center, and sunscreen drive for Burbank Housing Corporation.

I started getting involved with the group by organizing weekly playdates, then took on the role of VP of Communications where I created the monthly newsletter and managed social media postings. I am currently in my second year as President and my further year on the Executive Board. As President I oversee all chapter meetings, coordinate the duties of the assisting board members, serve as the voice of MAEVE and serve as a liaison between other chapters, the community, and outside businesses, organizations, and general public. I organize fundraisers, manage community outreach for donations, and handle special event planning of activities for our membership.

A huge factor of our organization and why we have been so successful is that we love to have FUN! We have at least one gathering a month for moms only, we call “Moms Night Out”. It’s a great chance for moms to get together and let loose that one night a month. Previous events have included: karaoke night, charcuterie & wine night, trivia night, brunch, pumpkin carving, and 80’s dance class. We have EPIC themed pool parties each summer to celebrate our anniversary and our holiday parties each year are always unforgettable. We also have events where we try something new as a group, something I came up with called “MAEVE Tries”. We have tried group hypnotherapy and sound bowls, ice-skating, hip-hop class, and crocheting. Besides the Moms Night Out events, we host a full slate of events every month that offer something for everybody. Age group meetups and park play dates for the littles, educational workshops, family events, dad’s and partners night out, fundraisers, and various service opportunities to connect with our community and charities that are important to us. We have a variety of subgroups as well: book lovers club, maternal wellness committee, sunshine committee, babysitting co-op, solo moms solidarity group, bonus moms support group, and craft circle. Our community is filled with some of the most genuine, kind, and generous people I have ever known. The support and warmth that fills this mama hive is exceptional and I’m so proud to be a part of it.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I like best about our city is the weather and proximity to virtually anything- the mountains, desert, beach, snow-it’s all here! I love the diversity, the variety of cultures and amazing food.

The thing I like least about our city is inconsiderate drivers. Being born and raised in LA I have seen it all when it comes to terrible drivers. I do wish our public transportation was more efficient and safer.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.maeveburbank.org/
• Instagram: @maeveburbank
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MAEVEBurbank