1 Mama dragons HISTORY timeline
One of the things that makes the Mama Dragons organization unique is that it is that it started with a small group of mothers who found support in eachother as they navigated the waters of supporting their LGBTQ children in a culture that was otherwise not supportive. The power of mothers uniting to support and educate eachother through sharing their experiences, their highs, thier lows, has now grown beyond a simple message thread. It has become a group of mothers who across the world, over 7000 strong, who fiercly love and defend their beautiful children.
2012
Meg Abhau, now Meg Drix, blogged that she had always been a mother bear but when her 13 year old son Jon came out she became a "mama dragon"
“I have always been a mother bear. Once I found out about Jon, that didn’t seem a fierce enough title. There is a whole new level of protection that has come over me. I now call myself a Mama Dragon. I could literally breathe fire if someone hurt my son. Dragons have talons, scales, claws, fangs and they can fly. I will use all of these resources if someone were to hurt Jon. So, we are circling our wagons around him, but I know we can’t protect him from everything. And as a Mama Dragon, that is the hardest part of this. I don’t know what the future holds. I just know that there will be love.”
Gina Crivello blogs about creating GSA club for a highschool in American Fork, UT
2013
JUNE
A private Facebook Message thread is started by Gina Crivello with a handful of moms with LGBTQ kids to provide support to one of her students.
The name Mama Dragons is adopted from from Meg’s 2012 blog as the message thread members grow
Wendy Montgomery and her family are featured in Families are Forever video by Family Acceptance Project
OCtOBER
2014
JANUARY
The first Facebook group titled Mama Dragon Council (MDC-Secret) is created by Gina Crivello. It is set up as a secret group to maintain privacy of members. Members joined by personal invitation only. The image above image is the first post in the group.
June
Mama Dragons table at Salt Lake City Pride Festival
Kathy Carlston illustrates graphic of Mama Dragon with baby dragon - to be used on tshirts and pins.
AUGUST
Lori Burkman illustrates
fire-breathing dragon for pins
NOVEMBER
September
Jen Blair and XXXX meet at a local gathering in ????
FEBRUARY
Some of the original Mama Dragons gather in person for a lunch
2015
MAY
Jill Rowe organizes the first Mama Dragons Retreat.
Article about Mama Dragons is published in the Salt Lake Tribune
September
Logo designed by husband of Mama Dragon Sarah Irish Nicholson features black dragon holding rainbow egg. This logo was made into bumper stickers, magnets, pins.
november
Mama Dragons article appears in The Spectrum.
Jen Blair creates a new closed Facebook group "Mama Dragon Main Group" to support growth after article in the Salt Lake Tribune came out.
Mama Dragons creates subgroup for Spanish speaking Mothers called Madres Dragones
DECEMBER
2016
MARCH
First official logo is adopted for Mama Dragons, representing courage, protection, and love. Mission of Mama Dragons is also presented.
Facebook changes rules for how groups are managed and allow for admin to change main group from hidden to private, allows for greater growth
AUGUST
Kimberly Anderson self publishes the Mama Dragon Story Project, a photo journal project that features twenty mothers who share essays of love and support to their LGBT+ children.
SEPTEMBER
Mama Dragons gather at the annual retreat in Heber, UT
october
Mama Dragons awarded Equality Utah, Ally of the Year
NOVEMBER
MEMBERSHIP REACHES
1,000
2017
JUNE
Mama Dragons retreat in Las Vegas
AUGUSt
A group of Mama Dragons read mission statement on stage at LOVELOUD, founded by Dan Reynolds to bring communities and families together to help ignite the vital conversation about what it means to unconditionally love our LGBTQ+ youth.
November
Neca Allgood is elected as first Mama Dragons President, with Julie Packer elected as President Elect. Bylaws are drafted for Mama Dragons.
Mama Dragons president with Board implement no advertising on Facebook groups. Logo can't be used without approval.
December
2018
March
After weeks of work stemming from the first leadership summit, Mama Dragons reveals new mission and vision statements.
MAY
Mama Dragons name and new logo get trademarked.
JULY
Mama Dragons applies for a grant from LoveLoud and becomes a charity partner for the LoveLoud concert.
JUNE
Mama Dragons is set up as a 501c3 nonprofit organization and IRS approves status
FEBRUARY
Mama Dragons holds it's first Leadership Summit in St George, UT
JANUARY
July Packer elected as Mama Dragons President, Wendy VonSosen elected as Mama Dragons President-Elect
Mama Dragons Board of Directors clarifies Mama Dragons is not an LGBTQ support group or allies group, but instead a support group for mothers of LGBTQ children intended to build mother allies
We support, educate, and empower mothers of LGBTQ children.
MISSION:
We envision a world in which all mothers fiercely love and advocate for their LGBTQ children.
VISION:
Mama Dragons gets set up with GuideStar and Amazon Smile
September
Paper Hugs program originates after Mama Dragons member Lindsay Kinman's child received cards of encouragement. She collects names of Mama's LGBTQ children that could use a little lift by receiving cards/notes in the mail.
Facebook Regional Groups are setup
2019
MAY
Mama Dragons is featured
in Oprah
O-Magazine
Winter Leadership Summit in Santa Clara, UT
February
JANUARY
Wendy VonSosen serves as Mama Dragons President, Lisa Dame elected as Mama Dragons President-Elect, Julie Packer elected as Mama Dragons Treasurer
June
Mama Dragons is featured in an episode of CNN's United Shades of America show
Mama Dragons leadership invited to attend Facebook sponsored invite-only event at the Stonewall Inn, NYC
JULY
Mama Dragons is a charity partner for the LoveLoud Concert
MEMBERSHIP REACHES
3,000
OCTOBER
Wrapped in Hugs is proposed after a Mama Dragon saw a quilting article about Shannon Downey using her Instagram community to build quilts.
Mama Dragons hosts our first major fundraiser! A fun evening filled with food, games, drinks and entertainment. Funds raised supported suicide prevention QPR training, education programs and community outreach.
2020
MAY
Mama Dragons and LoveLoud collaborate on a merchandise line for Mother’s Day benefiting Mama Dragons
JANUARY
Wendy VonSosen continues as Mama Dragons President until Executive Director is found. Board of directors removes President-Elect position.
Mama Dragons Board of Directors hires Celeste Carolin as paid Executive Director in 15 month contract
SEPTEMBER
MEMBERSHIP REACHES
4,000
FEBRUARY
Winter Leadership Summit
NOVEMBER
Mama Dragons Education Director, Jennifer Howell, begins work to roll-out Parachute, a new e-learning program from Mama Dragons
Director of Marketing, Wendy VanSosen, trademarks Parachute, Wrapped in Hugs, and Paper Hugs
december
MEMBERSHIP REACHES
5,000
october
Fall Leadership Summit occurs in Park City, UT (in person and virtual). Focus on planning new e-learning program Parachute
2021
MAY
Mama Dragons launches first course on Parachute e-learning platform: Intro to Understanding Your LGBTQ Child
Mama Dragons develops DEI plan
which is approved by Board of Directors
JUNE
MEMBERSHIP REACHES
6,000
August
Mama Dragons is accepted into Facebook Community Accelerator Program (31 US orgs selected out of the 2,600 applied)
MEMBERSHIP REACHES
7,000
JULY
Mama Dragons redesigns website
FEBRUARY
Executive Director Celeste Carolin joins
Sara Burlingame from Wyoming Equality to talk about Mama Dragons
MARCH
Winter Leadership Summit occurs in Salt Lake City, UT (live and virtual). Video Assets for Parachute are shot during the retreat.
Fall Leadership Summit occurs in Herriman, UT
(In person and remote). Leadership focuses on DEI and developing 3 year plan