The United States stands as one of the few nations globally lacking a nationwide policy for paid leave. The current federal legislation secures employment for numerous American citizens for up to twelve weeks; however, this leave remains unpaid and excludes many workers of lower socioeconomic status. Not only could a federal policy of paid parental leave positively impact the health outcomes of both children and parents—including the potential reduction of neonatal mortality and postpartum depression—research indicates that it could also facilitate the retention of women in the workforce.

The initial year of a new parent's life holds critical importance in the formation of the parent-child bond. The birth parent, predominantly new mothers, undergoes a profound transformation. Often, this experience remains unseen or discussed only in private settings.

In light of this, I propose a national photography project that will follow mothers from diverse communities over the course of one year. My aim is to illustrate the crucial necessity of paid family leave for mothers to establish a strong bond with their children, care for themselves, and make a full return to the workforce. It is a common occurrence for women to resume work while still physically recovering from labor and childbirth. The mental, financial, social, and physical support that a mother receives during her first year as a parent can determine the subsequent trajectory of her parenting and relationship with her child. I want to follow up with each mom every few months, photograph them as their child grows, and show the reality of life postpartum and in the first year of being a parent.

I want to create a guidebook for future parents and new moms so they don’t feel alone. The emphasis would be to highlight the lack of family leave we have in this country and to offer actionable items for families to do to push for this to change in congress. I want people to feel empowered and to believe this change is possible in this country.

According to a new study by the Convergence Collaborative on Supports for Working Families, ‘how we nurture, care, and invest in our children today will shape our society tomorrow. The sooner we realize we are in this together, the better.’

I believe all of this aligns with the Paid Leave for All campaign under Pivotal Ventures.