Every Partner Counts: 1Love.org

The Marley family generously granted me use of “No Woman, No Cry” for the title of the documentary film I directed and produced in 2010 as well as permission for Martha Wainwright to cover the legendary Bob Marley tune for the end credits of the film. This version was also featured on our first Every Mother Counts Starbucks CD compilation in 2011. We got together that same year with Donna Mastropasqua, the executive director of 1Love.org, to find out how we could work together to further our missions and she told us about a company called Lyric Culture that makes stylish clothing with lyrics on the product. They offered to share the proceeds of a Lyric Culture T-shirt and scarf with Every Mother Counts. Together we agreed that the lyrics to “Get Up, Stand Up” were the perfect call to action for maternal health and we started promoting them in May around Mother's Day. The lyrics are printed on the inside of the t-shirts and were handwritten by both Cedella Marley and Christy. But this Lyric Culture project grew into much more. Cedella Marley eventually went into the studio to record the song and it is featured on Every Mother Counts 2012 Starbucks CD.

Every Mother Counts and 1Love.org plan to continue to support one another and find more ways to increase education and support for maternal mortality reduction around the world.

Together, we can make every mother count.

Donna Mastropasqua, Executive Director of 1Love.org