On Saturday, May 2nd, more than 70 women gathered at 638 W. 119th Street in Chicago for the 3rd Annual Single Mother’s Mother’s Day Brunch — a free celebration of resilience, sisterhood, and survival hosted by First Responder, Dr. Chictowa Jones. The theme of the morning said everything: “I Survive.”
A Room on Fire
From the moment the event began, the energy in the room was undeniable. Dr. Chictowa set the tone with raw, personal honesty — sharing her own journey through trauma, abuse, and the long road to becoming the woman she is today.
“I survived your abuse. I survived your misuse,” she told the room. “Girls take whoopings. Little girls take whoopings. But we’ve got too many 30 and 50-year-old little girls. That little girl in her was broken at 10.”
Her words were not just a testimony — they were a call to healing, urging the women present to put away the wounds of childhood and step fully into womanhood. The message landed deeply in a room full of mothers who have carried more than most will ever know.
As a gift to each woman in attendance, Dr. Chictowa gave away crockpots — a practical, heartfelt token of appreciation for the women who feed and sustain their families every day.
Guest Speakers and Community Resources
The brunch also featured several notable guest speakers who added depth and dimension to the celebration. Dr. Ila Ball, owner of Trinity Funeral Home, was among those recognized, alongside Tammy Gibson, a historian, and Chioma, an insurance professional with MetLife — each bringing a different area of expertise and community service to the table.
The event also welcomed first responders and featured vendors offering resources in insurance, funeral planning, and Black history — reflecting Dr. Jones’s devotion to making the brunch both a celebration and a practical resource for the community.
Publisher Kent Hunley of 3:16 Magazine was also in attendance, there to document the event and feature it in his publication.
“I came into the door and this room was already on fire,” Hunley said. I wouldn’t have missed this event for the world.”
Dr. Chictowa, a crisis grief counselor, also announced an upcoming grief session scheduled for June 20th at 10:00 AM at Bishop William Hudson’s Church, located at 944 W. 103rd Street in Chicago. The session is open to anyone who has experienced loss and is still searching for hope and healing.
“I give hope,” she said simply. “From Jesus to you.”
The 3rd Annual Single Mother’s Mother’s Day Brunch was more than a meal — it was a mirror, reflecting back to every woman in the room just how far she has come. And for Dr. Chictowa Jones, that is exactly the point.
Only God. Amen.
