Protesters have begun their demonstrations against NATO. Police have already pumped up their presence in downtown Chicago and, on Monday morning, they made a number of arrests at President Obama's campaign headquarters.

After a group of demonstrators rushed into Prudential Plaza, the building where Obama's re-election campaign is based, eight protesters were led away in handcuffs when they refused to leave the building's lobby. Police stated the arrested demonstrators would likely be charged with criminal trespass.

The group was organized by the Catholic Worker movement and was attempting to open up a dialogue around ending the U.S. occupation in Afghanistan. The action is part of what activists are calling a "week without capitalism."

"NATO really represents an act of violence and oppression. As people of faith, we believe working together, not hurting each other, is important for building community," protester Tessa Nanlawala told Le Prestige.

Meanwhile, reports state that Chicago police vehicles were "seen on nearly every corner" of Michigan Avenue downtown Sunday, Mother's Day.

Parking restrictions are also already in effect on the 2200 and 2300 blocks of South Indiana Avenue, near McCormick Place, site of the May 20-21 summit. Vehicles that had remained on the street Sunday morning were towed.

More road closures and parking restrictions will follow in the following days as part of the Secret Service's security plan, which will include road closures on the Kennedy Expressway, parts of Lake Shore Drive and closures at the Museum Campus. Lake Michigan boaters will also face restrictions for several days surrounding the event.

The summit is expected to attract widespread protests, including a Friday rally that will be lead by the National Nurses United labor group Friday. Though the city last week modified their permit for a rally at Daley Plaza, the union arrived at an agreement with the city that will allow it to remain in the more visible, centralized location for which they'd prepared.

Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy told the Associated Press that although he is committed to extracting any troublemakers involved in anti-NATO demonstrations he also wants to change how police view demonstration.

"If you treat people as individuals, they're individuals," McCarthy told the AP. "If you treat them as a mob, they become a mob."

In a final informational meeting on the NATO summit last week, a security consultant appeared to downplay downtown residents and business owners' concerns about the upcoming event. But nevertheless, many Loop employees appear to be preparing to work from home and avoid the area next Monday, during the summit. Some businesses are also taking extra precautions, such as reinforcing their windows.

Many Anti-NATO protesters have been arriving to Chicago for a few days, including many who took part in the two-day "The People's Summit" on the South Side of the city over the weekend. The group discussed their messages and tactics for the upcoming downtown rallies around the summit and emphasized their plans to keep demonstrations peaceful.

Ashley Cullins, a protester from Skokie who claims to be a part of Occupy Chicago, expressed her reasons for coming to the city to protest NATO. “It doesn't matter whether you're black, brown, a woman, gay, or poor. The working-class people in our societies are tired of being treated like second-class citizens. We want a change, and we want it now.”

Mother's Day is our chance to honor the women who connect families and raise children from babies to adulthood.

For many, raising kids is one of the most challenging, but also the most meaningful, aspects in life. Mothers often try to teach their children and families to respect their fellow human beings.

This Mother's Day, some women preferred the intangible things over material goods. In a recent poll of American mother's between the ages of 19-45, an overwhelming 76% preferred a hug from a loved one over a purchased gift. These women also expressed an interest in helping their fellow man (and woman), hinting at the idea of social-activism and responsibility.

Unfortunately, around the world millions of mothers find themselves without the money, medicine, community support, or even basic food and water to provide their children with a good start in life.

Malnutrition contributes to almost a third of all child deaths. About 1,000 women die from complications in pregnancy or childbirth every day, and most of those deaths are preventable. Rural women are especially disadvantaged.

However, one woman Le Prestige spoke to believes that her children doing good is the only gift she wanted this Mother's Day.

Lucia Patiño, a primary education teacher in the northern suburbs of Chicago, feels that her family doing good for others is a gift in itself. “My mother in Mexico worked so hard to give me a stable livelihood,” Patiño stated. “She raised me to be a strong woman so that I could do good in this world. I want my children to follow this tradition.”

Through MJ International, a Chicago-based business, Patiño and her family are able to help women across the globe develop their own livelihood. MJ International is a business that began in 2009 to promote health and wellness in the Chicagoland area. Since its humble beginnings, it has focused on providing wellness products, including natural weight-loss products, to clients all over the world.

While Patiño was initially a client of MJ International for the anti-wrinkle creams and serums, she is now attracted to the business's mission to help women and children. “Their products are guaranteed to work, and they do,” She stated with a big smile. “However, it's their commitment to giving back to communities that need our help that is really attractive.”

Sirinan Chaisamarnapoom from Thailand is a mother of 3 children. She is one of the mothers that is supported by the contributions MJ International partners and clients make worldwide to impoverished communities. Before connecting with MJ International and Ms. Patiño, Sirinan's children were malnourished, and malaria was a constant danger because they couldn't afford a basic, $1US mosquito net. 3 months after receiving support from Patiño, Sirinan and her family have running water in their humble home in Mae Sot, Thailand, and their children are able to eat 3 meals a day. Her children are growing up healthy, and they are all protected by mosquito nets at night. Through the sale of hand-knit scarves and bags, Sirinan and her sister, Chutima, have developed an income, allowing them to also pay for their children's education.

MJ International does not only focus on health and wellness these days. Human rights advocacy, education, and environmental protection are some of the causes the business strives to aid.

“I can't think of a better Mother's Day gift than helping other women, other mothers, to raise their families,” Patiño mentioned. “My children are blessed, and they've gone to South America and Asia to work with the families we help through MJ. It's really neat, and for a mother to see their kids act so responsibly is beautiful...it truly is a gift from above.”

To learn more about MJ International, visit www.MJIntlFirm.com and see how you can make a difference for mothers all over the world, everyday.