WAKAMI and Sustaining Transformation in Guatemala: Want to help be part of the change?

In February, the Social Justice Team met and decided to designate 50% of the undesignated plate collection in both March and April to the Global Neighbors Project but this is just the beginning of an amazing partnership that you are invited to join.

Some history…

For the last three years, the Social Justice Team explored how to create a lasting partnership in the Highlands of Guatemala.  Our work began with a member, Jodie Kacer, who joined our congregation in 2010.  Jodie was a longtime UU from Wisconsin who knew the power and presence of international ministry.  Shortly after she joined our community, she wanted to know what international outreach we were conducting.  We didn’t have any international outreach!  Jodie slowly introduced us to the work she was engaged with in Guatemala.  Jodie passed away in 2012, but her work lived on as we held a congregational trip in 2013 and then submitted a project proposal to the Board of Trustees. 

As we have deepened our understanding of social justice ministry in an international context a few important values emerged.  We wanted any project to be sustainable and empowering.  We did not want to simply engage in toxic charity where we gave away stuff that would not change systems.  We also wanted to ensure that the least empowered and most vulnerable in the Highlands of Guatemala felt the greatest positive impact.  Last, we wanted to ensure that our work was responsive and collaborative.  We hoped for a project that met the desires and dreams of those living in Guatemala.

After exploring several organizations, we confirmed our desire to work with Maria Pacheco and her organization Wakami.  Maria has created a model in which Guatemalan women become business owners in a jewelry making business.  In addition to providing training, living wages and initial supplies, Maria also works with the family unit to help provide educational opportunities and healthcare for the children.  It’s a holistic model that is not a handout but an empowering hand-up.  Eventually, the women become owners of their own business.  Maria works with international designers to ensure that there is a consistent market for the products produced.  In addition, she fosters community and collaboration between the women creating Wakami “villages” across the Highlands.

We have been hoping for some time to plant a new Wakami village in Chuk Muk, a particularly resource strapped and isolated community.  Maria began exploring if Chuk Muk had the dynamics to sustain a Wakami village and community members eager to participate.  This past fall, Maria confirmed that a Wakami village will be possible in Chuk Muk.

How does this reflect our values?

As Unitarian Universalists we affirm and promote the interconnected web of all existence. In this modern world, hands from around the world make our daily lives possible from our clothing, food to even our homes. With this connection, comes a great responsibility. The World Neighbors Project seeks to balance our social justice ministry and fulfill our responsibility as world neighbors.

So what’s next?

We are partnering with several other organizations in order to cultivate a Wakami village in Chuk Muk.  We have put forth a goal of raising 7,000 in the next year for the village.  After two years, Maria’s business model allows the Wakami villages to be self-sustaining.  We intend to raise these funds through the plate collection, private donations and an art auction.  The art auction will be co-planned with Amy Hartman, the Social Justice Chair at the UU Fellowship of Lake Norman, the Sinapi Foundation, and some members from Holy Covenant, United Church of Christ who traveled with us to Guatemala last year. 

How can I help?

You can make a donation to this project by writing or check or utilizing our PayPal button found here  Please write Global Neighbors Project in the memo line.  If you are interested in learning more, please be in touch with Amy Hartman at amyhartman@bellsouth.net or Rev. Robin at robin@puuc.org

Social Justice Pilgrimage to Guatemala

“No journey carries one far unless,

as it extends into the world around us,

it goes an equal distance into the world within.”

~ Lillian Smith ~

With warm eyes, a smiling face and open arms, five year old Nicolasa welcomed us into the small concrete block home she shared with her mother, Magdalena, in Chuk Muk, Guatemala.  As I looked into Nicolasa’s expectant and eager face and then into the weary, prematurely aged face of her Mother, I painfully saw Nicolasa’s future.  My heart cracked open. 

~~~~~~~~

On Sunday, July 21, 2013, a team of 8 adults and 1 youth from Piedmont UU, and 1 adult from the UU Fellowship of Lake Norman (UUFLKN) left Charlotte on an exploratory trip to Guatemala for our Social Justice Council’s World Neighbors project.  Those team members were Ann Marie Alderman, Darla Davis, Emma Gardiner-Parks, Holly Summers, Mimi Davis, Pam Whistler, Rev Robin Tanner, Tim Brown, Virginia Gil-Rivas and from UUFLKN, Amy Hartman.  We were met in Guatemala by three additional team members, Lea Pellet and Lynn Thompson with the Maasai American Organization and later in the week by Rev. Nancy Allison of Holy Covenant United Church of Christ, Charlotte.

Many months of work and planning had preceded this flight.  Some of us had attended conversational Spanish classes taught by member Amanda Howard.  We’d had conference calls and done preparatory work. Lou Gardiner-Parks had exchanged our dollars for the Guatemalan currency of Quetzales.  In many ways we were prepared.  But with our feet on the ground in Guatemala we all knew we had much to learn.  And that was exactly why we were there!

We had been inspired to make this trip by the work of our late member Jodie Kacer.  For many years, Jodie had worked with the Maasai American Organization (MAO) in Guatemala and Kenya.  She frequently talked with great passion about this work.  On several occasions, Jodie brought handcrafted goods from Guatemala and Kenya to PUUC to sell in support of women in those countries.  Near the end of Jodie’s life, she expressed her hope that Piedmont UU would find a way to continue to support the women and children of Guatemala.

The PUUC Social Justice council had been talking about broadening and balancing our local social justice work with a global component.  As we watched films like “Brother Towns”, we were noticing how our laws and the actions of individuals and corporations in the US are connected to and impact people in other countries. We were noticing how what we do here flows out and then comes back to us through the interconnected web of all existence.  And so, a growing interest in learning more about those connections developed alongside the dream that Jodie had as she died.

With intentionality, we went exploring and learning. We approached this trip as a spiritual pilgrimage.  According to author Phil Cousineau in The Art of Pilgrimage: A Seeker’s Guide to Making Travel Sacred, “a pilgrimage is a spiritual exercise … a journey of risk and renewal.  For a journey without challenge has no meaning; one without purpose has no soul.”  So we set out with open and willing hearts on this journey of risk and renewal.

Our PUUC team was deeply grounded in Unitarian Universalism.  Ann Marie is a UU minister who would began serving the UU Church of Greensboro on August 1^st.  Darla Davis has been a UU for over 30 years and has served PUUC as President and in many other roles.  Emma Gardiner-Parks grew up in our congregation.  Holly Summers is a new member and brought that fresh perspective to our group.  Mimi Davis is a long time UU and has been a member of several UU Congregations.  While at PUUC, Mimi has led the Fellowship Committee, the Peace Alliance and the Garden Group for many years, as well as served on the Religious Services Council and many other committees and roles.  Pam Whistler is also a long time UU, is currently a member of our board, a past Fundraising Co-chair and has served on the Southeast District board.  Tim Brown has been a member of PUUC for several years co-leading our canvas, participating in Chalice Circles and the Men’s group.  Virginia Gil-Rivas has also been a member for several years, leading Interweave and currently co-chairing  the Social Justice Council with Darla Davis.

As humans, when we see problems and suffering, our brains, of course, immediately want to formulate solutions.  It’s uncomfortable to just be with the suffering of others and so we are tempted to ease our discomfort by applying solutions.  But we had covenanted with each other to stay open and trust the local wisdom to guide us.  So while ideas were flying, we held them loosely without getting too attached to any one.

Our explorations led us to a multi-faceted program run by the Mayan Families organization; the Open Door Children’s Library and Education Center; an Elder Care Center run by Sharing the Dream: Hospitalito Atitlan, a private non-profit hospital; and Escuela Privada David LaMotte a private preschool and first grade.  We went to the villages of Chuk Muk, Chacaya, San Jorge and the towns of Santiago and Panajachel.  

At the end of our time in Guatemala we met to discuss, compare and begin to form a common direction for what might be next and with which partners. Some hearts were drawn to each program.  While individual team members may want to support efforts of one of the other organizations, the Mayan Families Organization was the one that everyone agreed offered the most promise for a sustainable program.  So as we continue our exploration and research this year, we will be looking most closely at the possibilities with Mayan Families as a potential partner.

To share more of the impact of our trip, the Guatemala exploration team will offer an evening of photos, stories and food in October.  Please watch for the announcement later in September and mark your calendar!  You won’t want to miss seeing the beautiful faces of the Guatemala people and the lush, rugged countryside. And you certainly won’t want to miss hearing how each team member was touched deeply by this transformative experience.

Nicolasa

Magdalena

Mimi Davis getting a warm welcome from Nicolasa as we entered the home she shares with her Mother, Magdelena. 

Rev. Robin and Virginia Gil-Rivas of PUUC, Amy Hartman of the UU fellowship of Lake Norman, Lea Pellet of the Maasai American Organization and our Guatemalan translator Fely Ratzán as we inspect the school building expansion in Chacaya, Guatemala. 

Tim Brown talks to the children at the school in San Jorge, Guatemala, operated by the Mayan Families Organization. 

Pam Whistler gives a Mayan boy his first look through binoculars at the Mayan Families run school in San Jorge, Guatemala.

Emma Gardiner-Parks listens as a young student explains his work at the Mayan Families Organization's school in San Jorge, Guatemala. 

Rev Ann Marie Alderman of PUUC and Lynn Thompson of Maasai American Organization discuss what the are learning about the woodworking classroom provided by the Mayan Families Organization. 

Holly Summers asks a young student about her work at the San Jorge school operated by Mayan Families Organization.

Rev Robin has the attention of a young scholar at the Mayan Families School in San Jorge, Guatemala. 

The children at the Chuk Muk school run by the Mayan Families Organization all want to be the next one Virginia Gil-Rivas picks up.

A Mayan woman gives Rev. Robin a spontaneous hug and kiss when she sees Robin on the street in traditional Mayan clothing. Tim Brown looks on with a smile. 

Rev Robin lights the chalice for our closing evening's spiritual reflection, with (l-r) Holly Summers, Virginia Gil-Rivas, Rev. Ann Marie Alderman, Tim Brown and Mimi Davis. 

Our hopes for the future work of our congregations in Guatemala are launched inside (environmentally safe) lanterns. (l-r) Tim Brown; Fely Ratzán and her Mother; Rev Ann Marie Alderman; Rev Robin; Rev Nancy Allison of Holy Covenant United Church of Christ, Charlotte; Pam Whistler, Amy Hartman of UU Fellowship of Lake Norman; and Lea Pellett of Maasai American Organization. 

What has the Social Justice Council been up to lately?

The Social Justice Council helps to facilitate various projects in which our council members and members of the congregation are interested. Our most recent project is the Guatemala exploratory trip.  This July, several members of the congregation will be traveling to Guatemala to meet with people in the Santiago region, to a village called Chuk Muk.  This region was devastated by civil war for decades and landslides in 2005. The purpose of the trip is to meet with members of their community to assess what needs they might want addressed in their community. The SJC would like to then facilitate future projects in this region based on the people's wants.

Other projects sponsored by the SJC are the first Sunday Food Drive.  This food drive has happened the first Sunday of the month for over a year.  The collected items are donated to Loaves and Fishes food bank.  Another group affiliated with the SJC is Interweave.  This group has sponsored three dances to raise money for their work advocating for LGBT issues.  They also collaborate with the youth of our church at the Charlotte PRIDE festival and sell t-shirts designed by the youth and proceeds benefit Time Out Youth, a community center for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth.

The Social Justice Council also strives to involve congregants in various social justice causes in our community.  We wanted to make everyone aware of a new petition that might interest our congregation.  A community member, Charlotte White, contacted PUUC and the SJC recently about a petition she started to ban plastic bags in Charlotte.  If you are interested in signing this petition or reading it, visit this website, http://www.change.org/petitions/plastic-bag-ban-in-charlotte-nc-stop-the-use-of-plastic-bags.

Amanda Armstrong and Brian Foster have been the co-chairs of the Council from 2011-2013.  This July, two new co-chairs will be taking over the leadership of the Council, Darla Davis and Virginia Gil-Rivas.  Both are current members of the Council.  Darla has been a UU for close to 40 years and associated with five UU churches during that time.  She joined our congregation in 1999 and was one of the original members to start social justice work at our church.  Her activism interests are equality in human rights specifically the immigrant justice, the elimination of torture which includes repeal of the death penalty, economic justice in the global economy, and the impact of climate change. Virginia has been a member of PUUC for several years.  She has participated on the Social Justice Council since joining our congregation.  She also is a founding member of PUUC’s branch of Interweave.  We welcome Darla and Virginia as our new co-chairs and thank them for their service to the congregation!

Amanda Armstrong, Co-chair, Social Justice Council

World Neighbors Project

“In separateness lies the world’s great misery, in compassion lies the world’s true strength.” ~attributed to the Buddha

As Unitarian Universalists we affirm and promote the interconnected web of all existence.  In this modern world, hands from around the world make our daily lives possible from our clothing, food to even our homes.  With this connection, comes a great responsibility.  The World Neighbors Project seeks to balance our social justice ministry and fulfill our responsibility as world neighbors.

Introduction:

Evolution of the Trip:

The World Neighbors Project was inspired by the work of our member, the late Jodie Kacer.  Jodie Kacer was a longtime Unitarian Universalist who lived in Wisconsin and joined PUUC in 2010.  She connected her UU congregation in Wisconsin with an organization called the Masaai American Organization (MAO).  See here for more information on MAO http://www.maasaiamerican.org/

MAO is a nonprofit organization focused on helping women and children get access to healthcare and education.  MAO purchases crafts at a fair trade from cooperatives in Guatemala and then sells these products for a small profit in the United States.  The proceeds of these sales are used to benefit women and children in Kenya.  Then, products are purchased at a fair trade from women in Kenya and again sold for a profit in the United States.  These profits are used to benefit women and children in Guatemala.  Essentially, it is beneficial international trade.  MAO is not a missionary or religious organization, but is grounded in values shared by Unitarian Universalism.

After conversations with Rev. Robin and Jodie, the PUUC Social Justice Council decided to host MAO craft sales in December of 2011.  The craft sales resulted in the funding of a solar panel, which now powers a school in Kenya.  In the spring of 2012, Kennedy Lieberman, the daughter of two members MJ and Larry Lieberman, traveled to Guatemala to work for two months for MAO.  At Jodie’s request and after speaking with Kennedy Lieberman, Rev. Robin and Ann Marie Alderman traveled to Guatemala in the summer of 2012.  Rev. Robin reported her experiences to the Social Justice Council.  The Council talked about the potential for a project and after four months of conversation, decided to put together an exploratory trip.  In December of 2012, the congregation held it’s second craft sale, which has helped women attend school through funded scholarships.  In January of 2013, the Core Planning Team formed.  In February of 2013, the first general meeting was held and the World Neighbors Project was born.

Intention of the Trip:

The Core Planning Team has been charged with planning an exploratory trip for July 2013.  The intention of the planning trip is to familiarize participants with the region of Santiago, Guatemala and in particular the area for a potential project, Chuk Muk (located outside of Santiago).  Participants will return to explore whether a project in Chuk Muk is possible.  No commitments for a project have been or will be made before, during or immediately after the trip. 

The philosophy of this trip is grounded in an anti-racist, anti-oppressive and multi-cultural viewpoint. Participants on this trip are going to listen and learn, rather than teach.  Participants will also complete service projects including volunteering in a school, elder center and hospital. Part of the belief of the core team is that in traveling to another culture, participants will better understand global citizenry, interconnected living and poverty in their own community and context.

Process for Post-Trip Exploration:

July 29, 2013  Exploratory Team Returns

Aug 2013  Team Meets with Social Justice Council to Debrief

Core Team meets with Social Justice Council, determines if any project is possible.  If SJC and Core Team determine a project is not feasible, craft sales may continue but exploration ceases.  If project seems at all feasible, then the following schedule begins.

Sep 2013  Social Justice Council meets
Open Core Team meeting held, all members are welcome

Oct 2013   Core Team develops a project plan.

Nov 2013 Core Team submits draft project plan to Social Justice Council.

Dec 2013  Core Team and Social Justice Council review proposal.  Social Justice Council sends back edits.

Jan 2014  Social Justice Council finalizes proposals; shares with congregation and Board of Trustees; Board reviews at January meeting.

Feb 2014 Social Justice Council receives Board of Trustees feedback; begins congregational meetings.

Mar-May 2014  Congregational informational meetings held (at least five)

Jun 2014 Proposal submitted at congregational meeting for a vote by the members

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. Why are we traveling to Guatemala?

A. While there are many places we could begin this work, the Social Justice Council began in Guatemala because we had a member connection and UU connections that assured of this organization’s credibility.

Q. Shouldn’t we be working on social justice projects locally?  There is so much need here.

A. Absolutely, this trip is not intended to replace local social justice work but to better balance PUUC’s social justice program.

Q. I can’t go on the trip, how can I be involved?

A. We understand it is not feasible for many members to travel to Guatemala.  Members can be involved by assisting with craft sales, core team planning or project planning.  In addition, some members have already come forward to donate funds in order to support others participating. 

Q. How many people are going on the trip?

A. Currently, there are 9 members plus Rev. Robin and an MAO representative, Lea Pellet.  There is room for at least six more individuals in the exploratory trip.

Q. How much does the trip cost?  What is the financial liability for the church?

A.  The approximate cost of the trip is 1,200.00 including meals, flight, lodging and transportation. There will be some fundraising efforts (brunches or bake sale) to defray the costs, but none of the church’s operating fund or pledge income is being used to support the trip.  Any financial liability for the trip would be a part of the Core Team’s assessment, congregational discernment and board review (see above).

Q. I didn’t think Unitarian Universalists were missionaries.  Is this a mission-based trip?

A.  No, we don’t plan on converting anyone. The trip is spiritual for participants, but not missionary in orientation.

Contact/Further Questions:

This info sheet is designed to give a brief introduction to the Guatemala exploratory trip.  Further questions should be directed to Core Planning Team members, Darla Davis and Virginia Gil-Rivas who can be reached at worldneighbors@puuc.org

Other members of the Core Planning Team include Mimi Davis, Amanda Howard and Rev. Robin Tanner.  The World Neighbors Project is an approved project of the Social Justice Council, who would also welcome any questions.  Amanda Armstrong and Brian Foster serve as co-chairs of the Social Justice Council.  They can be reached at Amanda Armstrong armstram@gmail.com and Brian Foster bafoster@gmx.com

We welcome all questions and inquiries and hope this document serves as the introduction to an ongoing congregational exploration.