Education and Hope

Love is who we are and love is what we do.

Home is where your love is.

I was looking for something else and found this picture from January. Spontaneous tears caught me by surprise. I miss the kids so much my heart aches. I miss being squeezed in a way that communicates feelings that live in a place beyond words.

I stared at the image for a long time. Even though my features are hidden I can see so much of who I am captured here. Smiling cheeks pressed tightly against Lorenita’s happy face. Arms wrapped in a lingering, heart-to-heart embrace. Welcoming in front of an open door.

Love is who we are and love is what we do.

We sow seeds of hope when we choose to be love. ❤️

This Thursday evening, 5/16, from 6 to 8 pm, we will celebrate 25 years of Education and Hope in the St. Jerome parish hall (Norwalk, CT). It will be a small gathering with a big heart.

Education and Hope would never have come into existence without the initial generosity and encouragement I received from my St. Jerome family. The compassionate outreach in support of our mission has been at the heart of our work from day one; no milestone celebration would be complete without the parish community!

I'm grateful for the chance to toast our quarter-century of impact with the people who gave Education and Hope its start. We have a brand new video to share, and a short presentation to illustrate how our program has grown and continues to evolve. Light supper will be served. All are welcome! We're looking forward to this chance to gather together. Please let us know if you can join us! ❤️

St. Jerome Norwalk

Friday, May 10th is Mother's Day in Guatemala. I had just left Xela the day before but feel grateful to have been remembered in the celebration all the same. Last night I received these photos and sweet message from Lorena:

"Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible." ~Marion C. Garretty

"Thank you for your drive to help us grow in our capacity as emotional beings, spiritual beings, and dreamers. Thank you for listening to our stories with compassion and love. Thank you for each warm embrace that strengthens our hearts.
Happy Mother's Day, Julie!"

I'm grateful to count myself among the many who make up the formidable force of love and compassion, fueling the impossible at Education and Hope. Gracias, Lore ❤

*******
“El amor de una madre es el impulso que le permite a un ser humano llegar a lo imposible” ~Marion C. Garretty

"Gracias por su impulso para hacernos mejores seres emocionales, espirituales y soñadores. Gracias por escuchar nuestras historias con compasión y amor, gracias por cada abrazo fraterno que fortalece el corazón. FELIZ DÍA DE LA MADRE JULIA!!!"

Agradecida estoy contarme entre tantos quienes formamos una fuerza formidable de amor y compasion. El impulso que permite llegar a lo imposible. Gracias, Lore! ❤

What a spectacular celebration of 25 years of impact in Guatemala. The energy we create when we gather in community is astonishing! My friend Kathleen described feeling an effervescence sparkling in the room as soon as she walked in. I couldn’t agree more!

An underlying goal of our work at Education and Hope is to create community. This doesn't just happen on the ground in Xela; it happens wherever we gather to pool our talents, time, and resources to uplift others. Many of our guests that Saturday night were meeting for the first time, and yet the room was buzzing with conversation, connection, and goodwill. I firmly believe that when we tap into the power of community, when we witness the fruits of our collective efforts, we are inspired to continue harnessing that energy for the greater good of all humanity.

There are many layers to what we do at Education and Hope, and in recent years, our outreach has expanded and grown exponentially. I was grateful to have the opportunity to share a more in-depth update on the many ways our program is evolving. The new video and many beautiful photographs offered visual evidence of the ways the seeds we planted more than twenty-five years ago have blossomed into something truly life-altering.

Coming together with those who believe in Education and Hope is integral to my own sense of connection. Your passion for our work inspires and energizes me in more ways than you know! An extraordinary element of the event was that so many people traveled great distances to celebrate with us. What a testament to the heartfelt belief in our work! We also heard from many people who wished they could attend but could not. Please know you were with us in spirit!

I could say so much more about this special night, but right now, I want to express my gratitude to each of you who make up our collective web of support. My heart is full from this time spent highlighting some of the ordinary miracles we are making possible together. Thank you for everything you share to make Education and Hope a force for lasting change in the world.

With love and so much gratitude,
❤️ Julie

A few photos from the evening, thanks to Jerri Graham Photography

Meet Magdalena and Noel Rojo! Magdalena and Noel are journalists who live in Oaxaca, Mexico. We met through our involvement in USC’s Spiritual Exemplars Project. Together with their young son Gael, they spent three weeks with us in March, immersing themselves in all things Education and Hope.

Our growth as a program has been exponential in recent years. Telling the story of who we are and what we do has never felt more essential, and yet covering the scope of our impact has become increasingly more challenging.

Noel and Magdalena spent time getting to know our staff and students, visiting homes, sharing meals, and becoming part of our family. They took photos and videos, and engaged in conversational interviews to help us to more effectively tell the story of our unique work. What a gift to have their attentive eyes and compassionate hearts to help us convey the spirit of all we are creating together as a community.

We are thrilled to be presenting a short video encapsulating their experience in Xela at our 25th Anniversary celebration this Saturday, April 6th! Many photos and stories to come.

Mil gracias and ! We are all so grateful!

When we empower women, we empower the whole of humanity.

Today is ! When lunch prep was well on its way, I invited the cooks and the admin staff to sit for a break while I served them café con leche and champurradas. A small moment of attentive care meant to honor them and all the work they do to keep our ship afloat.

We talked about the origin of Women’s Day, and the subtle and explicit ways society still views women as inferior to men. I offered them space to share experiences of times they had been treated as less than - whether in their families of origin, in relationships, or in other workplaces. Many had been explicitly told that they weren’t worthy of an education, and early on were told that they should learn how to cook and keep house well because soon they would be serving a husband, and the success of their relationship would depend on those skills.

We spoke a great deal about how women can also be complicit in perpetuating the myths of inequality, favoring sons, burdening girls with extra chores, or holding unreasonable expectations for women. We discussed ways we could help to break these cultural patterns.

At the center of the conversation was the notion that when we women embody our worthiness and our power, when we love ourselves and prioritize our own needs, when we take these small pauses to fill our cups, we are then resourced and able to empower our children, and contribute to positive change in our communities.

It all starts with us: the health of our community and the health of future generations depend on the ways we value and love ourselves, the ways in which we encourage one another, treat each other with dignity and respect, and model equity.

At the end, we stood in a circle and embraced for a moment of prayer. I thanked them for opening their hearts to new ideas, helping the to see that their willingness to evolve and grow has a profound ripple effect on us all.

When women are empowered to see the value, dignity, and importance their own lives, the entire community is lifted with them.

Together we rise.

Our Anniversary celebration is only one month away! Saturday, April 6 at 6 pm. Don't miss this night of inspiration at The Village in Stamford CT. We have a spectacular venue on the water, great food and drinks, and music from the amazing duo of Andy Abel and Melanie Bennett from Tangled Vine.

Please join us to toast our remarkable achievements during these 25 years of creating community! Visit our website, educationandhope.org, or scan the QR code in the image to purchase your tickets today! It takes a village and we are thrilled for the opportunity to celebrate ours!

A few images from February birthdays! 🎉 It’s difficult to describe the depth of emotion running through our monthly birthday celebration. Our fiesta is simple gift and a cupcake, but it’s such a big deal that “what day will we celebrate birthdays???” is always the very first question I’m asked by our littles when I return to Xela.

For many of our E&H family, this gathering is the only time their special day is celebrated with a present so I try to make it memorable. One by one, each celebrant is called up to the front of the room to the sound of applause. Everyone gets a big hug from me as they receive their gift. Honoring each person with a moment in the spotlight is one of my favorite things to do. It truly never gets old.

Invariably, tears get the best of me as I consider the particular story of the person approaching me. The little kids that race to the front and jump into my arms, flushed with excitement at the thought of the present waiting for them. The teenagers whose blushing faces can’t hide their happiness to be remembered. The older women finally experiencing the birthday joy that was never theirs as children. And the children bearing the weight of the loss of a parent… the extra tight hugs I offer that feel like my chance to channel the love missing from each of their days.

Maybe it’s hard to describe the undercurrent of emotion because it’s not simply a birthday celebration. It’s a celebration of belonging. It’s the day that each member of our family gets to bask in the glow of the spotlight while we remind them how deeply they are cherished and loved.

📷: L’Archevesque




❤️

Thirty years ago today, a girl stepped off a plane in Guatemala City.

I owe so much of who I have become to that girl, a girl who was sure that Spanish language immersion was the next right step for the future she hoped to create, even though she had never traveled abroad, much less on her own.

That girl didn’t have the slightest idea how life as she knew it was about to be flipped upside down. But even when her world was rocked and she couldn’t see even 10 minutes ahead into the future, she never looked back. She never folded.

More than half of my life now. I can no longer imagine who I would be without Guatemala, without the people and experiences so indelibly woven into the person I have become.

Thirty years. Thirty thousand lives. Infinite gratitude.

Welcome 2024!!! Last month we kicked off the new year by introducing our amazing staff. Administrative team, teachers, cooks and housekeepers, early childhood education teachers, health and nutrition team, psychologists, agro-ecology and carpentry. At the end, more than a dozen students new to the after school program were welcomed into the family with an enthusiastic round of applause. It truly takes a village to accomplish all that we do each day! We are incredibly fortunate to be supported by so many talented and compassionate hearts.❤️

On a mission to make every day a celebration of love. ❤️

Cascarones y pica pica! 🎉 🎉 Martes de Carnaval en Educación Temprana!
Our Early Childhood Education students celebrating Mardi Gras, thrilled to be smashing hollowed eggshells filled with bright confetti on the heads of their teachers and classmates. 🎉🎉

Save the Date, Take Two! 💚💚

Mark your calendars for April 6, 2024! Our 25th Anniversary Celebration will be here before you know it.

We were so disappointed to have to reschedule our original plans this fall but we’re thrilled for the opportunity to come together this spring! The event will take place on Saturday 4/6 at 6pm, at The Village in Stamford, CT.

Twenty-five years of creating community is an extraordinary accomplishment. We hope you can join us to raise a glass in honor of all we’ve achieved together!

It’s always inspiring to have the chance to gather together with the many generous hearts who make ordinary miracles possible. We can’t wait to celebrate with you! 🌟

Please visit www.educationandhope.org to purchase tickets.

Guatemalans at home and abroad will watch on in expectation. Juan Francisco Sandoval, a senior anti-corruption prosecutor forced into exile in 2021, said: “Four years is very little time, and it will be very difficult for Semilla. But I believe that there is at least the possibility of stopping the actions that have suffocated Guatemala’s democratic institutions.”

Can Guatemala’s new president turn the tide on years of corruption? Bernardo Arévalo, an unassuming academic, will offer hope when he is sworn in on Sunday – despite the best efforts of the previous ruling cabal to stop him

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/14/us/guatemala-president-inauguration-democracy.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Nk0.gWTT.5o_l3y5kaedI&smid=url-share

New Leader Set to Take Over in Guatemala, Raising Hopes for a Fragile Democracy (Gift Article) Bernardo Arévalo, an anticorruption crusader, had to fight to make it to Sunday’s inauguration. His challenges are just beginning.

The pro-democracy protests in Guatemala in the last few months have been incredibly inspiring. The people have risen to make their voices heard in efforts to spotlight the corruption in the political system that ultimately keeps the country mired in poverty. The Indigenous-led is explicitly non-partisan and is devoted to ensuring a peaceful transition of power.

Today is the inauguration ceremony of Bernardo Arevalo. For many months it seemed unlikely that a peaceful transition of power would be allowed, despite the dedicated efforts of Indigenous groups across the country. If all transpires as planned, the triumph will be owed to the strength and the perseverance of the people.

Indigenous Leaders in Guatemala Are Camping Out to Prevent Post-Election Coup Leaders from Indigenous governance structures have energized a movement to ensure the presidential transition happens.

As we prepare to inaugurate a new academic year at E&H, I’m thinking about the last phase of 2023, the “vacation” period in November and December. The air was charged with excitement, happiness and connectivity. There was great enthusiasm and appreciation for the activities offered, and an impressive amount of devotion from our staff.

The school year ends in late October, and while our after school program continues through December, it became evident that many of our kids were in limbo until lunchtime. With no classes in the mornings, they were home alone while caregivers are at work.

In 2007, we began a program of morning activities to cover the days before our winter break begins on Dec. 15th. What started with a small group of kids and makeshift activities has evolved into an expansive and vibrant program, with formal programming and staff. This season, 50 primary school children participated in daily morning activities, guided by 4 staff members and 5 volunteers.

In 2023, we added programming for our older students as well. One group of 24 teenage girls and another of 12 teenage boys, each guided by two staff. I was so impressed not only by the eagerness of the teenagers to participate, but also the level of enthusiasm and collaboration in the various activities.

During this period it became clear to me that we have been growing into a deeper level of integration and belonging. I felt a heightened sense of devotion and commitment on the part of the staff who were going above and beyond to make these activities special in addition to their daily responsibilities. The students were thriving and their joy was contagious!

I am so grateful to witness the depth in our growth as a program! I’m confident these elements of joy, enthusiasm, collaboration, and commitment, and especially the willingness to offer our best on behalf of our beloved community will continue to lift us all as our new year begins. 💫💫💫

Home is where the hugs are ❤️

We are celebrating!!!
25 years of creating community.
25 years of generosity that educates and empowers.
25 years of love in action.
25 years of hope.

How astonishing to think we have now been providing education and holistic wellness for two and a half decades! Nutritious meals and scholarships. Storybooks and hot showers. Compassionate listening and an abundance of love. It is a consistent source of hope for me to witness the power that resides in each one of us to create lasting change in the life of another.

We are thrilled to have the opportunity to come together and celebrate all that our collective efforts have helped to make possible in Guatemala! We're looking forward to toasting the open hearts who believe deeply in our mission and have generously shared their resources to sustain this life-altering work.

We hope you can join us on 11/11/23 at The Village in Stamford, CT. Click the link below to purchase tickets or visit educationandhope.org and click the ticket tab on our homepage.

https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MTkxOTE3

When the world is on fire, I find I need to anchor myself to hope to avoid being swept away by despair. Right now what is sustaining my ability to hope is news about the continued resistance in Guatemala.

Today is Day 16 of the national strike protesting the government's attempts to undermine the election process and the transition of power, demanding the resignation of the Attorney General and other officials who have been accused of corruption.

Across the country, people have come together in peaceful, often joyful protests with a palpable sense of strength and unity. Protests continue outside of embassies across the US and in Europe as well.

Bernardo Arevalo was elected in a landslide on August 20th. His platform of anti-corruption resounded with a population tired of watching the slow dismantling of the judicial system in Guatemala, tired of experiencing the erosion of social services and failing infrastructure. Although the election was certified, the Public Ministry continues its push to investigate alleged "irregularities" that they claim might constitute fraud. The president-elect and other international officials are warning that these efforts amount to a slow-motion coup.

Until recently, demonstrations have been largely without incident despite the fact that riot police have employed tear gas to disperse protestors in the capital city. Friday, a meeting of ancestral authorities with the President ended without a resolution. The people continue to insist that they have the right to protest peacefully and have reiterated their commitment to stand firm in their demand for justice.

The scale of this massive coordinated effort initiated by indigenous groups speaks deeply to a long overdue reconnection of those communities whose voices have not been listened to. It is important to remember that Guatemala is a country still reeling from genocide in recent decades. It’s been stunning to see images of humble people who have suffered systematic exclusion, myriad forms of deprivation and societal neglect continuing to put everything on the line to fight for the spirit of democracy in their country, rising up to insist on the right to live with safety and dignity. For me, this is a lifeline to hope.

(Sources of photos noted when possible)

Today is the 8th day of a nationwide strike in Guatemala. Citizens are demanding the government ensure a peaceful transition of power for President-elect Bernardo Arévalo who won the August election in a landslide. Arévalo is an anti-corruption candidate who was elected in a campaign that promised government reform. The election has been certified but the Attorney General's office continues to impede the transition. She recently moved to suspend Arévalo's party on unsupported allegations of voter registration fraud. This is widely seen as an attempt to undo election results unfavorable to those who fear being investigated for corruption. Arêvalo is warning that efforts of the AG and the Constitutional Court amount to a "slow-motion coup" and a threat to democracy.

In response, groups across the country have mobilized to block major roadways, calling for a national strike- "Paro Nacional Indefinido". National transportation has ground to a halt. The peaceful protests gained momentum over the weekend as Guatemala City residents joined in great numbers. Protestors are calling for the resignation of the Attorney General and other government officials, demanding that Arévalo and his party be allowed to assume power. While the Constitution guarantees a right to peaceful protest, the Attorney General issued a statement this morning that the roadblocks are illegal, setting the stage for potential conflict. She reiterated her refusal to resign.

The magnitude of these demonstrations is unprecedented. On Saturday morning I was moved to tears watching videos of street vendors, truckers, weavers bikers, hospital workers, students, and the elderly, all coming together to unite in protest. The consequences are dire as markets and store shelves are now almost bare. So many humble people who have little to share, yet they still manage to bring supplies to support the protestors. People are fed up with government indifference to endemic suffering and they are putting everything on the line to make their voices heard. It's truly a historic uprising.

I was supposed to travel to Xela this weekend but have been unable to travel because of the strike. It's frustrating to be so far away from my community but I am inspired by the depth of commitment to social change that I'm witnessing online. I'm heartened to see Guatemalans in the US gathering in front of embassies in NYC, Washington DC, Maryland, and San Francisco, adding their presence to demand a peaceful transition of power and an end to corruption. I hope there is more mainstream news coverage about the strike in the US as there is an undeniable link between government corruption and the dwindling social services and extreme poverty that have forced many to migrate.

At the heart of these demonstrations and these highly coordinated efforts are indigenous groups, particularly 48 Cantones, revered authorities who are referred to as the ancestral leaders of the country. Many recognize today as Indigenous Peoples' Day here in the US. I am grateful to see a bright light shining on the veins of resistance and cultural resilience that run throughout the Americas.

(All images below are gathered from the internet.)

I am deeply humbled and grateful to have been honored as part of "Spiritual Exemplars: A Global Project on Engaged Spirituality." This multi-dimensional project profiles 104 people from around the world whose humanitarian efforts are sustained by their spiritual visions and lived experiences. The focus of this five-year project facilitated by the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at the University of Southern California was “engaged spirituality," i.e., telling the stories of individuals whose work for social change is inspired by their spiritual practices and beliefs, as well as how social action informs their spirituality. A beautiful photo exhibit of exemplars, scenes from the work they are doing in the world, and quotes from the interviews is currently on display at USC's Annenberg School of Journalism until Sept. 21.

What an experience to see Education and Hope represented as part of this global community of people "who dedicate their lives to human flourishing", alongside the efforts of many I've long admired, people like Rosalina Tuyuc and Father Greg Boyle. One of the most acute personal challenges of my work is the loneliness of not having a peer group. I cried at least a half dozen times within the exhibit, which is artfully and mindfully curated; I saw myself reflected back in the stories and was overwhelmed by a sense of belonging. Walking through the words and photographs was an extraordinary chance to hold up a mirror for the work and meaning in my own life. I recognized the devotion to community and the deep commitment to creating social change woven through every one of the stories in unique and remarkable ways. I was inspired over and over again to witness love in action, and to consider the power we have as individuals to transform the world around us, even if and especially when it is challenging. The kinship I experienced that day is something that will nourish me for a long time to come.

To learn more about this project and for an archive of these inspirational exemplars, visit the CRCC website: https://crcc.usc.edu/topic/engaged-spirituality/

I still remember the day when I asked Fernando - then a university scholarship student who had just started working in the front office - to tell me about his only sibling, his sister Emilia. I was stunned to learn that she had dropped out of school after sixth grade to work and help her younger brother succeed in school. Their parents had died when the siblings were both young, and Emilia had become the family caretaker. “Tell her to come by and visit us,” I said. I wanted to know the young woman responsible for helping launch Fernando on his bright educational path. He answered that planning a visit would be tough: Emilia worked as a domestic and had little more than an afternoon off a week. Without an education, job opportunities were limited. The hours were long and the pay was miserable.

I couldn’t stop thinking about the sacrifice Emilia had made at such a young age, and the many ways her choice to take care of her brother continued to limit possibility in her own life. When we finally met, I immediately cut to the chase: would she like to go back to school?

There are many more details but suffice to say the answer was yes. Emilia was 32 when she rentered the education system. First middle school, and then high school. Her high school graduation was such a glorious day! I sat up front and, of course, cried through the whole event.

But Emilia didn’t stop with a high school diploma. She went right on to university to study nursing. On September 3rd, a month after she turned 40, Emilia was presented with her nursing degree, her brother Fernando and Lorena by her side.

It’s difficult to describe the many layers of significance that make this achievement so extraordinary. Cultural norms; societal expectations; age; no extended family to rely on for help - just to name a few. Indigenous girls face the biggest barriers to access to education in Guatemala, and they have the lowest levels of literacy as a result. In that light, Emilia’s return to school in her 30s and then continuing on to earn a professional degree feels even more miraculous. I am beyond grateful that Education and Hope has played a part in this miracle. We are so proud of you Emilia! ❤️