Agros Blog

Would you like to learn more about the work that Agros is doing in Central America and Mexico? Would you like to meet two of our villagers, Marina Martinez and Carlos Sarmiento, from Bella Vista, Honduras to learn about how Agros has helped them?

Join us on Saturday, October 13 for Tierras de Vida [Lands of Life]. This annual event celebrates the work that Agros International and shares a vision for the organization’s future. This year’s theme is ‘Hope in the Hard Places’ and will focus on the life-transforming changes that are happening with families living in Agros’ villages.

Event details:
Date: Saturday, October 13, 2012
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Seattle Sheraton
1400 6th Avenue, Seattle, WA

Additional details and registration information are available at www.agros.org/tdv. You may also email dedekagrosorg or call the Agros office at 206.528.1066.

Marina Martinez (back left) and Carlos Sarmiento (back right) will share their story of becoming an Agros villager in Bella Vista, Honduras at Tierras de Vida on October 13.

Without regard for cultural, linguistic or ethnic divisions, March 8th is a day we honor the vast social, political and economic achievements of women worldwide.  International Women’s Day first emerged in 1909 largely through the push of labor movements, but officially took the global stage when recognized by the UN in 1975 “to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.”

The women of Agros villages have played extraordinary roles in the development of their communities. Not only do they tend to the family’s crops, but they are also successfully raising their children, managing the home, leading community efforts, furthering their own education, and starting and growing other small businesses. The stories of women’s achievements in Agros villages are countless, but here are just a few of note:

• One woman, Petronilla, is determined to grow multiple income-generating projects and send her four daughters to school to learn to read and write (pursuits she could not achieve as an indigenous girl).
• Ten women in the village of Brisas del Volcán can be credited for having the vision and sheer determination to start, build and grow that village.
• Hundreds of women are advancing opportunity for their extended families by building ‘Women’s Community Banks’ across Agros villages.

Agros International has always recognized and supported the critical role of women in building and nurturing thriving communities, families, and individuals.

One example of this can be seen in the Agros model which ensures that women are equally recognized on the title of land ownership—both the husband and the wife’s name is on the land title, which is not always the case otherwise in the region. Owning land for the first time in their lives is a powerful thing, giving women a tremendous sense of personal pride; getting equal recognition and reward in the eyes of the law for their contributions is an important component to building equity in other areas of community development.

Today we also give pause to look ahead and recognize that there is so much untapped potential and opportunity still awaiting future generations of women.

Together, let’s help support these women’s efforts by providing them with access to resources and the opportunity to grow.  Please consider giving the women of Agros villages the gift of hope through a gift of:

• Women’s Small Business Loan
• Women’s Economic Initiatives Training
• Rabbits and A Flock of Chicks (for small business creation)
• New Mother & Baby Kit

Agros International is committed to breaking the cycle of poverty for the rural poor in Central America and Mexico. Poverty, in our view, is the result of broken relationships and in order to break the cycle of poverty in all its forms these broken relationships need to be mended. Agros addresses these issues by applying a development model that is holistic, sustainable, and focused on long-term results. And while we currently focus our work helping families in Mexico and Central America, we know that poverty is a condition persistent in all regions of the world, in both rural and urban settings, and we want to see it come to an end globally.

We know that you care about ending poverty, too. So we encourage you to see the film ‘The End of Poverty?’, directed by Philippe Diaz and narrated by Martin Sheen. It is not often that a documentary allows such a vivid window into the lives of the poor and the root causes of poverty. This movie promises to expose poverty for what it is and inspire us all to take some form of action. Please join us in the fight against poverty.

For those of you in the Seattle metro area, ‘The End of Poverty?’ premieres today in downtown Seattle at the Regal Meridian 16 at 11:40am, 2:10pm, 4:40pm, 7:50pm, and 10:30pm. Also, Philippe Diaz the director will be holding a Q&A session at tonight’s 4:40pm and 7:50pm showings. If you can’t make the premiere tonight, it will be playing through the week.

• Visit the film’s website to learn where the film is playing near you.

• Don’t see it available in your metro area? Bring the film to your town now.

Thanks for helping to spread the word about this film and its important message to end the plight of poverty.

Do you live in the greater Seattle area and enjoy evenings filled with fabulous music all for a good cause?

Join us this Saturday, October 10th for the OPERA-toberfest concert benefiting Agros and a few other worthy causes! The show will include six professional singers performing a collection of well-known arias, musical theater ditties, and popular songs. Selections will include excerpts from La Boheme, Carmen, Pirates of Penzance, Java Jive and Deep Purple.

Show details:
Date: Saturday, October 10th, 2009
Time: 7:30pm
Location: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
8501 SE 40th St
Mercer Island, WA 98040

Tickets are free, while any donation is most welcome! Two years ago this event raised nearly $8,000, and this year the organizers are hoping to surpass $10,000. Help us reach this goal!

Complimentary autumn brews, assorted wines, soft drinks, and Bavarian goodies will be provided both at intermission and after the show.

To learn more about the event, or RSVP directly, please view the OPERA-toberfest Evite.

We hope to see you there!

Do you live in the greater Seattle area and enjoy good music that benefits not only your ears, but also a good cause?

Please join us this Saturday, August 29th for a benefit concert that is sure to amaze with the phenomenal fingerstyle guitar talent of Trace Bundy!  An Agros fan himself, Trace’s 2008 CD/DVD project release titled “Missile Bell” was inspired by a story he heard while traveling in Central America visiting Agros villages. The families’ stories of struggle and redemption after surviving their country’s civil war has influenced and made its way into Trace’s music. As such, Trace has kindly included us in this benefit concert and we hope to share the good times and good music with you!

Show details:

Saturday, August 29, 2009
7:00pm – 10:00pm (doors open at 6:00pm)
Maple Valley Presbyterian Church
22659 Sweeney Rd. SE
Maple Valley, WA 98038
Phone:  425-432-4399

Tickets are $10 advance, and $12 at the door.

Take a few minutes to watch him play and you’ll surely agree that Trace Bundy must be seen, not just heard.

For more detailed event information, visit:
Trace’s Facebook Fan Page and Maple Valley Presbyterian’s website.

We hope to see you there!

Following are a list of educational, film, and international development events in the Seattle area:

May Events

Meaningful Movies, ‘Un Poquito de Tanta Verdad’ (A Little Bit of Too Much Truth)
May 1st, 7:00 p.m.
Keystone Church, Wallingford, 5019 Keystone Place

“Un Poquito de Tanta Verdad” shows the story of a community of farmers, workers, and students organizing in Oaxaca, Mexico to tell their story of oppression when the mainstream media refused to report it.  Filmmaker Jill Freidberg will be in attendance and host a community discussion after the film.

International Worker’s Day Rally and March
May 1st, 3:30 p.m. rally, 4:00 p.m. march
Judkin’s Playfield, behind St. Mary’s Church, 611 20th Avenue South
(206) 324-6044

Join El Comite Pro-Reforma Migratoria y Justicia Social for the annual May 1 rally & march in support of workers everywhere.

El Centro de la Raza Cinco de Mayo Celebration
May 2nd, 3:00 p.m.
Jefferson Community Center, 3801 Beacon Avenue South
(206) 957-4602

El Centro’s 4th annual Cinco de Mayo celebration will feature traditional food, arts and crafts, children activities, local vendors, and entertainment.

Sandra Cisneros at Town Hall Seattle
May 7th, 7:00 p.m.
Town Hall Great Hall, 8th Avenue and Seneca Street

Author Sandra Cisneros celebrates the 25th anniversary of The House on Mango Street, a novel about a young girl growing up in Chicago’s Latino neighborhood.

Dead Aid: Why Aid is Not Working and How There is a Better Way for Africa
Featuring Dr. Dambisa Moyo
Kane Hall, Room 130, University of Washington

The World Affairs Council presents Dr. Dambisa Moyo, member of Cambridge University’s Center for International Business and Management and the Royal Institute of International Affairs. Dr. Moyo argues for more innovative ways for Africa to finance development, including trade with China, accessing capital markets, and microfinance.

Pacific Northwest Microfinance Conference
May 8th, 7:00 p.m. and May 9th, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Upper Gwinn Commons, Seattle Pacific University

The Pacific Northwest Microfinance Conference brings together local organizations on the forefront of microfinance to collaborate and share ideas about reducing global poverty. The conference features a talk from Skip Li, Agros founder and Laurie Werner, Program Director.

Genevieve Albers Forum: Bill Gates, Sr.
May 19th, 7:00 p.m.
Piguott Auditorium, Seattle University
(206) 296-5732, haukebseattleuedu

Seattle University Albers School of Business hosts Bill Gates, Sr., discussing Showing up for life: Thoughts on the Gifts of a Lifetime. Gates, Sr. is the co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and is involved in various philantrophy and non-profit projects.

International Relief, Development, and Conservation in the Cloud
May 21st, 7:00 p.m.
Museum of History and Industry, 2700 24th Avenue East

The World Affairs Council presents four CIO’s (Chief Information Officers) from leading NGOs, Ed Granger-Happ from Save the Children, Simon Jennings from Oxfam, Vida Durant from CARE, and Jean-Louis Ecochard from The Nature Conservancy. They will discuss the effect of information and communications technologies on the work of humanitarian agencies.

Environment in a Developing World
May 26th, Time and Location TBA

Join the discussion with various Washington-based groups on how to improve working conditions and the environment in the developing world.