Witness for Peace speaker Julia Vallejos will share her personal story of working in a free trade zone in her community in Nicaragua. She will also give her perspectives on free trade policies and U.S. corporate practices that have affected her community and the choices consumers can make to support alternative trade models.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, from 7:15-8:30 p.m. in JOHNSTON HALL
Sponsored by the Department of World Languages and Cultures, the Peace and Conflict Studies Minor, El Centro de Español and the College of Arts and Sciences
In 1998, Julia’s life was turned upside town when Hurricane Mitch flooded her home alongside Lake Managua in Nicaragua. Along with many others from her community, Julia was forced to leave her home and livelihood behind. In her refugee community, Julia joined with other displaced women. With the support of a U.S.-based NGO, the women formed a worker-owned cooperative factory called the Women of Nueva Vida. The sewing cooperative operates within a Free Trade Zone and workers continue to share the profits of the factory and ensure fair labor conditions for all their workers. They use only organic fabric as a commitment to protecting the environment.
In the past 13 years Julia has worked in almost every part of the factory. Today she is the general manager.
– Check out our website (www.wfpse.org/speakers-tour) for information about other local speaking events with Julia. Talks are given in Spanish. An interpreter will be present.
– If you would like to set up an event, or would like to interview Julia, contact Ron Garcia-Fogarty at ron@witnessforpeace.org or 919-951-5961.
– Contact April Post at apost@elon.edu with questions about the Elon event.
-FB event: https://www.facebook.com/events/351588205022196/?ref=br_tf