Wednesday, October 22, 2008

LIBRARY FRONTLINE EVENTS CELEBRATE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO POVERTY

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh Street, is hosting two evenings dedicated to the innovative solutions being used to address local poverty needs of people around the world.

On Wednesday, October 29, at 6pm the public is invited to a presentation introducing the PBS Frontline series on Social Entrepreneurship. Several short videos will be shown – taking you on a video tour to visit a fair trade coffee plantation in Guatemala; a microcredit loan program in Uganda; silk-weaving grandmothers in Cambodia; and a girl in Nepal whose life has been changed by Room to Read, a project of former Microsoft executive John Wood. Ann Pratt, Director of Racine's new entrepreneurial endeavor – HOPES Center will facilitate a discussion after the screenings. HOPES CENTER, 505 6th Street, includes a fair trade gift shop, Just Trade, a coffeehouse, Cup of Hope, and a center for counseling, healing arts, and education.

On Wednesday, November 12, at 6pm, the library welcomes Jeannie Balanda, Executive Director of the fair trade volunteer organization MayaWorks, and Board member Phyllis Nickel at a reception featuring Guatemalan refreshments and music. Jeannie will talk about the impact of fair trade, scholarships, and microcredit loans on the lives of Mayan weavers and their families in Guatemala.

MayaWorks and HOPES Center will be hosting sales at both events. Beautifully handcrafted woven, beaded, and paper products from many countries will be available. Mary Beth Danielson, former columnist in Racine, will also be present at both evenings and will offer personally written items as door prizes.

For more information, please contact Jessica MacPhail at 636-9252.



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