The success of our work at Maya Traditions is made possible through the constant support of volunteers. Here, volunteer Dani shares a bit about herself: Greetings! My name is Dani and I am the newest volunteer at Maya Traditions! I will be volunteering for one month this summer working in the Organic Medicinal Garden along with photo documenting different elements of Maya Traditions. I have a personal knowledge of gardening and earned my degree in Photographic Technology from Pensacola State College, in Florida. I decided to travel to Central America about a year ago and knew I wanted to spend
Read More
Maya Traditions was born from strong partnerships with cooperatives of indigenous female artisans. Today, these relationships remain central to our work and mission. This month, we asked our staff to share stories that have impacted them personally and inspire them on a daily basis. Here, we share a few of their responses: Spotlight: Marta I have been working with Maya Traditions only since March of this year, but when we were asked to write about an experience with an artisan that inspired us, I knew I already had many stories to choose from. I have had the priviledge of interacting and
Read More
Posted by Averie Floyd on June 12, 2015
Hola! My name is Averie, and I’m proud to announce that I am the newest addition to the Maya Traditions team. As the Product Development and Sales Manager I will be collaborating with our design and retail partners to develop products that celebrate the beautiful craft of backstrap weaving. I interned for Maya Traditions in the fall of 2014 to develop our new Corte Bag Line and it feels so good to be back in Panajachel! As a recent graduate of the Apparel Design and Production program at Colorado State University, I am thrilled to work for a foundation with
Read More
Maya Traditions Foundation partners with individual donors to support students–the children of our artisans–attend university. Due to the high cost of inscription and monthly fees of university, many indigenous families are unable to send their children on to university. We are working to increase our impact and the amount of university scholarships we are able to offer. Here, student Ruben Andrés Ambrosio Tzoc, son of artisan Catarina, shares with us a bit on his life and studies. Hello! My name is Ruben Andrés Ambrosio Tzoc and I’m excited to share with you how my first year in university has been going. In the past
Read More
As I think about leaving beautiful Guatemala, I can’t help but get nostalgic for all of the wonderful people, the beautiful vistas, the vibrant textiles, and most importantly the lessons I have learned and the ways I have grown. Many of these memories are directly connected to my work at Maya Traditions Foundation. My work here over the last year and a half has been transformative for me, and for the foundation. I think that the best way to sum it up is to share a number of thank-yous. Thank you to our wonderful design and retail partners! Working with
Read More
“We believe every person—despite the social, economic or geographic situation they were born into—deserves the freedom to discover, to dream andto thrive.” Maya Traditions Foundation is proud to announce an exciting new partnership with social entrepreneur Sarah Contrucci Smith and her new business Ara Collective. Ara Collective is a socially responsible company that works alongside artisans to develop unique, handcrafted products that blend traditional craftsmanship with modern style. In preparation for the launch of her business, Sarah visited Guatemala and traveled to our communities to meet our artisans and observe their work. Growing up in Indonesia, Sarah was provided with the opportunity to learn
Read More
Over the years, Murray Mintz has seen Maya Traditions grow and transform. Now the President of the Foundation, Murray often thinks about the years when his late wife and our founder Jane Mintz first began visiting Guatemala and working with indigenous female artisans. What began as a personal initiative has grown into a social enterprise, partnering with over seven cooperatives of indigenous female artisans. Many of these artisans are the same women that Jane met many years ago, that recognize Murray from those early years, and who often tell us stories of Jane’s kindness and loving nature. Here, Murray reflects
Read More
Muy buenos días! We are happy to report that Maya Traditions Foundation is now an official, government-certified 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization! While we have been a nonprofit in Guatemala since 2007, being a non-profit in the United States is key to our mission and will support our growth as an organization. We are not in this for the money. We are in this to support indigenous female artisans as they work to strengthen their communities, earn a fair living, and preserve and promote the art of backstrap weaving. We are nothing without our artisan partners and this designation will allow us to continue
Read More
On a recent trip to the community of Nahuala, we sat down with Francisca to hear her story. She is an inspirational woman who creates the most beautiful textiles. Here is a little bit about her! What is your name? Francisca Tzep Cotiy How old are you? 38 years old. Tell us about your family. I have a husband who works in construction and two sons who are 13 and 18 years old Where do you live? In the small village of Palanquix Guachiaquib´, which is a part of the community of Nahuala. When and how did you learn to weave?
Read More
If you’ve had the opportunity to visit Guatemala and meet Maya Traditions’ artisans, staff, and volunteers in person, you know that you have found a remarkable place. This month, we asked our incredible staff what makes our work at Maya Traditions special. Here is what they had to say: ‘Maya Traditions has strong, long-lasting relationships with artisans and works to support them as whole women not just artisans.’ ‘We convert the needs of our artisans into opportunities, offering them the training and tools necessary so that they themselves can change thier own situations. For me, that’s true empowerment.’ ‘We are a foundation
Read More
