Episode #17 Celebrating International Women’s Day (featuring Mary Mayorquin)

Show notes:

This week, we celebrated International Women’s Day. The homepage of the United Nations, had this to say. 

 International Women’s Day is a time 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. No country has achieved gender equality. Legal restrictions have kept 2.7 billion women from accessing the same choice of jobs as men. One in three women experience gender-based violence, still.

They went on further to say:

Change isn’t just about big headline moments, legal victories and international agreements: (but rather) the way we talk, think, and act every day can create a ripple effect that benefits everyone.

 In honor of this day, I invited my niece, Mary Mayorquin. Mary exemplifies the spirit of International Women’s Day. She takes us on a ride through her journey as a young adult working with girls in Nicaragua, through the challenges this past year her family has faced as a bi-racial family,, and through many breakthroughs and wins she’s experienced as a woman working with Starbuck’s as developer of its core coffee, Siren’s Blend, which elevates women’s leadership and sustainable farming practices, and honors the innovations of women, from farmer, to roaster to barista. On international Women’s day in 2018, The Starbucks Foundation announced a goal to empower 250000 women and girls in origin communities by 2025. Currently, they state they are halfway there, providing grants to help communities break down barriers to education, promote clean water, sanitation and hygiene, and create economic opportunities for women and girls. 

 I’m proudly pouring Siren’s blend to welcome my niece, Mary Mayorquin!

Post Show Notes: I loved talking with Mary. Her tenacious spirit for learning, reaching beyond her comfort zone, reaching for her hopes and dreams is infectious! She instills hope that positive change can occur and is happening regarding women in the work place, locally, nationally, and globally.

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