Megan MayoSmith

<p>Parents and teachers thought it cute that in second grade my life goal was to win a Nobel Peace Prize.&nbsp; I always knew I was walking a path toward something I couldn&rsquo;t name. At UNC I was drawn to studies of indigenous peoples and the relationship of the U.S. to its southern neighbors.&nbsp; Study in Oaxaca introduced me to the reality of indigenous peoples in &ldquo;modern&rdquo; communities.&nbsp; It was here I first heard the ideas of Gustavo Esteva.&nbsp; I returned to Oaxaca and Chiapas for my thesis and upon graduation went to work with Gustavo at CEDI. Three years there focused the lessons of my life into finding a home and a community for which I would have the courage to fight.&nbsp; To follow Gandhi&rsquo;s message to &ldquo;be the change&rdquo; I wanted for the world.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The idea to do this in J&aacute;ltipan came when I met Arturo, who walked me around his land speaking of his hopes.&nbsp; Following a path cut by his machete, seeing trees he&rsquo;d planted a year earlier, I knew my own path was now in focus. The project has come to me living in J&aacute;ltipan as his wife for five years; coming to know the people and their attitudes and hopes about their home and its abundance.&nbsp; This idea is my life&rsquo;s work, and this is the place it must be done.</p>

About Me

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