I’ve grown up in a family of abundance an abundance of love of compassion for
an abundance of love of compassion for
an abundance of love of compassion for others of problem-solving attitude and
others of problem-solving attitude and
others of problem-solving attitude and apart from my sweet mama an abundance of
apart from my sweet mama an abundance of
apart from my sweet mama an abundance of height my mom has always been an
height my mom has always been an
height my mom has always been an educator of young minds as she says to
educator of young minds as she says to
educator of young minds as she says to her first graders a problem is a problem
her first graders a problem is a problem
her first graders a problem is a problem to solve what’s your plan this was
to solve what’s your plan this was
to solve what’s your plan this was always her question for us kids too
always her question for us kids too
always her question for us kids too whether the problem was something small
whether the problem was something small
whether the problem was something small like being so bored on summer vacation
like being so bored on summer vacation
like being so bored on summer vacation or something bigger maybe interpersonal
or something bigger maybe interpersonal
or something bigger maybe interpersonal conflict with friends with other young
conflict with friends with other young
conflict with friends with other young women this mantra has been ingrained in
women this mantra has been ingrained in
women this mantra has been ingrained in me from the time I was very young and
me from the time I was very young and
me from the time I was very young and I’m realizing how much it’s influenced
I’m realizing how much it’s influenced
I’m realizing how much it’s influenced Who I am as a person today a problem is
Who I am as a person today a problem is
Who I am as a person today a problem is a problem to solve what’s your plan when
a problem to solve what’s your plan when
a problem to solve what’s your plan when I was 18 I found myself in a more
I was 18 I found myself in a more
I was 18 I found myself in a more problematic situation than my young and
problematic situation than my young and
problematic situation than my young and very privileged mind could have ever
very privileged mind could have ever
very privileged mind could have ever imagined I was raped by a co-worker by
imagined I was raped by a co-worker by
imagined I was raped by a co-worker by someone I trusted and up until this
someone I trusted and up until this
someone I trusted and up until this point in my life I had only even been
point in my life I had only even been
point in my life I had only even been kissed a handful of times so you can
kissed a handful of times so you can
kissed a handful of times so you can imagine my deep felt sense of confusion
imagine my deep felt sense of confusion
imagine my deep felt sense of confusion and horror and shame this act of
and horror and shame this act of
and horror and shame this act of violence catalyzed what would become
violence catalyzed what would become
violence catalyzed what would become years of long cycles of sexual violence
years of long cycles of sexual violence
years of long cycles of sexual violence of not knowing my self-worth of feeling
of not knowing my self-worth of feeling
of not knowing my self-worth of feeling completely powerless depression what’s
completely powerless depression what’s
completely powerless depression what’s that nobody I know ever talks about it
that nobody I know ever talks about it
that nobody I know ever talks about it anxiety is that this feeling that’s
anxiety is that this feeling that’s
anxiety is that this feeling that’s feeling inside my chest when it feels
feeling inside my chest when it feels
feeling inside my chest when it feels like my ribs can no longer contain my
like my ribs can no longer contain my
like my ribs can no longer contain my trembling heart my insides a problem is
trembling heart my insides a problem is
trembling heart my insides a problem is a problem to solve what’s your plan
I’ve always been a nerd I pride myself
I’ve always been a nerd I pride myself in it really so when I found myself in
in it really so when I found myself in
in it really so when I found myself in this unfamiliar territory navigating
this unfamiliar territory navigating
this unfamiliar territory navigating these negative thoughts and feelings
these negative thoughts and feelings
these negative thoughts and feelings that no person should find trapped
that no person should find trapped
that no person should find trapped inside their brain I started doing
inside their brain I started doing
inside their brain I started doing research I learned how my brain was
research I learned how my brain was
research I learned how my brain was reacting to the trauma I’d experienced I
reacting to the trauma I’d experienced I
reacting to the trauma I’d experienced I learned that one in three women will
learned that one in three women will
learned that one in three women will find themselves where I found myself and
find themselves where I found myself and
find themselves where I found myself and I learned that at the time Peru had the
I learned that at the time Peru had the
I learned that at the time Peru had the highest reported rate of domestic
highest reported rate of domestic
highest reported rate of domestic violence in the world at nearly 70% I
violence in the world at nearly 70% I
violence in the world at nearly 70% I knew I needed to take action in order to
knew I needed to take action in order to
knew I needed to take action in order to heal in order to regain some inner
heal in order to regain some inner
heal in order to regain some inner strength and sense of agency and I
strength and sense of agency and I
strength and sense of agency and I wanted to connect with other women who
wanted to connect with other women who
wanted to connect with other women who had been through the aftermath of this
had been through the aftermath of this
had been through the aftermath of this traumatic situation so I saved up some
traumatic situation so I saved up some
traumatic situation so I saved up some money I started traveling first to Peru
money I started traveling first to Peru
money I started traveling first to Peru to better understand the cultural
to better understand the cultural
to better understand the cultural context behind that terrifyingly high
context behind that terrifyingly high
context behind that terrifyingly high rate of domestic violence and I found
rate of domestic violence and I found
rate of domestic violence and I found myself both literally and figuratively
myself both literally and figuratively
myself both literally and figuratively in Chimbote de Peru one of the largest
in Chimbote de Peru one of the largest
in Chimbote de Peru one of the largest poorest cities in the world it was here
poorest cities in the world it was here
poorest cities in the world it was here that I met Anita the social worker for
that I met Anita the social worker for
that I met Anita the social worker for the town who’s worked for thousands of
the town who’s worked for thousands of
the town who’s worked for thousands of women who’ve experienced violence her
women who’ve experienced violence her
women who’ve experienced violence her suggestion we need to invest in women in
suggestion we need to invest in women in
suggestion we need to invest in women in order to help them move forward we need
order to help them move forward we need
order to help them move forward we need to believe women create safe spaces for
to believe women create safe spaces for
to believe women create safe spaces for women educate women and create economic
women educate women and create economic
women educate women and create economic opportunities that allow women to thrive
opportunities that allow women to thrive
opportunities that allow women to thrive problem is a problem to solve what’s the
problem is a problem to solve what’s the
problem is a problem to solve what’s the plan invest in women the United Nations
plan invest in women the United Nations
plan invest in women the United Nations states that for every dollar a woman
states that for every dollar a woman
states that for every dollar a woman makes between 80 and 90 cents is
makes between 80 and 90 cents is
makes between 80 and 90 cents is reinvested back into her families and
reinvested back into her families and
reinvested back into her families and communities as opposed to 30 to 40 cents
communities as opposed to 30 to 40 cents
communities as opposed to 30 to 40 cents by men when women hold the purse strings
by men when women hold the purse strings
by men when women hold the purse strings sales of bread and milk increase as
sales of bread and milk increase as
sales of bread and milk increase as opposed to alcohol and gambling and we
opposed to alcohol and gambling and we
opposed to alcohol and gambling and we know that financial insecurity is the
know that financial insecurity is the
know that financial insecurity is the number one reason why women stay in
number one reason why women stay in
number one reason why women stay in abusive relationships so when we invest
abusive relationships so when we invest
abusive relationships so when we invest in women when we create economic
in women when we create economic
in women when we create economic opportunities that allow them to thrive
opportunities that allow them to thrive
opportunities that allow them to thrive we not only invest in the livelihood of
we not only invest in the livelihood of
we not only invest in the livelihood of women but we have the potential to
women but we have the potential to
women but we have the potential to positively transform entire communities
positively transform entire communities
positively transform entire communities when women are included in a formalized
when women are included in a formalized
when women are included in a formalized workforce the entire economies grow when
workforce the entire economies grow when
workforce the entire economies grow when women are educated
women are educated
women are educated child mortality decreases when women
child mortality decreases when women
child mortality decreases when women hold leadership positions organizational
hold leadership positions organizational
hold leadership positions organizational effectiveness improves when women do
effectiveness improves when women do
effectiveness improves when women do better
better
better entire communities do better I’ve spent
entire communities do better I’ve spent
entire communities do better I’ve spent years traveling meeting with women
years traveling meeting with women
years traveling meeting with women learning from women I’m nearly every
learning from women I’m nearly every
learning from women I’m nearly every continent and this theme still rings
continent and this theme still rings
continent and this theme still rings true this need to invest in women so I
true this need to invest in women so I
true this need to invest in women so I started an organization called fair
started an organization called fair
started an organization called fair Anita to create fair trade jobs for
Anita to create fair trade jobs for
Anita to create fair trade jobs for women with history similar to my own
women with history similar to my own
women with history similar to my own now we work with 8,000 women in 16
now we work with 8,000 women in 16
now we work with 8,000 women in 16 countries a huge community of women who
countries a huge community of women who
countries a huge community of women who are strong and talented and hardworking
are strong and talented and hardworking
are strong and talented and hardworking and resilient and determined to not be
and resilient and determined to not be
and resilient and determined to not be defined by their circumstances we need
defined by their circumstances we need
defined by their circumstances we need to invest in women we as women of
to invest in women we as women of
to invest in women we as women of different races and places and
different races and places and
different races and places and orientations and abilities we need to
orientations and abilities we need to
orientations and abilities we need to invest in one another this is how we
invest in one another this is how we
invest in one another this is how we will all rise together so after years of
will all rise together so after years of
will all rise together so after years of working with thousands of survivors
working with thousands of survivors
working with thousands of survivors around the world there was this one
around the world there was this one
around the world there was this one moment of pure celebration that really
moment of pure celebration that really
moment of pure celebration that really solidified it for me why we do this why
solidified it for me why we do this why
solidified it for me why we do this why invest in women and the story starts
invest in women and the story starts
invest in women and the story starts back with Anita in Chimbote de Peru and
back with Anita in Chimbote de Peru and
back with Anita in Chimbote de Peru and she told me about the time that she met
she told me about the time that she met
she told me about the time that she met a woman named maritza as the social
a woman named maritza as the social
a woman named maritza as the social worker for the town Anita would
worker for the town Anita would
worker for the town Anita would regularly do home visits and she vividly
regularly do home visits and she vividly
regularly do home visits and she vividly remembers entering this low doorway and
remembers entering this low doorway and
remembers entering this low doorway and walking down these broken uneven stairs
walking down these broken uneven stairs
walking down these broken uneven stairs and at the bottom of the stairs was
and at the bottom of the stairs was
and at the bottom of the stairs was nothing more than a worn-out mattress
nothing more than a worn-out mattress
nothing more than a worn-out mattress this is where maritza and her four
this is where maritza and her four
this is where maritza and her four children lived and as maritza lives her
children lived and as maritza lives her
children lived and as maritza lives her life in a wheelchair her children had to
life in a wheelchair her children had to
life in a wheelchair her children had to carry her up and down these broken
carry her up and down these broken
carry her up and down these broken stairs every day but Anita invested in
stairs every day but Anita invested in
stairs every day but Anita invested in maritza and helped her to get better
maritza and helped her to get better
maritza and helped her to get better housing and once maritza had a safe
housing and once maritza had a safe
housing and once maritza had a safe place to call home
place to call home
place to call home she started teaching herself a
she started teaching herself a
she started teaching herself a marketable skill jewelry making it is
marketable skill jewelry making it is
marketable skill jewelry making it is said that Chimbote Peru has an 80%
said that Chimbote Peru has an 80%
said that Chimbote Peru has an 80% unemployment rate so as a woman living
unemployment rate so as a woman living
unemployment rate so as a woman living with disabilities maritza has struggled
with disabilities maritza has struggled
with disabilities maritza has struggled to find traditional employment she knew
to find traditional employment she knew
to find traditional employment she knew a lot of her peers are struggling with
a lot of her peers are struggling with
a lot of her peers are struggling with the same issue so maritza mastered the
the same issue so maritza mastered the
the same issue so maritza mastered the skill of jewelry making and started
skill of jewelry making and started
skill of jewelry making and started to get to ten other women with
to get to ten other women with
to get to ten other women with disabilities using her new home as their
disabilities using her new home as their
disabilities using her new home as their workshop for years these women would
workshop for years these women would
workshop for years these women would gather three times a week making jewelry
gather three times a week making jewelry
gather three times a week making jewelry even though they struggled to sell it in
even though they struggled to sell it in
even though they struggled to sell it in this poor Peruvian town but because
this poor Peruvian town but because
this poor Peruvian town but because maritza invested in these ten women it
maritza invested in these ten women it
maritza invested in these ten women it helped them grow in their skills and
helped them grow in their skills and
helped them grow in their skills and capacity by the time I got to meet this
capacity by the time I got to meet this
capacity by the time I got to meet this wonderful group we were able to
wonderful group we were able to
wonderful group we were able to formalize an artisan partnership and now
formalize an artisan partnership and now
formalize an artisan partnership and now we export their products to the US so
we export their products to the US so
we export their products to the US so this moment of pure celebration when
this moment of pure celebration when
this moment of pure celebration when these women received their first
these women received their first
these women received their first paycheck not just their first paycheck
paycheck not just their first paycheck
paycheck not just their first paycheck from us but literally their first
from us but literally their first
from us but literally their first paycheck and after a lifetime of living
paycheck and after a lifetime of living
paycheck and after a lifetime of living on just pennies a day you can imagine
on just pennies a day you can imagine
on just pennies a day you can imagine this grand sense of accomplishment this
this grand sense of accomplishment this
this grand sense of accomplishment this pure joy because Anita invested in
pure joy because Anita invested in
pure joy because Anita invested in maritza maritza could invest in these
maritza maritza could invest in these
maritza maritza could invest in these ten women and then this group could
ten women and then this group could
ten women and then this group could invest in me and our community of makers
invest in me and our community of makers
invest in me and our community of makers and together we’re able to multiply this
and together we’re able to multiply this
and together we’re able to multiply this impact and create economic vitality for
impact and create economic vitality for
impact and create economic vitality for women around the world when we invest in
women around the world when we invest in
women around the world when we invest in one another we’re healing ourselves – my
one another we’re healing ourselves – my
one another we’re healing ourselves – my identity is no longer that of a victim
identity is no longer that of a victim
identity is no longer that of a victim but rather I am a woman who has overcome
but rather I am a woman who has overcome
but rather I am a woman who has overcome a woman with agency to create change and
a woman with agency to create change and
a woman with agency to create change and maritza maritza
maritza maritza
maritza maritza is no longer defined by her disability
is no longer defined by her disability
is no longer defined by her disability but rather she is an internationally
but rather she is an internationally
but rather she is an internationally renowned – artisan we rise together and
renowned – artisan we rise together and
renowned – artisan we rise together and we can all rise together I think we all
we can all rise together I think we all
we can all rise together I think we all need something in order to heal or grow
need something in order to heal or grow
need something in order to heal or grow or succeed and we all have something we
or succeed and we all have something we
or succeed and we all have something we can share with one another we must
can share with one another we must
can share with one another we must invest in one another so we can create a
invest in one another so we can create a
invest in one another so we can create a community where we can all thrive
community where we can all thrive
community where we can all thrive investing in women can look so many
investing in women can look so many
investing in women can look so many different ways we can mentor women
different ways we can mentor women
different ways we can mentor women advocate for women intervene on behalf
advocate for women intervene on behalf
advocate for women intervene on behalf of women believe women actually listen
of women believe women actually listen
of women believe women actually listen to women hire women promote women pay
to women hire women promote women pay
to women hire women promote women pay women stand up for women I believe that
women stand up for women I believe that
women stand up for women I believe that if every one of us were to intentionally
if every one of us were to intentionally
if every one of us were to intentionally choose to invest in women every single
choose to invest in women every single
choose to invest in women every single day even just a small
day even just a small
day even just a small action but intentionally choose to
action but intentionally choose to
action but intentionally choose to invest in women we have tremendous
invest in women we have tremendous
invest in women we have tremendous potential to heal one another and to
potential to heal one another and to
potential to heal one another and to create a far better world and I know
create a far better world and I know
create a far better world and I know it’s true there was a point in my life
it’s true there was a point in my life
it’s true there was a point in my life where I felt so broken so out of my own
where I felt so broken so out of my own
where I felt so broken so out of my own body like it wasn’t even me like I was
body like it wasn’t even me like I was
body like it wasn’t even me like I was free-falling
free-falling
free-falling it has been the hundreds and thousands
it has been the hundreds and thousands
it has been the hundreds and thousands of hands that have reached out help to
of hands that have reached out help to
of hands that have reached out help to catch me lift me so now I could swear
catch me lift me so now I could swear
catch me lift me so now I could swear I’m soaring to them it might just be a
I’m soaring to them it might just be a
I’m soaring to them it might just be a hand to me that’s my whole world and
hand to me that’s my whole world and
hand to me that’s my whole world and this is how we rise we must create a
this is how we rise we must create a
this is how we rise we must create a community that’s abundant in love and
community that’s abundant in love and
community that’s abundant in love and compassion and celebration so that we
compassion and celebration so that we
compassion and celebration so that we can all sort together I know it’s
can all sort together I know it’s
can all sort together I know it’s possible
possible
possible my mom proved it to me she’s the best by
my mom proved it to me she’s the best by
my mom proved it to me she’s the best by investing in me my mom compelled me to
investing in me my mom compelled me to
investing in me my mom compelled me to be better and stronger and invest in
be better and stronger and invest in
be better and stronger and invest in those around me like she says a problem
those around me like she says a problem
those around me like she says a problem is a problem to solve what’s your plan
is a problem to solve what’s your plan
is a problem to solve what’s your plan [Applause]
”
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