Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, bridges to the community, host Emily Guerra meets with local author and New Mexico State University Anthropology Professor Emeritus, Dr. Christine Eber. In the early 2000’s, with the help of former students and colleagues, she started a project in Las Cruces called “Weaving For Justice” as a part of “Sophia’s Circle,” a non-profit art and cultural organization, to help women from Chihuahua and Chiapas, México sell their weavings through fair trade in the United States. The Mayan weavers maintain their weaving traditions, speak Tsotsil, a Mayan language; and belong to the movement for social justice in their communities.
In collaboration with three border region women’s artisan groups: Centro Santa Catalina of Juárez, México; Guerilla Prayer Flags of Juárez; and Weaving For Justice of Las Cruces, New Mexico, their handmade items are available at La Frontera, a Fair Trade store in Las Cruces, open now through August 26th on Saturdays from 9 am to 6 pm at Nopalito’s Galeria, 326 South Mesquite Street. For more information visit www.weaving-for-justice.org; and www.centrosantacatalina.org.