Imagine a Marketplace

Imagine a marketplace- local women selling goods they have crafted themselves- two women selling recycled notecards , a woman selling beads and jewelry created in her garage; another sells handknit shawls and purses. These women are not struggling to survive nor will the fruits of their labor reach their own homes directly. The over $5,000 raised by fifty northern Michigan women this past Saturday will create another scene- a marketplace in Haiti where another small group of women will sell handmade goods, used clothes refashioned and embroidered, fruits and vegetables from a newly established garden. The fundraising was part of the annual Mothers Day event organized by Northern Michigan Mothers Acting Up. NMMAU is a movement of mothers and others publicly and passionately advocating for the world’s children. NMMAU inspires, educates and engages women, providing an entry point into activism. NMMAU is a collaborative effort between Kate Bassett and Copland Rudolph and is part of an international movement originating in Boulder, Colorado ( www.mothersactingup.org ). NMMAU has two major events each year: a Mothers Day Tea where the focus is global awareness and eradication of extreme poverty and an Alternative Gift Fair in early December where customers shop for “gifts” which will go directly to local charities. On December 9, 2006, NMMAU raised over $10,000 for MANNA Food Project, the Community Free Clinic, the Women’s Resource Center, SEE-North, the United Way, and Little Traverse Bay Humane Society.
NMMAU Mother’s Day events are inspired by the life, words and actions of Julia Ward Howe. After the Civil War, Julia called for a day when mothers would unite across boundaries- of nationality, race, religion or political affiliation- to protect our global family. “ Last Mothers Day, we explored the UN Millenium Development Goals, eight internationally agreed-upon targets for halving extreme poverty by 2015. This year we took direct action by funding a village bank in the poorest country in our hemisphere, Haiti.” Kate Bassett
Microfinance is a proven solution to poverty. The United Nations designated 2005 as the Year of Microcredit. In 2006, Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank won the Nobel Peace Prize. For two decades, the Foundation for International Community Assistance ( FINCA) has developed a banking methodology called “village banking”. A Village Bank consists of 30 -50 low-income women and offers its members three key services: Access to small, self-employment loans with no collateral required and a reasonable rate of interest; A safe and profitable place to accumulate savings; and Group support for personal empowerment. Increasingly, impoverished families depend on income generated by women. Women are responsible borrowers, diligent savers, and competent managers who use their income almost exclusively to benefit their children. Interestingly, women who receive microfinance loans and create successful small businesses tend to have fewer children. In village banking, every individual loan is guaranteed by the “moral” collateral of the group. Selected as one of America’s top 100 charities by Worth Magazine, FINCA places 91 cents of every dollar donated directly into the hands of low income clients and has over 99% of loans repaid.
” By raising $5,000, FINCA will open a brand new bank in Haiti and we will receive pictures and profiles of the Haitian women members. I believe that by creating connection between small circles of women across the globe , we can address extreme poverty, terrorism, and global warming- all of which are threats to the security of our children and by that I mean all the children on the planet.” Copland Rudolph
Several area women business owners and artisans contributed to the success of the Mothers Day Event. Kim Buntin of Polly’s Plucking and Planting donated 100% of proceeds from the sale of African violets sold during the first two weeks of May. Laura Arbaugh of Monogram Goods printed beautiful gift cards for the monetary donations given as Mothers Day gifts. Alison Decamp made and sold her lampwork bead jewelry which contributed $1,000 towards the $5,000 goal. For many women in our community the greatest gift of this Mothers Day was the ability to give and make a difference in other mother’s lives.
“ Many of us enjoy the luxury of being able to feed, clothe and shelter our children. We can go to sleep at night secure in the fact that we will sleep safely and awake to a new day filled with opportunity. I want those things for every mother on the planet.” Copland Rudolph
NMMAU will begin having monthly brown bag lunch discussion circles in the fall as well as planning sessions for the Alternative Gift Fair.
For more information on NMMAU or to get involved with events, contact Copland Rudolph @838-1001 or Kate Bassett @ 838-3148 or www.nmmothersactingup.blogspot.com

Northern Michigan Mother's Acting Up Opens a New Village Bank in Haiti

On Saturday May 12th, fifty women, ages 16-76, gathered at the First Presbyterian Church in Harbor Springs to celebrate and support microfinance village banking as a solution to eradicating extreme poverty and achieving the UN Millenium Development Goals. After shopping at a Mother's Day bazaar filled with new and vintage jewelry, handmade cards, books, african violets, and handmade purses, an enthusiastic group of women (and one brave man)came together to to learn about the Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA) and their methodology called "village banking". A Village Bank consists of 30-50 low-income women and offers its members three key services: Access to small, self-employmentloans with no collateral required and a reasonable rate of interest; A safe and profitable place to accumulate savings; and group support for personal empowerment- creating a critical shift in attitude from " I can't" to "I can!"
Through the bazaar, african violet sales at Polly's Plucking and Planting, and many generous donations, we raised $5,000 to open a new village bank in Haiti. Profiles of the women members of this particular bank and their businesses will be available on this blog site as soon as the bank is operational.
The second focus of the day was creating a sense of community and personal rejuventation for the attendees.Critical to our success as women, mothers, business owners and activists is group support and personal practices to create inner peace and well-being. During our gathering on Saturday, we experienced meditation, prayer and the power of personal sharing in a group setting.