From The Mexico Report’s “2013 Real Heroes of Mexico”, meet Julieta Villacaña Cárdenas
Oaxaca, Oaxaca
Website: http://www.huboaxaca.org/
“Julieta is a hero. To see her at eight months pregnant, waddling from social project to social project, you do not question her dedication, commitment and love for her country and city. She has tirelessly worked to build the organic food certification program and markets in her home city of Oaxaca. She has established an innovative local NGO (Hub Oaxaca) to catalyze social transformation by supporting and connecting those small and large social actors on the ground who need tools, contacts, a space and accompaniment to scale the impact of what they do. She has built a non-profit, bilingual primary school from zero, to offer her daughter, and other children in Oaxaca a model for an integrated, positive and excellent educational system. I marvel at Julieta’s energy to face and work in a region with enormous challenges–political, environmental and social. I am inspired by her hunger to constantly learn and teach herself what she needs to know to be the best force for change in her home town. I join her in her work because I believe in her, in her vision, her strength and her commitment. She is one of those impassioned young, emerging heroes in Mexico. The country needs more Julietas.”
Julieta was nominated by Megan Martin.
See all The Mexico Report’s “2013 Real Heroes of Mexico” here.