Here’s my story of how Worldview made a personal, positive, cross-cultural, multi-cultural, fair-trade-supporting (and cross-our-Chicagoland-area) impact on me and on hundreds: In Sept., 2016, while listening to Worldview, I heard Jerome McDonnell interviewing Karen Torres, curator of Tulia’s Artisan Gallery, which supports the work of indigenous, internally-displaced, Colombian, Wounaan artisans. Impressed by her inspirational story, I got in touch with her through her website which she mentioned on air.
A first gen. Colombiana, born, raised and continuously living in Chicago, though thriving here in the US, she also felt saddened to be losing touch with her cultural roots. She found that in creating Tulia’s Artisan Gallery, she’s now able to enjoy more of her cultural heritage and share it with her children and with the larger Chicago area. I invited Karen to visit our multicultural church (St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Glen Ellyn, IL.) and bring samples of the Wounaan work. Delighted, we invited her to curate an art show at St. Mark’s, in 2017: Wounaan Art Baskets (poster attached) which was wildly successful.
Because of Worldview, and Jerome’s fabulous interviewing skills and choice of who to interview, our eyes were opened to the plight of indigenous South American artisans, we’ve contributed to strengthening a market which helps them keep their cultural traditions alive, we get to enjoy their beautiful baskets, and many first gen., Latinx parishioners received inspiration getting to know Karen, and seeing this beautiful South American artwork displayed, loved, and valued on the walls of their church. I am regularly inspired by, challenged by, and informed by Worldview, and listen at least 3 times every week. Please don’t take Worldview off the air. I enjoy listening to WBEZ; thank you for listening to me!