Witness for Peace Southeast welcomes Julia Vallejos, a founding member of the factory Free Trade Zone Masilí. In 1998, Julia’s life was turned upside town when Hurricane Mitch flooded her home alongside Lake Managua. Along with many others from her community, Julia was forced to leave her home and livelihood behind. In her refugee community, Julia joined with other displaced women. With the support of a U.S.-based NGO, the women formed a worker-owned cooperative factory called the Women of Nueva Vida. The sewing cooperative operates within a Free Trade Zone and workers continue to share the profits of the factory and ensure fair labor conditions for all their workers. They use only organic fabric as a commitment to protecting the environment. In the past 13 years Julia has worked in almost every part of the factory. Today she is the general manager. During her tour with Witness for Peace Southeast, Julia will share her story. She will also give her perspectives on how free trade policies and U.S. corporate practices have affected her community and the choices we as consumers can make to support alternative trade models like Masilí. Visit www.zonafrancamasili.com to learn more. Sponsored by: Women’s & Gender Studies Program Environmental Studies Program Nabors Service League Shepherd Poverty Program Student Environmental Action League