Remembering Jane Mintz

This week marks the anniversary of the loss of our Founder, Jane Mintz. While I never had the chance to know Jane, since taking on this position as Director of her Foundation, I have seen the amazing legacy that she left behind. Known around here as Juana, she has clearly not left the hearts and minds of the many lives she touched.
Not only was she a talented weaver, social worker, and friend to many, she also was an incredibly giving soul.
Over the years, Jane helped so many Guatemalan families by providing them with support and encouragement during very dark times in Guatemala. She worked to promote Maya traditional crafts so that Maya women could feed their families. She brought in designers and educators to help the women learn new skills to build on their artistry. Her efforts launched a huge Fair Trade program for women artisans in six villages.
She started a mother garden of medicinal plants in the hope that Maya families could re-learn lost knowledge of healing plants and that effort has now expanded into our Medicinal Plant education programs.
Jane began nutrition programs, sex education programs, and scholarship programs so our artisan´s children to go to school and hopefully move out of the cycle of poverty.
This is just a small list of her many accomplishments. What a full life!
Each day here at Maya Traditions, as we plan and re-organize and work to make this legacy grow and thrive, I ask myself...are we staying with the goals of Jane? Are we living up to her dreams?
It is hard to live someone else´s dream. It is harder to fill such big shoes. But, in honor of her work and passion, and in honor of the many Maya families that depend on our support, we work to keep building these relationships in our community as well as abroad.
This time is one of reflection on a life well-lived and well-loved. I wish I could have known such an amazing woman. My knowing only comes from the stories I hear of her life. Through that, I have a small glipse of who she was...
Maybe you, too, have stories of Jane? Maybe you could take a minute to share them with us?
You can post your stories here. Or just take a minute to remember.
Thank you, Jane.

Robin Smith
Exec. Director
F.T.M.