Martha Elva De Jesús Lozano

Martha is in her early thirties. She never had an opportunity to attend school.

She and her husband Froylan are very active in their home church in Lachiguiri.

They desire a better life for their children. She is one of our best artist.

Marina Rivera

Marina is married and the mother of four children, all in school.

She also grows corn and chili to help sport her family.

She will use her earnings to help put her children through school.

Magali Toral Dominguez

Maggi is now married and has one child.

She was one of the students who graduated from high school in Lachiguiri soon after it opened in 2005.

She served as secretary to the town mayor (called the presidente).

Her father had left the family and moved out of the town so she is still helping her mom with supportong some of her siblings.

Iván Peña Dominguez

Iván attends the local high school in Lachiguiri and is active in sports. He also plays in the youth band at his church.

He also does a lot of pencil art.

His whole family has made this a family project.

Estela Montiel López

Estele has twelve grandchildren. She is concerned for their future.

She has started painting rocks to help them get the education they will need.

She and her husband also grow coffee.

Carmela Peña Dominguez

Carmela started painting rocks at age 9.

She comes from a very talented family

She is in school but has been encouraged by her family to paint rocks.

She also helps her mom raise chickens.

Alma Rosa Dejesus Lozano

Alma is married with one son in high school.

Her son plays basketball and soccer for his school.

She works for coffee growers in their fields and is looking for a better life for her family.

She is hoping to earn extra money to repair the delapidated roof of their home.

Alicia Dominguez Flores

Alicia enjoys painting flowers from the designs of the Zapotec huipils (traditional dress)

She and her family are also talented musicians and she has written songs in her language.

They have been using part of their earnings to add on to their small home.

Francisco Talaya Martínez

"Chico" from a Chontal village near the sea inland in the mountains. He works for Rotarians Brad and Shelby as their gardener. His tiny deer are his specialty. Besides gardening and painting rocks, Chico loves to snorkel and fish for lobster. You will usually see Chico helping to set up the tables to show the art work and willingly helps carry them to our spot under the shade trees in front of the little seaside Catholic open church when the cruise ships come into the Santa Cruz marina.

Julieta Martínez Toral

Julieta is a single mom with two elementary school children. Until she started painting rocks she broke stones to sell for gravel to build houses. That is a grueling job. Now she is careful what rocks she breaks as it may just be a pi3ece of art! She also makes tamales and goes from house to house hoping to earn enough to feed her own family. Her art work has tremendously improved over the last several months.