Sunday, July 5, 2009, former Carolina Peace Director Amanda Martin, now of the Guatemala Human Rights Commission (http://www.ghrc-usa.org) was our Guest of Honor at a dinner/celebration and presentation focused on Migration from Guatemala to the US. Amanda presented a twenty-six minute DVD documenting the impact of the ICE raid on a Guatemalan community in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in March 2007.

More than fifty participants gathered at the Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship of Columbia social hall. Jerry Rudolph, Tim Gannon and Molly Schoolmeester entertained us with live music. Tios, RAWesome Delights, Moe's and individual participants provided delicious food and drink. We thank everyone who made this a successful event, especially Amanda and those who donated to Carolina Peace and GHRC-USA.

Amanda was Director of Carolina Peace Resource Center in 2003 and 2004,after which she worked three years with Witness for Peace, conducting U.S. delegations to Colombia, South America. She now works with the GHRC in the District of Columbia, USA and Guatemala, promoting the rights of indigenous Guatemalans. In her talk, Amanda focused on migration from Guatemala to the US: the push factors, the impact of free trade on Mayan villages. She also entertained questions and comments from participants.