Women's Cacao Circle - Special guest Laura Yawanawa

Women's Circle with Cacao special guest : Laura Yawanawa.

In the Women's Circle we establish a space that nurtures vulnerability and reflection, recognizing our inherent sensitivity. Together, we participate in a ritual ceremony with cacao, inspired by ancient Mayan wisdom. As women we interweaves our experiences into a collective tapestry of collective experience. Guided by Ofrenda Co-Founder, America Maldonado.

In this unique ceremony, environmental activist Laura Yawanawa will join us. She is an entrepreneur and an advocate for Indigenous People's Rights and Women's Rights from Acre, Brazil. Laura's work is extensive, transformative, and vital for the survival of the Yawanawá people. She has witnessed the devastating effects of climate change and deforestation firsthand and staunchly advocates for environmental protection. Laura advocates for women’s rights and gender equality in Indigenous communities, cementing her legacy as a truly empowering leader within her community and beyond.

All the collected funds will be sent directly to the families of the Yawanawa community in Acre, Brazil.

Laura Yawanawá leads the Yawanawa Sociocultural Association/ASCY in Brazil alongside her husband, Chief Tashka Yawanawá, representing 15 communities. As a proponent of change, Laura has been instrumental in evolving the traditionally patriarchal culture of the Yawanawá to be more open and inclusive of women. She was recently appointed as the co-executive director of Tribal Link Foundation, with the mission to build pathways for Indigenous Peoples to expand their capacity to protect ancestral ways of life, evoke solidarity and allyship, and share tribal wisdom for the transformation of power structures and the betterment of humanity.

Today, the Yawanawá look after 450,000 acres of land in the Amazon rainforest. Laura’s work also supports local human rights, providing the Yawanawá people with access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene, food security programs, schooling, and scholarships.

America Maldonado’s spiritual journey began in 2017 when she decided to reconnect with ancestral traditions. As a documentarian, she engaged with elders and Indigenous people worldwide. During this journey, she encountered Cacao, which marked the beginning of her healing and evolution. Inspired by the efforts of indigenous communities and guardians of ancient traditions, America established Ofrenda Fest. A platform where Art and Ritual merge in Ceremony, providing a space for reconnection with the earth and communal.

A Gathering for Empowerment and Connection for Women at Ofrenda Fest

5-11 47th Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101, USA

Donation : $35-$55

www.ofrendafest.com

@ofrendafest

Life is a Ceremmony!