Esperanza Spaulding

USA Partners

Esperanza Spaulding is an accomplished and dynamic jazz musician who performs regularly around the United States and the world. After seeing Sarah's first appearance on Bill Moyers Journal in February 2008, she contacted us to say that she would like to support the cooperative and has since been adding an "Arghand surcharge" to many of the CD's that she sells at her concerts. In this way she has not only raised more than $5,000 for Arghand, but has also extensively promoted our products and our misssion. To learn more about Esperanza Spaulding and hear samples of her music, please visit her website by clicking on her name or the above image.

Angela Quarton (left) and Melanie Sievers (right) examining Arghand products in Melanie's classroom at Lodi Middle School. Last year Melanie and her students supported the Central Asia Institute through their pennies for peace program. This year they have s chosen to support Arghand by selling our soap and scarves through their Asian Studies Club. Through this partnership, the studenthave a community service opportunity to raise money for the cooperative as well as a chance to learn about Afghan culture, society, agriculture and politics.

The Rotary Club of Northern Calvert has created a series of sales events to raise money for local community projects by selling Arghand products and promoting its mission. As the project has been successful so far, initiators Phil and Joyce Phanschmidt hope that it will replicated by other Rotary clubs in other parts of the country.

World Micro-Market: Yale University

Contact: Mari Oye

Lodi Middle School

Lodi, California
Contact: Melanie Sievers

The Rotary Club of Northern Calvert

Chesapeake Beach, Maryland
Contact: Phil Phanschmidt

By providing a market in the U.S. for disadvantaged artisans and artists, World Micro-Market enables Yale students to economically empower impoverished peoples and directly contribute to the alleviation of global poverty. In buying the goods, students also become educated about the individual artisans, about their socio-economic situations, and about the challenges people in developing nations face. In addition, the activities of the market aim to promote advocacy and awareness of international development issues and to provide information about how students can become involved.