NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER
Thank you to our members and volunteers who gift their time, energy, and passion to our organization. This #GivingTuesday, we would be honored if you donated to Partners of the Americas. You can donate anytime on our website or beginning 12/3 at 8 am EST, Facebook will match every dollar up to $7 million when you give to our Facebook fundraiser (launching on 12/3). Help us continue to connect, serve, and change lives this #GivingTuesday!
Membership Unit
Partners kicked off its fifth What Works Conference from November 18-20 in Goiânia, Brazil. Every year the Membership Unit grants a Chapter the opportunity to organize the annual What Works Conference. Hosted by Comitê Profissional de Goiás  and  PartnersCampus Goiânia , the 2019 Conference centered on how the Partners network and its Chapters can develop actions together to achieve the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The event welcomed 90 change-agents and 25 Chapters from five countries to promote sustainability and empowerment throughout the world.
Economic Development and Health Unit
The EDH staff is busy organizing the Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) Program's Latin America and Caribbean Regional Workshop that will be held in Jamaica from January 6-10, 2020. Representatives from 13 countries will share their experiences and best practices in working with U.S. volunteers and smallholder farmers. In November, F2F fielded 16 volunteers throughout Latin America and the Caribbean to work with smallholder farmers and agribusinesses in a wide array of topics, ranging from strawberry production and artificial insemination to digital media and business plan development.
Child Protection Unit
In October, the Minister of Childhood and Adolescence in Paraguay, Teresa Martínez, met with CPU Vice President Carmen S. Peña, Ñande Ko’ē Project Director Jaime Torales, and Paraguay Okakuaa Project Director Macarena Jiménez, to discuss Partners’ U.S. Department of Labor- and U.S. Department of State-funded projects focused on combating child labor and human trafficking in Paraguay.
Education and Global Citizenship Unit
This month, the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund announced a new competition to stimulate higher education institutional partnerships between Mexico and the United States, thanks to the generous support of Fundación Banorte, Fundación Gruma, and the U.S. Department of State. This new competition focuses on the academic themes of agricultural sustainability and financial and economic inclusion, with an emphasis on reducing inequality.
Best Practices: Colorado Chapter
The Partners Colorado Chapter shares one of its most successful practices: participating in the annual Greeley Multicultural Festival . Through this event, the Chapter engages more with their community, recruits potential new members, and connects more with the University of Northern Colorado International Studies Department. They look forward to attending this event to further Partners’ mission of serving and changing lives. 
Creating Lasting Partnerships with Farmer-to-Farmer
On October 30, 2019, a former F2F volunteer, Bill Nichols, visited the Partners' Washington, D.C. office to offer insight on his volunteer experiences. For each of his assignments, Nichols has utilized his expertise in business, including marketing, organizational improvement, financial management, and value chains. He boasts an extensive history of volunteering, with 56 assignments over the past decade.

Open Doors 2019 Report Recap 
In celebration of International Education Week, the Institute of International Education (IIE) released its annual Open Doors Report on November 18, 2019. The report found that the number of international students in the U.S. is at an all-time high. Additionally, Latin America and the Caribbean region demonstrated promising growth as a destination for U.S. students studying abroad. Partners works to bolster the continued growth of educational exchange in Latin America and the Caribbean, in particular, through our  100,000 Strong in the Americas  Innovation Fund.
Empowering Young Coffee Growers and Combating Child Labor in Colombia 
For two days in November, Partners’ Colombia Avanza project and the National Federation of Coffee Growers (Fedecafe) participated in the Young Coffee Growers Meeting in Tolima, Colombia. There, youth shared their experiences as young coffee farmers and Colombia Avanza provided tools to train youth as key players in the future of the coffee sector and the Colombian agricultural industry. By focusing on the role of young people as emerging leaders in the coffee trade, the project aims to promote safe and socially-conscious practices for generations to come.    
Scholars and Leaders Come Together to Discuss Immigration for International Education Week
In honor of International Education Week, a yearly celebration of international education and exchange, Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville, Georgia hosted a symposium with scholars and local Latino leaders to discuss immigration in the U.S., Mexico, and Central America. The event was made possible with support from the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund.



 

President of the Partners La Paz and Altiplano, Bolivia Chapter, Blanca Laguna de Vera, Passes Away
Blanca Laguna de Vera, former president of the La Paz and Altiplano, Bolivia, Chapter and former member of the International Board of Directors, passed away in September 2019. An exemplary volunteer and leader, she carried out many campaigns for the social good, such as working with the Utah Chapter to improve the lives of blind children in Bolivia.
Open Job Opportunities
Partners of the Americas is hiring! We are currently seeking an On-site Seminar Logistics Coordinator, EDH Senior Program Officer, Accountant I (Field Office Operations), Accountant I (AP/AR), F2F Colombia Field Recruiter, F2F Colombia Country Project Director, F2F Colombia Financial and Administrative Assistant, and F2F Colombia Field Officer to join our growing team. Positions will remain open until filled.
Open Internship Opportunities
Partners of the Americas is looking for interns! We are currently seeking a Technology Strategy Intern, Child Protection Unit Intern, Youth Engagement Intern, Program Development Intern, Finance and Accounting Intern, and a Business Development Intern to join our team.