Hello everyone:

My name is John Lugo. I'll be turning 60 in a few days, and I've been living in the United States for almost 40 years. I'm Colombian and a survivor of the genocide committed against the political party, the Patriotic Union. I never wanted to separate myself from the reality of my country, and even though I was granted political asylum here, I continued working to denounce the atrocities committed against the Colombian population. Many years ago, I began participating in an NGO called Surcos Comunitarios (Surcos works with farmers in the central-western region of Colombia. Their proposal is the Peasant Schools of Agroecology. These schools have a holistic character, encompassing economic, social, political, cultural, and environmental aspects. They are farmers who come together to live collectively and build their life project. They fight against neoliberalism and the imperialist model that exists in Colombia. They organize Peasant Organizations with young people and children who are building the country they dream. Surcos supports the processes of recovering local culture and biodiversity, as well as their organizational plan). This was a way for me to contribute to the changes my country needs. Over time, we acquired a small plot of land, from where we do our rural work.

This year, the project vehicle was destroyed in a traffic accident. And I had promised to help buy another car, but as you may recall, I had an accident on July 20th, which left me in a difficult financial situation. I couldn't keep my promise. That's why I'm taking advantage of my birthday to ask for financial assistance to reach my goal and raise the necessary funds. Transportation is essential not only for getting products to market but also for the safety of those traveling to our space.

You're all invited to visit our little farm in Colombia someday, or join me this Saturday, November 22nd, at 7 pm to celebrate my sixtieth birthday at 37 Howe Street - Peoples Center.

In solidarity!