Centro Maya Xe’Kiyaqasiiwaan and Quad Cities Connection

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In 2002, Jeanne Nakamaru, a speech pathologist who works for Black Hawk Area Special Education District, went to Guatemala to volunteer at Centro Maya Xe’Kiyaqasiiwaan, known as Candela at that time. When she returned she gave a forum at the Unitarian Church in Davenport, Iowa, and what started as a small personal goal to supply the children with toys and books in Spanish has now turned into a congregation-wide and community-wide project.

Since that time the Unitarian Church has supported Centro Maya Xe’Kiyaqasiiwaan and the larger community in many ways, through what is now called The Centro Maya Project.

San Juan la Laguna by purchasing hand-woven Guatemalan textiles and beadwork made by the women of the village. Paintings by Benedicto Ixtamer Peréz, whose work has been shown at the University of Nevada and the Telluride Mountain Film Festival, are also available for sale. Proceeds from the sale of these items are returned to the artists.

Information on Centro Maya Xe’Kiyaqasiiwaan is available at www.centromayaguatemala.org or www.centromayaguatemala.net.

If you are interested in volunteering please contact Jeanne Nakamaru for more information at jeannewahlquist @ yahoo.com.