Women – Jest Cafe

Women For Women – Nonprofits We Should Help

May 25, 2016/4 Comments/in Women /by Mila

The world is full of amazing opportunities to help others. The Internet is a wonderful tool to be informed and act in a way that we couldn’t have 20 years ago so there is no excuse to be idle.

I was looking for nonprofits that help women to make a small donation, so I contacted the only expert I know, my friend (and cousin-in-law), Jessica. She has more than 12 years of experience working for nonprofits. She is smart, caring and industrious, one of those women that inspire you to be better. Also, she can read 3 books in a day, and it is one of the best cooks I know, so, there you go.

She recommended some nonprofits that I wanted to share with you. There are a lot of organizations out there that are doing great work and our involvement with them can be as big or as small as we want it to be, but we should be involved. A one time or monthly donation, volunteering, sponsoring, …you choose. There are plenty of ways to help.

Here is the short list:

Limitless Horizons Ixil

This is a small organization that works in the community of Chajul, Guatemala. Chajul is a genocide-torn indigenous Maya community where few adults can read and most families live on less than two dollars a day. Here, Limitless Horizons uses education, and development programs to create opportunities for the community and transform Chajul. Through their Artisan Program, they have allowed women to have an income.

This is a successful small grass roots organization that involves the community in its daily activities and decisions. Here is more information about their results and financials.

Jessica belongs to the board of this organization.

Global Fund for Women

This is a big organization that stands behind movements for women’s human rights all over the world. They help strengthen groups who work with the most marginalized women in the world. They give funding that helps provide for the fundamental things: rent, computers, staffing, travel, training, security, and electricity. They also help connect these movements to other donors, as well as local or national women’s groups. These connections enable groups to share, learn, and rally together to strengthen movements for women’s rights.

Here is its financial information, and here are their results.

Urgent Action Fund For Women’s Human Rights

Urgent Action Fund partners with women’s movements worldwide to support women’s human rights defenders striving to create cultures of justice, equality and peace.

It protects, strengthens and sustains women and transgender human rights defenders at critical moments. They intervene quickly when activists are poised to make great gains or face serious threats to their lives and work. They use online, text and mobile funding applications to respond to requests from women’s human rights defenders within 72 hours and have funds on the ground within 1-7 days.

Urgent Action Fund has given over 1,000 grants to women’s human rights activists in 97 countries around the world.

Here is its financial information, and here is a list of some of the movements it has helped.

World Pulse

World Pulse empowers women leaders on the ground by advancing their digital skills and leadership to mobilize around the world and create real social transformation. Today, tens of thousands of women from 190 nations are using WorldPulse.com to start movements and pressure global leaders to take a stand on the issues affecting their lives, ranging from the allocation of economic resources to securing leadership at all levels of society.

Their mission is to accelerate the global changes women seek by using digital communication to unite and amplify women’s voices, solutions and impact worldwide.

24,000 women from 190 different countries connect through World Pulse.

Unchained At Last

This organization is my own recommendation, not Jessica’s. I heard about “Unchained at last” on NPR last year. This is the only organization in the US dedicated to helping women and girls leave or avoid arranged/forced marriages and rebuild their lives. Unchained provides free legal and social services and emotional support, while also raising awareness and pushing for relevant legislation.

Here is its financial information, and here are some of its results.

In my conversations with Jessica about nonprofits, she has always been in favor of giving tools to communities to allow them to help themselves. All the organizations above do just that: empower communities that are in need of change.

Remember, small gestures make a big difference, with whatever you give today, you are helping a woman in this world to have a better life.

I would love to hear about any nonprofits that you like or that we all should know- for women or others.

Also, a post about the myth about women being hard to work with, the importance of not criticizing how others do parenting, and, the life of a chocolatier.

First image from Steve McCurry

Working Women – Diana Malouf from Ococoa

Let’s talk about chocolate and life passions, shall we?

As much as we all want to join our professional life with our passions, is not always possible. It takes guts and instincts. That is why I wanted to interview Diana Malouf. She did it! She quit her secure full time job less than a year ago to dedicate herself to her true calling: being a chocolatier. That sounds so brave and delicious, doesn’t?

Her brand is Ococoa, and it is one of the best chocolates I have tried in my life. If you don’t believe me, you may believe Bon Appétit, which named Ococoa one of “America’s Best Chocolates.” You know you are eating high quality chocolate when you try Ococoa products. They have wonderful flavors and a sweet, soft texture that won me over. Here is their website, in case you feel like supporting women, small business, and your belly (this post is not sponsored).

When I heard about Diana, I felt curious. I am drawn to stories of women doing cool things, so I had to ask her some questions that she was kind enough to answer. Here is what she had to say. Also, try not to drool too much when looking at the pictures below!

How did you become interested in making chocolates?

D: I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands and making gifts for the holidays. One year I thought about making peanut butter cups. I was curious to try other nut butters too and the idea spiraled into our signature 9 – piece Nut Butter Cup collection. At the time I didn’t know anything about working with chocolate, it was a real learning curve. The idea and motivation preceded my skills.

How did you know that this is what you wanted to do with your life? When was your “aha” moment?

D: I’ve been working on Ococoa in my spare time for years and continued experimenting for fun whenever I had a chance. I was sharing some crazy creation with a friend who pointed out that he never sees me as happy as when I’m describing something new I’m working on. It kind of hit me then just how happy working with chocolate makes me. Also, things in my life fell into place all around the same time. I realized if I didn’t do it now, I’d never have this chance again.

What gave you the strength to leave your 9 to 5 job to pursue your passion?

D: I had a lot of reasons for not leaving my regular job. Then, one day, I realized all of those reasons were no longer valid. I have a wonderful, supportive boyfriend, an amazing business partner, and some very talented friends who are willing to help.

What challenges you the most, as both a chocolatier and business owner?

D: I have a lot of ideas for products I’d like to make. But we’re small now so I have to be practical about our production schedule, and all the other logistics involved with producing new products.

What do you think an outsider would find most surprising about your job?

D: Just how many hats you have to wear as a small business owner. I’ve learned accounting, sales, web programming, to name a few. You learn whatever skills are needed to keep your business running and costs to a minimum.

What advice would you give to someone that wants to start their own business?

D: If you think you want to start a business because you enjoy making XYZ, try making 1000 of them for a deadline.

What do you wish you knew about your business a year ago?

D: There are so many amazing resources out there for small businesses. People really do want to help you and see you succeed.

What are those resources?

There are small business centers all over Los Angeles, staffed with experienced, knowledgeable people.

Where do you find inspiration?

D: I try to keep an open, receptive mind. When I get an idea for a flavor or design, I write it down. When there’s something I want to try making, I become a bit obsessive until I figure it out. It’s a little maddening actually.

What is a typical day like for you?

My partner Liz and I are early birds so we’ll work in the kitchen beginning around 6:30 a.m. and usually finish up around 2. Then there’s the business side of the business that we’ll tend to. I’ll sometimes spend my free time playing around with recipes or trying a new technique.

What’s the best part of being your own boss?

D: Being in charge.

What’s the worst part of being your own boss?

D: Being in charge. How do you keep yourself motivated?

D: It’s much easier with Ococoa than it was with my regular job. I simply enjoy making chocolate. There’s a pride associated with making my own product that I didn’t have with my 9-5. I also find space to play with ideas and techniques. That keeps me happy and motivated too.

What are your goals for 2016?

D: Continue working on building the Ococoa brand. We enjoy collaborating with others too and are excited for more opportunities to do so.

What are your best seller products?

D: The 9 piece Nut Butter Cup assortment contains one of each of our signature nut butter cups.

If somewhere would like to try your product, where can they buy it?

D: We are currently in shops in San Francisco and Washington DC and are actively working on finding retail outlets in Los Angeles. Locals can buy our products online (ococoa.com) and select to pick up their order from our kitchen on Robertson in Beverlywood. It’s best to call ahead though so we can make sure we have product available for pickup.

Thanks, Diana!

On a side note, Ococoa has partnered with the Creamery Salt and Straw in LA to create the Ococoa’s Fig and Sesame Butter Cup ice-cream flavor. It already has amazing reviews, so go to Salt and Straw for your share of belly happiness.

After this post I need some sugar, don’t you? Luckily the weekend is almost here and diet cheating can began!

Let Us Be Inspired By Eleanor Roosevelt

January 6, 2016/4 Comments/in Others, Women /by Mila

I watched Key Burn’s documentary, The Roosevelts, during the Holidays. It has seven episodes of approximate 2 hours each one of them. You must be wondering, how is it possible for a mother and a member of the professional world to have so much time to spare? Well, I don’t.

What happened is that I felt so in love with Eleanor Roosevelt that I skipped the sections that talked about other people. That shaved off a big percentage of the documentary. Also, I put the audio through loud speakers and cleaned my whole house while listening to it. There was no need for me to pay attention to the visuals to understand what was going on, and my closet, shelves, and drawers were completely organized by the time I was done with it. An excellent way of welcoming 2016.

Most people know that Eleanor Roosevelt was a champion of human rights. She helped creating the New Deal, worked for women’s rights, African American’s rights, Japanese’s rights, and had an enormous influence in her husband’s politics. I won’t talk about her biography, which you can find here, but I would like to mention other facts about her life that got my attention.

1) Some of her closest friends were gay women. She probably had relationships with women herself. Lorena Hickok being one of them.

2) During her husband’s presidency, her relationship with Franklin D. Roosevelt was strictly political and professional. No much love there, but a lot of respect.

3) She practically got F.D.R. elected to his third term, after giving a speech and helping him get the Democratic Nomination.

4) She was not motherly. Her mother-in-law acted as the mother of her children.

5) She didn’t put a lot of effort into her looks.

6) She was a fearful child and a passive young woman. Confidence was something she gained in her later years.

Eleanor Roosevelt was a woman ahead of her times. I wonder what would she have done with her life if she were born 100 years later. It is not easy for me to find role models, women that I deeply admire, especially from older generations, and here I found one that I really like. Some of her story is sad. She lost her parents young, she had a difficult childhood, but overcame all that to make a real difference in the life of people less fortunate than her.

Also, how refreshing is to meet a woman that didn’t cultivate her looks, but succeeded only thanks to her mind and heart.

Are there any women you admire? I would love to hear.

A Wreath-Making Party

November 30, 2015/4 Comments/in DIY, Women /by Mila

Some friends and I decided to throw a DIY wreath-making party a couple of weekends ago. It all started when I instagrammed a picture of a wreath I saw at the Farmer’s Market in Mar Vista. It was a beautiful and colorful wreath (here it is). Read more

Let Us Be Inspired By Elize Strydom

October 16, 2015/0 Comments/in photography, Women /by Mila

I discovered photography when studying journalism in Chile. My whole family took my grandmother’s ashes to the ocean, and I took pictures of that trip. The pictures were in black and white and they turned out good. After that, I did photography occasionally, but traded my film camera for a video camera when I moved to the US. Here, I did documentaries and worked “in the industry” and left my film camera forgotten in my closet. Now, many years, two careers, and a family later, I feel like taking pictures again.

In my search for inspiration, I have discovered many photographers that do wonderful work around the world. I am very lucky to live in this era that has so much access to inspiration. Isn’t Internet a marvelous thing?

In my searches around the web, I found Elize Styrdom, a documentary photographer based in Sydney, Australia. What captivated me about her work was the intimacy of her pictures, and her subject matter, she documents, among other things, girls around the world. Her pictures are beautiful and poetic. They show fragility and, in my opinion, the transparency of youth. Even if you don’t care about her subjects, her use of color and eye for composition creates beautiful and simple images that are inspiring to look at.

She still uses a film camera. Wouldn’t you say that shooting photography with a film camera is like being a writer of poetry? It is the hardest craft. Slower and thoughtful, but extremely rewarding.

Here is her website. You can find some of her pictures from her “Hey, girl” series down below. I would love to hear your opinion on them.