Ibulliance: Colombiana! A Celebration
It was the moment Amelecia stood in front of our small group in Medellín and let her story spill over us in a kind of poetry—enchanted, mythic—that I knew.
It was the moment we encircled Chefa and her dream of law school, desperate to protect the Wayuu culture of her people. When we circled the piano in Yasmin's artful, music-filled home in Bogota—our small group of Ibu allies, setting off on our Fringe Road adventure. When we walked through fanciful bees and blossoms being wrought in Mercedes' studio; when we tasted authentic regional flavors from Mariana's delectably styled table and celebrated cookbook, when we fell under the spell of Juan Pablo and Juan Sebastian, guiding us through the world of indigenous craft in their enchanted country, Colombia.
In these moments, last Spring, as we met these light-filled artisans, designers, architects, chefs—I knew we must bring them to you.
And so, we are. On November 15. For dinner. Ten dinners, in fact, in ten beautiful downtown Charleston homes hosted by very generous friends of Ibu. At each home will be ten guests and one of these ten luminaries I'm so eager for you to meet, as they speak to you about their communities, the changes happening through the Ibu Movement, and the way forward for all of us, together.
After an intimate Colombian dinner, we will all come together from the ten homes into one home, that of Amanda and Kevin Flynn, and here enjoy dessert by our fabulous FIG allies, the plentiful table styled by Mariana. This is going to be dramatic, like she is. And remarkable, like FIG is. Plus you get to shop all of the treasures the artisans have brought with them just for you. Do you feel the magic?
L to R: Mercedes Salazar, founder, Mercedes Salazar Designs; Yasmin Sabet, founder, Mola Sasa; Josefa Antonia Barliza Ipuana , Wayuu Cooperative leader
L to R: Juan Pablo Gomez and Juan Sebastian Rivera, founders, El Dorado Edit; Juliana Ramirez, architect of Ibu-funded Wayuu School and Workspace
This is not just for allies in Charleston. It's worth a trip for this utterly unique experience. You might want to come from wherever you are. There will be a panel of these creatives that morning at the Charleston Library Society so that you can hear them all speak of their work regenerating life and beauty from a legacy of pain. . . and also, from a wealth of inner abundance.
We've planned this for the week before Thanksgiving. Most of these guests are artisans indigenous to the land, or designers working with the First Nations of Colombia. It seems fitting, before we roast turkey and feast the following week, that we pause and celebrate first with these, learning from each how their culture and craft carry their ancient wisdom, how their food carries their history, how their hearts carry such light.
All the best,
SHW
Here's how it works. You buy a ticket. Steep price, but the ticket price is actually your generous contribution. Out of $1000, $800 is your tax deductible gift to this work. The rest of the cost reflects an amazing Colombian dinner from Colombiana! cookbook author Mariana Velásquez (who will be with us, one of the luminaries we met and loved). But there are only seats for 100 guests. Our event in March brought almost 500 together, so this is not a time to hesitate. We have an early-bird special of $925 each until August 31—grab two and save $150, if you like! I hope you won't miss this rare chance to support real change and inspiring people.
