Ep. 42: The Power of One to Create Meaningful Change with Cindy Rodriguez

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cindy is the Founder of Elimu Girls, a 501C3 that assists rural teens with a sewing vocation to ensure they have a voice, choice, and a bank account. We are a grassroots organization that disrupts child bride and female genital mutilation rituals.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We talk about:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Her father experiencing deep shame for being Mexican - giving her a window into people being treated horribly.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Her deeply impactful experience in Kenya that she knew she would never forget.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Elimu Girls is a two year sewing program that facilitates a transformation for the girls. It helps them become strong independent women that have the opportunity to break the vicious cultural cycle.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">How working with the girls has benefited her so much, even though she is the one “helping them.”</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Having the courage to do things that are scary or uncomfortable is a daily practice - not something that just happens.</span></li> <li style="list-style: none; display: inline"> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you want to be a change-maker, you need to fortify your ability to be courageous.</span></li> </ul> </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">We all have the ability to create change, even though it may feel like, “How can I possibly make the impact I want to?” Change is a ripple effect. You don’t have to “do it all” - you just have to create the ripple.</span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Guest info:</span></p> <p><a href="https://elimugirls.com/"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">https://elimugirls.com/</span></a></p> <p><a href= "https