OUR STORY
Born in Guatemala
RAISED IN... LATIN AMERICA
The youngest of four, Martin Mayorga was born in Guatemala City, Guatemala. After a devastating earthquake hit the capital city, the Mayorga family moved to Nicaragua, where Martin's father was from. They lived there until the revolution created a dangerous situation for the family. They then moved to Costa Rica for one year, then moving to Peru, where Martin's mother is from. Eventually, the family would arrive in Miami, FL and the Mayorga family has been in the United States ever since.
WITNESSING
SOCIOECONOMIC INEQUITIES
Martin can pinpoint the moment when he realized that socioeconomic inequity was prevalent in Latin America. He was at a market with his mother when a woman and her son asked for money for food. Martin looked around and realized a pattern: indigenous people lived in rural areas where the food is grown. They also happened to be the ones that were most financially vulnerable. Martin carried that observation with him and recognized that to be the pattern all over Latin America.
RECOGNIZING
OPPORTUNITY & PRIVILEGE
In moving to the US, Martin recognized that he was part of the privileged group of people who could leave Latin America to enjoy the freedoms, opportunities and access to education that this great country provides. He became "Americanized" and acted like a normal American teenager, playing baseball, going to school, and spending time with friends.
Then he returned to Nicaragua with his father in 1991 and it all came flooding back to him. Nothing had changed. In fact, things were worse. He realized it was time to use his opportunities of education and market access to do something meaningful.
GOING BACK AND...
TAKING ACTION
It all started on a napkin. Where Martin's family friend, or "Tío", showed him the supply chain for coffee. It was long, convoluted and distanced producers from the market. It seemed purposeful, antiquated, and plain stupid. Martin knew what he had to do. Now, here we are--and we're getting bigger, stronger, and louder to be a voice for those that haven't been born with the "privilege" of opportunity.
