Phyllis' vision was inspired 35 years ago while in the Peace Corps, when she fell in love with the people and way of life in El Salvador. While working on her doctoral study in 2001, she once again returned to El Salvador and met a group of women who were displaced from their homes in 1981 due to the civil war. They lived for 10 years as refugees in Honduras and learned new skills to survive.

In April of 1992, these refugees courageously settled in a well worn pasture land - Huizisilapa - to create their community and raise their families. Faced with the challenge of overworked pastureland, they worked very hard to feed their families and provide their children with an education.

It was this that inspired Phyllis to organize a group of women called the Hermanas (Sisters) in Spokane, WA to join in solidarity with the women of Huizisilapa to build a sustainable and prosperous community, educate their youth and address health and safety issues – all the while embracing and celebrating the richness of life.

In the past year, Phyllis and the Hermanas have made it possible for 30 children in the community to attend school by providing the women of Huizisilapa resources to make their children uniforms. They provided 3 youth scholarships last year for needy yet determined students who, in return, volunteer in their community by raising chickens and planting gardens to share. They sent beads and supplies to fuel a small jewelry making cooperative. Last summer, 4 of the Hermanas traveled to El Salvador to provide respite and childcare and support and explore their commonalities as women.

Despite all this, the primary goal of the Hermanas is not to share resources, but to build community, friendships and solidarity and to embrace life! It is through these relationships that we have the courage and resourcefulness to create and share a loving and sustainable world. To carry out the mission of the Hermanas, Phyllis often makes the drive from Spokane to El Salvador ALONE –just one more example of the power of her dream, tenacity and loving spirit.

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