A new documentary explores 30 years of connections between Cincinnati and Guatemala, from a West Side effort to provide books to Guatemalan children to the growing influence of immigrants from that country across Greater Cincinnati.
“Connecting Cultures: Cincinnati to Guatemala,” produced by filmmaker Laure Quinlivan, follows the work of Cooperative for Education, a Cincinnati-based nonprofit founded by brothers Joe and John Berninger to improve literacy and education in Guatemala.
The organization began by delivering books to schools and has expanded to programs that help students stay in school and graduate. About two-thirds of Guatemalans can now read, compared with roughly one-third when Cooperative for Education began its work 30 years ago, according to the documentary.
Quinlivan traveled to Guatemala with Cincinnati Rotarians for the film, interviewing students, educators, nonprofit leaders and Cincinnatians involved in the organization’s work. The documentary also looks at the growing Guatemalan community in the Cincinnati region and its role in local businesses, churches and neighborhoods…