2012

Annual Report
Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador & CISPES Education Fund

A Letter from Our Executive Director

Dear Friends of the Salvadoran Struggle for Justice, As I write, something very exciting is happening in El Salvador - the first international delegation to support the National Literacy Program has just arrived! We are proud to bring the first US students and teachers to lend a hand to this inspiring program which is set to eliminate illiteracy in El Salvador by 2015! Many of our supporters have shared their own stories of participating in solidarity work brigades to Cuba and Nicaragua. It may have taken El Salvador several decades longer to elect a government committed to guaranteeing health care, education and food for all (we can thank the Reagan administration for that!) but the determination of the Salvadoran social movement continues to pay off. Brigades like this are the cornerstone of our new strategy to accompany the transformation in El Salvador. Educating people in the US about what the FMLN the leftist party that five successive US administrations helped block from coming to power stands for is essential for building the strong movement we need to stop US intervention in the next elections. As you can see, 100% of funding comes from individual donors like you. So we have you to thank for helping to facilitate this exciting shift! When we needed a scholarship fund to help student activists participate in the brigades, you were there, just like you were when we raised emergency funds after tropical storms devastated El Salvador earlier in the year. But our supporters contribute far more than money. When mining companies brought lawsuits against El Salvador, you jammed their fax lines with letters. When the US State Departments shadowy role in appointing a former military officer as Chief of Police was exposed, you flooded their office with calls. Thank you for your solidarity! With your support, CISPES can inspire a new generation to believe that another world really IS possible! En solidaridad,

Alexis Stoumbelis, Executive Director CISPES Education Fund

CISPES and the CISPES Education Fund can be reached at 1525 Newton St. NW, Washington D.C. 20010 voice: 202.521.2510 / fax: 202.332.3339 email: cispes@cispes.org; web: www.cispes.org

Cross Border Solidarity: Action & Advocacy

July 2011 - June 2012
CAFTA Victory!
After three years of organizing in coalition with the Sierra Club, Public Citizen, Oxfam, and many more, we won a critical victory against free trade abuses! In March, the arbitration court of the World Bank ruled that Canadian mining corporation Pacific Rim could NOT sue El Salvador under the US-Central America Free Trade Agreement! This sends an important message to other extractive industries who might try the same sneaky tricks- not only will you meet massive resistance in El Salvador, youll meet it in Washington, too!

Resistance to US-sponsored Militarization

In November, under the apparent influence of the US State Department, President Funes replaced high-ranking FMLN members in the security cabinet with former military generals. We led a grassroots effort to put pressure on the State Department to stop interfering in El Salvadors internal decision-making Investigative research into the extent of US involvement continues today. CISPES delegates garnered live TV coverage at the gates of the US Embassy in El Salvador, condemning US intervention and War on Drugs policies.

Tropical Storm Relief Efforts:

El Salvador was hit by an intense tropical storm in October; mandatory evacuations left 50,000 people in shelters. The response of the Funes administration was a marked improvement over past governments; loss of life was minimal and lost harvests were quickly replanted. Within days, CISPES raised nearly $2,000 to support sustainable re-building efforts and organized events with environmental leaders from El Salvador to discuss the s impacts of climate change.

Supporting the Alternative in El Salvador

July 2011 - June 2012
Defend the Transformation: Election Observer Delegation
CISPES brought thirty international observers to monitor the March elections: the countrys first since the FMLN presidential victory of 2009. Our radio segments and news articles brought in-depth elections coverage to four countries! Our elections report was important tool for evaluating the first elections administered by an FMLN-led tribunal. The National Lawyers Guild delegation joined CISPES for our first joint observer mission!

First International Literacy Brigade

In June, CISPES made history in El Salvador by sending the first volunteer crew of internationalists to support the governments free, adult literacy program. El Salvadors VP and Minister of Education formally welcomed the CISPES brigade as true ambassadors from the US The 28-person brigade spent three weeks supporting grassroots outreach efforts for this financially-constrained program in six provinces around the country Our radio, TV and print news coverage promoted the success of this inspiring program (which is -at best - ignored by the mainstream media!)

Education and Movement-Building

July 2011 - June 2012
Opposing the War on Drugs in Central America
In response to the intensification of US intervention in Central America under the banner of fighting the so-called War on Drugs, CISPES ramped up our educational outreach. Our research and analysis appeared in prominent Latin America news sources like NACLA. Our chapters held teach-ins about the roots of the Drug War, including US domestic policy. We helped launch critical research into how billions of US tax dollars are being spent through the Central American Regional Security Initiative (CARSI) Our organizers led conference workshops on the Drug War in Central America and the risks posed to social movements by militarization.

Broadcasting the Voices of the Salvadoran Resistance

This fall, we brought visonary young political leaders from El Salvador -Margarito Nolasco and Cristina Cornejo - on tour! Across the country, they inspired students and Occupy participants by showing that Another World IS Possible and being built in El Salvador today! We also broadcasted the voices of other movement leaders in our first live, bilingual virtual tours! Prominent FMLN mayors and youth organizers shared unique perspectives on the new faces of US intervention with any interested party who has an internet connection!

Fund ing C ha nge in El Salvador

This year, the CISPES Education Fund raised over $9,000 for social movement organizations. Through tours, delegations and Bike-a-Thons, our committees raised funds to support those organizing to build a new El Salvador from below.

$3000 to the FMLN National Womens Secretariat

The main goals of the Womens Secretariat are to promote womens political participation and to empower women to assert their rights. Our funds support leadership trainings and local assemblies that build class and gender consciousness.

$2000 to the Salvadoran Union Front

The Salvadoran Union Front is the working class instrument for struggle. Our funds support trainings for new union organizers to learn leadership, organizing and collective bargaining skills, which bring new unions into the coalition and thus strengthen the popular movement in their struggle against the economic elite.

$2000 to the FMLN Youth Secretariat of San Salvador

The priority of the FMLNs Youth Secretariat is to re-integrate youth into political and social organizing after decades of marginalization. Our funds support the formation of cultural and artistic collectives, which promote young womens leadership, provide professional skills and income, and carry out activities for the citys youth as an alternative to violence.

$1000 to Participatory Democracy Trainings

The local FMLN government of Mejicanos has implemented various participatory democratic processes that serve as an empowering catalyst for building popular power. Our funds support trainings on how to carry out communal, democratic processes.

$1000 to the Strategic Organizing Fund

This Fund responds to urgent needs that arise for the Salvadoran social movement, including mobilizations and strikes. Projects that promote gender-consciousness and actions that may not get funded by more mainstream sources are prioritized.

W ho We A r e
As a national, grassroots solidarity organization, our chapters are at the heart of the organization!

CISPES Board of Directors

Cherrene Horazuk Madeline Baer Tom Leonard Ilana Jean Feingold Sha Grogan-Brown Burke Stansbury Krista Hanson

Join us in:
Olympia Boston Portland New York San Francisco Washington, DC Santa Cruz Seattle Los Angeles

CISPES Education Fund National Leadership

Alexis Stoumbelis Executive Director Lisa Fuller Program Director Ilana Feingold Development Director Jacob Blickenov National Organizer Carmen Atlee-Loudon Administrative Coordinator David Grosser Eastern States Development Coordinator Janae Choquette Western States Development Coordinator Eli Latto, Chaim Eliyah, Vinia Castro Local Chapter Coordinators Allen Hines, Jasmine Rivas, Meg Pierce, Chelsea Simpson, Nicola Chvez-Courtwright National Office Interns
Board of Directors, Regional Representatives: Josh Elliot, Olympia, WA Hilary Goodfriend, New York City Janette Linares, Santa Cruz, CA Allison Aguilar, Washington, DC
Staff and intern at the National Office in Washington, DC, headed to an action at the World Bank!

Percentages for expense allocations are from the Sources of Revenue Allocation of Expenses audited accounts of CISPES and the CISPES Individual Education Program: 79% Fund for donations: 92% Fundraising: 14 % FY2011. Program & Other figures Admin: 7 % re unaudited Miscellaneous: 8% data from FY2012. Audited figures from 2012 will be available in early 2013. Totals by Contributions to CISPES are not tax-deductible. To make account and your gift tax-deductible, write your check to the CISPES further detail available Education Fund. To contribute cash, or to make a bequest or a gift of stock, contact Carmen Atlee-Loudon. upon request.

Financial Picture

Total: $ 355,084

Total: $ 343,522

A very special thanks to our most generous supporters!

Peter Alexeas, Aris Anagnos, Thomas Angotti, Hal and Paula Baron, Lou Barsky, Michael Bartanen, Sheridan Bartlett, Roger Beck, Jo Beecher, John Bernstein, Nate Blumenshine, George and Eleanor Bollag, Linda and Michael Bollag, Blase and Theresa Bonpane, Hugh Brady, Sheila Brady, Bob Brand, Duane Brown, Preston Browning, Judy and Frederick Buechner, Sally Butterfield, Jim Campen, Jess Champagne, Tom Choquette, Susan Clark and Alex Karras, John Courtney, Betty and Corkey Custer, James Czarkowski, Frank Demarest, Harry Demarest, David Dunning, John Durham, Cliff Earle, Wally Elliot and Phyllis Palmer, Alvin Eshe, Evan Fales, Will Forthman, John Fries, Dick Geidel and Nancy Braus, Linda Gochfeld, Tami Gold, Richard Goodwin, Mimi Grosser, Renata and John HahnFrancini, Collier Hands, Krista Hanson, Susan Hanson, Don Harris, Gay and Dick Harter, Jack Hartray, Bob Hearst, Barbara Herman and Mickey Morgan, Brent Hymer, Maria and Greg Jobin-Leeds, Paul Kingsley, David Krakow. Richard Kortum, Daniel Kurtz, John Lamperti, Sam Lightwood, Christopher Lloyd, Sue and Art Lloyd, Phyllis Lucero, Zella Luria, John Margerum, John McDonald, Patricia McSweeney, Lenore Migdal and William Lloyd, Ken Olum, Bob Osborn, Hilvie Ostrow, Hans Peters, Michael Prokosch, Alan Purdy, Doris Reed, Jim Rettig, Anaya Rose and Gary Stroud, David Schweickart, Susan Scott, T.M. Scruggs, Jerry Silbert, Elizabeth Sloss, Loretta Smith, Nancy Smith and David Rockwell, Stan Sorscher, Kent Spriggs, Burke Stansbury, Michael and Mary Jo Stansbury, Ann Stokes, Olga Strickland, Ellyn Tanner, Murray Tobak, Max Toth, Murray Underwood, Phil Villers, Jim Wallace, Tom Wallace Lyons, Gene Warren, Mark Wainger, George Wilshire Nelson, Winky Foundation, Richard Yoder-Edney, Alan Zaslavsky, Carolyn Zecca Ferris, Peggy & Lee Zeigler, Charles Zug, all of our sustainers, and many, many more!

And to our volunteer translators, tech wizards, and envelope stuffers, mil gracias!