The Uspanteko Linguistic Community Needs a Roof

My name is Robert Henderson. I am Professor of Linguistics at the University of Arizona, and I have worked in Guatemala for more than 15 years researching Mayan languages and working with Maya communities to strengthen their languages and to provide access to critical services, like medical care, in Mayan languages.

For the past decade my colleague, Ryan Bennett, and I have focused on the Mayan language Uspanteko. Uspanteko has only a few thousand speakers, and is thus one of the more endangered Mayan languages.

The Comunidad Lingüística Uspanteka, or Uspanteko Language Community, is the local organization that is dedicated to teaching Uspanteko, developing school materials in the language, and providing a space for language and cultural events. I bring the sad news that this organization is in trouble because their building needs immediate repair. Their tile roof has a number of major leaks which have caused internal damage to the building as well. The goal of this fundraiser is to raise $5000 to repair the roof, as well as remediate water damage to internal areas of the building.

There are over two dozen indigenous Mayan languages spoken in Guatemala, and many communities have their own buildings dedicated to cultural events and language-related activities. I have visited many of them. I can say that Comunidad Lingüística Uspanteka is one of the most unique and interesting I have ever seen. It is an architectural treasure, boasting beautiful murals, conference rooms, a library, and a ceremonial space. It is a place where Uspanteko children learn marimba, where teacher trainings take place, where curricula are designed, and where community celebrations happen. And since our very first visit to Uspantán, the staff at the Comunidad Lingüística Uspanteka have been enormously kind to us and supportive of our work. It is truly a jewel of the Uspanteko community and I hope you can help us keep it standing, and shining.

Oh, and I will say—the doors of the Comunidad Lingüística Uspanteka are always open to strangers. If you donate, and happen to be visiting Uspantán some day, introduce yourself as someone who helped save the roof. I guarantee that you will be given the most welcoming tour.

Sincerely,

Prof. Robert Henderson, University of Arizona

Prof. Ryan Bennett, University of California, Santa Cruz

President Pedro Alejandro Vásquez Tay, Comunidad Lingüística Uspanteka