Several volunteers and community members from Jarabacoa visited Finca Alta Gracia this summer  for a tour and conversation with famous Dominican-American author and philanthropist, Julia Alvarez.  Julia and her husband, Bill Eichner, bought the finca (farm) – a plot of land high in the beautiful, fertile, mountains of Jarabacoa – 15 years ago with the dream of promoting sustainable agriculture in the region.  Ever since, they have cultivated not only organic, fair trade coffee, but also empowerment, development, and a strong sense of community spirit.  Julia and Bill spent an hour telling their story, sharing their dream, and discussing the positive impact of small, community-based initiatives.  This especially resonated for our volunteers who were, at the time, concluding their projects and educational activities after six weeks in community.  After an interactive conversation, several farm workers led the volunteers and community members on a tour of the Finca and the neighboring community of Los Marranitos, explaining the process of coffee production and emphasizing the importance of environmental sustainability.  It was an extremely eye-opening and rewarding experience for all!