Colorado Public Television to Collaborate with Women’s Bean Project

“FarmHer” Film Live Night and Phone Bank in the CPT12 Studio to Celebrate Women & Enterprise in Non-Traditional Ways

Denver (August 16, 2018) – On Tuesday, August 21st at 7 pm, Colorado Public Television (CPT12, PBS) will present the film FarmHer, along with Denver-based, Women’s Bean Project (WBP), to celebrate women making a living and learning new skills in non-traditional settings like agriculture and manufacturing. Women’s Bean Project Chief Executive Tamra Ryan will join CPT12’s President and General Manager Kim Johnson and V.P. Content Dominic Dezzutti for a conversation on transforming lives and making a living following one’s passion and viewers will receive WBP products as thank you gifts for supporting Colorado Public Television.

The film FarmHer was the inspiration of Marji Gulyer-Alaniz, who in 2013 saw a commercial during the Super Bowl that was about American farmers. While the commercial moved her, she felt something was missing… images of women. It was then that she decided to devote her life to photographing women farmers and she created the organization FarmHer.

In 1989 Women’s Bean Project founder Jossy Eyre saw an opportunity to help women find self-sufficiency and achieve independence while volunteering at a daytime women’s shelter in Denver. While the shelter kept the women safe, it didn’t help them make lasting changes in their lives and thus, Women’s Bean Project was born with an investment of $500 of her own money and a chance to help women experience the dignity of work by learning how to get – and keep – a job.

“CPT12 loves to partner with Colorado organizations like Women’s Bean Project that are making a significant impact in the community,” said Shari Bernson, Development Director for Colorado Public Television. “Our commitment to telling the stories of Colorado is unwavering and we are excited to present this Colorado story as part of an evening of women and empowerment.”

The Women’s Bean Project has grown into a $2 million social enterprise with their nourishing products sold in nearly 1,000 stores nationwide including Colorado King Soopers, Safeway, Whole Foods, Meijer and H.E.B., as well as smaller, specialty retailers. WBP serves women who need a helping hand on their journey toward self-sufficiency learning fundamental job readiness training and stabilization and life skills. Along the way the women receive 1-on-1 mentoring and individualized job search support.

FarmHer, an Iowa Public Television production, is about Marji and the women she has profiled. The documentary follows seven women farmers from around the country and visits with them about what it’s like to be a woman in what is typically thought of as a man’s world. The women vary in age, ethnicity, and the type of farming and, or ranching that they do. They are inspirational and all share a deep passion for their chosen lifestyles.

Viewers can tune in on Tuesday, August 21 at 7 pm for the film FarmHer, and to hear how Women’s Bean Project is working to create sustainable, positive changes in the lives of Colorado women, social enterprise work, how people can get involved with their work, and the impact WBP makes on our community.