ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE of the LAKE CHAMPLAIN REGION

French Exchange is a public affairs discussion series that aims to bring Vermont and the Francophone world into dialogue. Hosted by AFLCR instructor Eric AgneroEric Agnero, the series uses language, culture and conversation to make French-speaking people who live thousands of miles apart feel a little less distant.

In this episode, we’ll talk about chocolate production in Côte d’Ivoire, a Francophone country in West Africa, where most of the world’s cacao is produced, mostly by small farmers and communities using traditional methods. But cacao production faces challenges, especially in forest loss, low pay, and even child labor. Ben & Jerry’s is among the Western chocolate purveyors that is committed to sourcing cacao in terms of values. In this episode of French Exchange, Cheryl Pinto of B&J’s will discuss how the company fulfills that goal.

We’ll film this episode at the Media Factory, 208 Flynn Avenue in Burlington, on Friday, August 14, at 6pm. We have space for a live audience of about six. If you’d like to join us, it’s free—but please register on our website.

If you can’t join us in person, the episode will be available on Media Factory’s local access “Create” channel BTV 15 & 215, Comcast 1074, and soon thereafter on our YouTube channel and that of our co-sponsor, Global South Watch.

Today on Vermont Public's public affairs show "Vermont Edition," our instructor Eric Agnero will join Mikaela Lefrak to talk about French language and language instruction in Vermont. Tune in to VP at noon to listen, or listen to the rebroadcast tonight at 7pm!

Vermont Edition Vermont Edition description

Many of us enjoy traveling, to France and elsewhere, but not all of us take the time to write down our thoughts. As it happens, writing is a good way to reflect about and process an experience. AFLCR member Wayne Senville is doing just that with his eighteen-part series on his recent trip to Alsace-Lorraine. We're publishing the series in the month of July. Best of all, by reading them, you'll visit Alsace-Lorraine vicariously, through Wayne. See the collection so far here: https://www.aflcr.org/culture/france/?fbclid=IwY2xjawS7GNpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe14rAd3-loYde8haZsqY9oVRScjlhRCwDLPtxTnMsqNSssa6qkheTP47r_nQ_aem_4Pps042bk3s-70wM0NgfSA

... And on a related topic, the historian Leslie Choquette, who will also appear on our French Exchange panel Register for the event on our website!

vermonthistory.org

Our upcoming speaker Patrick Lacroix is a leading scholar of French Canadian immigration to Vermont

Patrick Lacroix: Honoring Vermont’s French-Canadian history - VTDigger The centennial of Barre’s granite strike is a reminder that it is within our power to foster dialogue and understanding across our differences. Helping other groups find representation in public monuments, sites of power, and cultural events can help us achieve that.

News from our friends at Burlington-Honfleur Sister Cities !

In this morning's edition of our newsletter, we announced the onset of our exciting new series, French Exchange! It's a public affairs series, hosted by Eric Agnero. The first episode (July 18) will be about the story of French language in Vermont, from "New France to New Vermonters," that is, starting with the settlement of Quebec, continuing through French Canadian immigration, and ending most recently with Francophone Africans. In person seating is limited, so register today at https://www.aflcr.org/event-rsvp/french-exchange-new-france-to-new-vermonters/

Featuring Leslie Choquette, Patrick Lacroix, Lise Veronneau, and Mohamedou Diop.

We'll also be livestreaming the event over the AFLCR YouTube channel. Our first ever livestream, so don't miss it!

French Exchange: New France to New Vermonters Promoting French language and culture in Northern and Central Vermont since 2007

French Heritage Day

French Heritage Day returns to Winooski, celebrating Vermont's deep ties to Quebec. FULL STORY⬇️

Stop by our booth to say hello at French Heritage Day in Winooski on Sunday, June 28!