The Well Traveled Questionnaire: Featuring Christy Turlington Burns
An impactful partnership and special feature interview with Christy Turlington Burns, Founder & President of Every Mother Counts, filmmaker, model, and mother of two.
In the Spring of 2017 I received an email from Christy Turlington Burns, Founder & President of Every Mother Counts. She was planning her annual trip to visit grantee partners based in Guatemala and learned about Luna Zorro through a mutual friend. It was through that initial introduction that I became fascinated with Every Mother Counts (EMC) and learned, first hand, what a genuine, passionate and driven advocate Christy is.
“Motherhood has opened a world of knowledge and connection with other women that has ignited a sense of profound responsibility in me to prepare other women for the unexpected events that make pregnancy and childbirth unsafe for millions of others around the world.” - Christy Turlington Burns
A few months later, I had the pleasure of meeting Christy in person when she and a group of donors came to see the many ways their work positively impacts communities in Guatemala. Getting to meet their team was not only a wonderful experience for me, but a life changing one. It marked the beginning of a partnership between Luna Zorro and Every Mother Counts which I am tremendously proud of. Beginning in 2018 Luna Zorro started designing and selling annual handwoven collections with profits going directly to the organization. Today, we donate 1% of all online sales across the board and have set a goal to donate even more as our business continues to grow. Not only do we believe in making childbirth safe and accessible to everyone, everywhere, but many of the female artisans that we partner with at Luna Zorro are from communities that directly benefit from EMC grantee partner work within the Western highlands. For me, this is a full circle and deeply important impact to be connecting such passionate people and their meaningful work.
Approximately 287,000 women die around the world from complications of pregnancy and childbirth, every year. THAT’S 1 WOMAN EVERY 2 MINUTES.
Motivated by the intrinsic human right to maternal health, Every Mother Counts is dedicated to ensuring that all people, everywhere, experience a safe, respectful, and equitable journey through pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. EMC started by spotlighting stories told by those closest to the issue. Over time, these personal accounts have shone a spotlight on the global imperative to transform maternal health. Since 2010, EMC has invested tens of millions of dollars to advance system-wide change through the development of professional, dedicated, and compassionate providers in every setting who are focused on respectful care that centers mothers.
If you are interested in supporting Luna Zorro’s work with EMC you can browse our online collections and curated travel offers knowing that your 1% of your purchase will be donated to EMC. Or, you can gift that special someone in your life a Luna Zorro Every Mother Counts Gift Set which features our MAMA tote handwoven with up-cycled plastic and filled with luxury handmade pieces, all crafted by Luna Zorro partner artisans.
And best of all, as today is Giving Tuesday, all donations made directly to Every Mother Counts today will be doubled up to $100K, meaning your contribution will have twice the impact! Don’t miss this opportunity to help the moms who need us most.
And now for our weekly Well Traveled Questionnaire, featuring the one and only Christy Turlington Burns - a woman who continuously inspires me and one that that I am grateful to call a friend.
Checked luggage or carry-on? Aisle or window? Book or movie download?
I always carry-on unless the trip is longer than a week.
Window seats because they are more private and easier to sleep in.
I always have a book handy but rely on entertainment offered on the flight. I never am organized enough in advance to download. There are so many documentaries and independent films I discover on flights that I might not otherwise choose or seek out. Flights provide good uninterrupted viewing opportunities without distraction. I recently watched a movie called “Turtles All The Way Down” that I really enjoyed and finally watched the documentary “Love to Love You” about Donna Summer.
What is one of your most memorable coffee or tea experiences abroad?
The first time I visited India, I traveled with friends who were Sanskrit pundits. They introduced me to the vast wonders of temple life and the many ways people express their devotion to the deities through music and ceremony. I also came to associate this sensorial mind opening with drinking frothy chai tea brewed with fresh cow’s milk and sipped from clay cups.
What’s the first thing you love to do when you arrive at a new destination?
I like to unpack and then go out for a long walk to explore the area to get my bearings. This is also great for jet lag and usually helps to adjust to new time zones more quickly. I love the way a place changes from when you first arrive to when you leave, even if only after just a single night.
Hotel or Airbnb?
I love to return to the same hotel but stay in different rooms to change up the experience a bit. Casa Palopo in Guatemala is one of those places. Each time I have stayed there, we arrive when it’s dark after a long day of travel. Waking up to a view of Lake Atitlan from there is like a gift each time through a different room’s window.
Where have you recently returned from and what meaningful souvenir did you bring back with you?
I was in Kenya and Tanzania earlier this year with Every Mother Counts visiting grantee partners and to participate in the Kilimanjaro Marathon. In Kenya, I was able to visit a region I had never been to before to visit Dandelion Africa. We spent time with the team and visited the medical center and outposts nearby to see the model firsthand and meet people from the communities they serve. At the end of our visit, we were invited to plant a tree and were given a gift. I loved this practice of leaving something behind and taking a small piece to bring home with us. I brought a colorful blanket back with me and it’s now in our office as a memento of our Kenyan partners and the visit itself.
When you return home from a trip, what’s the first restaurant you head to?
I am a homebody in between travels with a huge culinary world available to us living in NYC. I often order Japanese take out when I return from a trip. Good Japanese food is not something I find easily everywhere and is generally super speedy delivery when I am hungry and craving it.
Where are you traveling next, and what’s drawing you there?
I am planning a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico with my sister for our mother’s 85th birthday. None of us have been before so it will be an adventure for us all. We have compiled lists from lots of friends, which include the botanical gardens, artists’ homes, candle makers and Mezcal producers, and lots of delicious food. My only worry is not having enough time to experience it all!
Centro Historico de Oaxaca
