Documentary Explores Three Decades of Education & Coffee Connections Between Cincinnati and Guatemala

Documentary Explores Three Decades of Education & Coffee Connections Between Cincinnati and Guatemala 

(September 14, 2026) – At a time when immigration is very much a hot topic in the United States, a new documentary, “Connecting Cultures: Cincinnati to Guatemala,” shows how Cincinnatians have helped children in Guatemala over the past 30 years, and how, in turn, Guatemalan immigrants are influencing businesses, schools, churches and neighborhoods in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region.

“I created the film to shine a positive light on Guatemalan immigrants helping our city thrive, and to introduce people to the Cincinnati-based nonprofit working in Guatemala to change the world, one student at a time,” said Filmmaker Laure Quinlivan.

What began as a personal calling of two Cincinnati west side brothers to deliver books to Guatemalan children has resulted in 30 years of positive change by Cooperative for Education. The Cincinnati-based nonprofit is improving literacy in Guatemala, a poor developing country about the size of Ohio. Two in three people in Guatemala can now read, improved from one in three.

Peabody Award-winning documentary filmmaker Quinlivan traveled to Guatemala with Cincinnati Rotarians to document amazing human connections in the one-hour documentary. “Connecting Cultures: Cincinnati to Guatemala” will air in prime time on the television station where Quinlivan spent 13 years as Channel 9’s lead Investigative Reporter. The film premieres at 8 p.m. November 12, 2026, on WCPO 9 and will be available for community screenings after its premiere. Details at www.ConnectingCulturesFilm.com.

Quinlivan interviewed dozens of people for her film, including former U.S. Congressman and Price Hill native Steve Driehaus, who says Hispanic immigration is the primary reason Cincinnati has grown, unlike most Midwestern cities. Cincinnati Hispanic Chamber President Alfonso Cornjeo says, outside of Chicago, the Cincinnati metropolitan area has the largest concentration of Guatemalans in the Midwest. Greg Robinson, Executive Director of Price Hill Will, tells the filmmaker 50% of active businesses in Price Hill are owned by Guatemalans.

Quinlivan explores Education and Coffee connections binding Cincinnati and Guatemala, and introduces us to people who have forged these strong relationships: 

• West Sider Joe Berninger, who co-founded Cooperative for Education to break the cycle of poverty in Guatemala by teaching kids to read and graduate high school, with the help of sponsors in Cincinnati and around the world.
• Cincinnati families who sponsor Guatemalan children to ensure they graduate high school, since most Guatemalan students drop out after 6^th grade due to finances. 
• Olga Hazard, a Guatemalan coffee grower who imports directly to the owners of Cincinnati’s Coffee Emporium, which is now sold at Kroger, Jungle Jim’s and online.
• Northern Kentucky University film students who travel to Olga's farm during spring break for a study abroad experience producing videos on the coffee plantation.
• The priest at Our Lady of the Rosary who leads one of 40 Spanish-language masses at Archdiocese of Cincinnati churches, along with Community Pastor Victor Martinez, who leads Hispanic outreach for Crossroads Church. 
• Walter Vasquez, a Guatemalan pastor with Bloc Ministries and OLA Immigration Welcome Center, who introduces us to Guatemalan entrepreneurs in Price Hill.
• Cincinnatians who have had life-changing experiences traveling to Guatemala.

“My motivation to produce this documentary is also a desire to share all the community service opportunities, here and abroad, offered by Rotary Clubs,” Quinlivan said. “I hope the film inspires people to consider mentoring a Guatemalan student or maybe try a Guatemalan restaurant to support the local Guatemalan community.”

About the Filmmaker
Laure Quinlivan is available for interviews about the documentary, in person, by phone or on Zoom. Call her at 513-520-4809 or email LQConsults@gmail.com.

Her previous documentary films, “Living with Landslides” and “Blue Goes Green,” aired on WCPO-TV and on PBS stations nationwide.  After a 20-year career in television investigative journalism, Quinlivan founded LQ Consulting to create videos for clients and work on passion projects, namely documentary films.

Laure won her second Peabody Award for her documentary “Visions of Vine Street” in 2002. Her first Peabody was awarded in 1999 for her tenacious reporting on mismanagement of stadium construction in Cincinnati.

Photo courtesy of Laure Quinlivan