Inducted: 2011
For nearly 30 years Gloria and Stanley Kuehn have devoted themselves to helping people in some of the world's most war-torn and depressed areas. In the process they have built a legacy of sustainable, cooperative communities that have changed thousands of lives.
As Project Manager with CLUSA in El Salvador, Stanley worked with small farmers to grow non-traditional and organic crops to meet new and growing markets. Gloria was an integral part of his team, helping to educate those in the community and promoting the work with visiting dignitaries. With CLUSA in Nicaragua, the Kuehns established value-added export markets that were previously out of reach for co-ops and small farmers. They also trained local farmers to work together in NGOs to enhance their quality of life.
The Kuehns brought their expertise to Africa with the World Council of Credit Unions, helping local farmers identify sustainable crops, access microloans, and become small-scale agricultural producers and owners of micro-enterprises.
The Kuehns innovative work has not only improved the lives of poor farmers, but also developed civil infrastructure, spurred economic growth, and forged bonds between developing and developed nations. It has also put cooperatives on the cutting edge of social and environmental progress.