Events
Connect with the CPALI team at an event near you.
Celebrate
World Lemur Day with us
31 October 2025
11am - 3pm Pacific
San Francisco Zoo & Gardens
Lemur Boardwalk
Did you know? 98% of lemur species face some threat of extinction.
Join CPALI at the San Francisco Zoo & Gardens on Friday, 31 October 2025, to learn about this unique group of primates that's endemic to Madagascar.
Connect with our team to hear about current conservation efforts that work for people and nature, and touch textiles made from wild silk by local artisans. CPALI will exhibit starting at 11am. A special Lemur Keeper talk will begin at 2pm on the Boardwalk. See you there!
Film Screenings
San Mateo, CA - 3 Oct 2025
McLean, VA - 16 Nov 2025
Los Angeles, CA - Spring 2026
Boston, MA - To be announced
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Featuring the music of Razia Said
Wild Silk: Madagascar's Threads of Change tells the inspiring story of local leaders, farmers, and artisans who work at the intersection of science and art. Journey to northeastern Madagascar in this new work by filmmaker Dr. Matthew Scott and CPALI Executive Director Rachel Kramer, featuring the music of acclaimed Malagasy singer, songwriter, and activist Razia Said.
NEXT SCREENING
16 November, 2025 | 4:30PM ET
McLean, VA
Join CPALI for a special in-person film screening, talk-back event, and opportunity to buy artisan-made Tanana Madagascar wild silk and raffia textiles.
Panelists: Mclean, VA Film Screening
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | CPALI
Rachel Kramer
Wildlife conservationist Rachel Kramer leads CPALI's efforts to co-design, support, and scale local initiatives in northeastern Madagascar that have transformative impact for people and nature. As part of this work, she supervises Tanana Madagascar, the collaborative social enterprise of CPALI and SEPALI Madagascar, that connects traditional and contemporary Malagasy wild silk and raffia textiles to global markets. She believes innovative, nature-based approaches are key to strengthening economic futures and regenerating ecosystems. Her family's ties to Madagascar go back to the 1960s.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | WILDLIFE FRIENDLY ENTERPRISE NETWORK
Christine Lippai
Christine is a zoologist who has spent her career working globally, including in Madagascar, the Seychelles, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, focusing on the intersection of conservation and community livelihoods. She has led initiatives linking forest communities with private-sector markets to create income-generating, conservation-driven supply chains and has advised the luxury fashion industry on sustainable sourcing. With deep expertise in conservation and sustainable development, she aims to expand Wildlife Friendly’s impact on biodiversity through enterprise development.
BOARD CHAIR | CPALI
Petra Silton
An energetic connector, coordinator, and leader, Petra is passionate about bringing people together to turn ideas into action that creates a better and more just world for everyone. Over the last 30 years, she has initiated and led groundbreaking programs for community-based organizations to support issues including the environment, homelessness, education, and civic participation. In the mid-90's, she founded one of the first social enterprises supporting a non-profit. Petra became Chair of the CPALI Board in 2024 and first met Founder, Dr. Catherine Craig, in 2010 in northeastern Madagascar.
GENERAL MANAGER | TANANA MADAGASCAR
Kyley Schmidt
Kyley joined CPALI in 2022 to manage Tanana Madagascar as a social enterprise supporting the vision of sharing wild silk textiles from Madagascar with a broadening international audience. She has collaborated with Malagasy silk artisans since 2003, supporting communities in Madagascar through cultural preservation of the nation’s art forms. She has served in marketing and management roles for fair trade and environmentally conscious organizations throughout her career.
Panelists: San Mateo Film Premiere
3 OCTOBER 2025
FILMMAKER
Dr. Matthew Scott
Dr. Scott is Emeritus President of the Carnegie Institution for Science and Emeritus Professor of Developmental Biology at Stanford University. He traveled to northeastern Madagascar in April 2025 to film Wild Silk: Madagascar's Threads of Change together with the CPALI and SEPALI Madagascar teams and his wife, biologist Dr. Margaret Fuller. Dr. Scott has made numerous pro-bono films to support social and environmental causes. Explore his videos on conservation, explorations, wildlife, oceans and mountains and find his photography at matthewscottphotography.com.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | CPALI
Rachel Kramer
Wildlife conservationist Rachel Kramer leads CPALI's efforts to co-design, support, and scale local initiatives in northeastern Madagascar that have transformative impact for people and nature. As part of this work, she supervises Tanana Madagascar, the collaborative social enterprise of CPALI and SEPALI Madagascar, that connects traditional and contemporary Malagasy wild silk and raffia textiles to global markets. She believes innovative, nature-based approaches are key to strengthening economic futures and regenerating ecosystems. Her family's ties to Madagascar go back to the 1960s.
FOUNDER | CPALI
Dr. Catherine Craig
Dr. Craig founded Conservation through Poverty Alleviation International (CPALI) in 2004. Through her research on wild silk moths of Madagascar, she met Malagasy insect specialist Mamy Ratsimbazafy. Together, they honed a model for regenerating landscapes through wild silk rearing and sustainable textile production. An internationally recognized evolutionary biologist and authority on silk, she authored the monograph Spiderwebs and Silk, and is co-author of the book, Spider Silk: Evolution and 400 Million Years of Spinning, Waiting, Snagging, and Mating.
BOARD CHAIR | CPALI
Petra Silton
An energetic connector, coordinator, and leader, Petra is passionate about bringing people together to turn ideas into action that creates a better and more just world for everyone. Over the last 30 years, she has initiated and led groundbreaking programs for community-based organizations to support issues including the environment, homelessness, education, and civic participation. In the mid-90's, she founded one of the first social enterprises supporting a non-profit. Petra became Chair of the CPALI Board in 2024 and first met Founder, Dr. Catherine Craig, in 2010 in northeastern Madagascar.
Local Changemakers
The strongest conservation initiatives are locally led. Meet the changemakers behind the Organization of Wild Silk Producers (SEPALI) Madagascar featured in the new film together with leading local farmers and artisans.
DIRECTOR
Mamy Ratsimbazafy
Malagasy leader and moth specialist Mamy Ratsimbazafy is Director of CPALI's local partner organization, the Organization of Wild Silk Producers (SEPALI) Madagascar. Based in Maroantsetra, northeastern Madagascar, he spearheads work with local farmers, artisans, and biochar technicians.
LEAD ARTISAN
Lalaina Raharindimby
A master artisan and respected local figure, Lalaina Raharindimby leads the SEPALI Madagascar artisans association in Maroantsetra, facilitating the design of new products made from wild silk and raffia. She was recently awarded a seat in the Ibu Atelier program and has traveled to the US to serve as an ambassador for Tanana Madagascar at the International Folk Art Market in Santa Fe and Shoppe Object's Global Artisan Project in New York City. Her designs can be found at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art store in Washington, DC, among other locations.
If you are interested in attending or hosting a film screening, please email info@cpali.org.