Posts Tagged ‘conference’

No Fooling: You Can Still Register for Fair Trade Futures

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

Just received this good news for fellow procrastinators about registration for the CRS Fair Trade sponsored Fair Trade Futures Conference in September:

The Fair Traders are Coming!
Early Pricing Extended to April 18 (Paul Revere Day)

Fair Trade Futures Conference: Transforming Our Global Community

September 10-12, 2010

Marriott Hotel, Quincy, MA

All are Invited to Join Us for This Amazing Celebration!

From September 10-12, 2010, the Fair Trade Futures Conference will bring together entrepreneurs, students, advocates, faith community members, concerned citizens, interested individuals, and others in Boston, MA for the largest Fair Trade event in North American history!

The event will include workshops, debates, discussions, social activities, and an exposition of 50+ Fair Trade vendors to educate and inspire about the holistic approach to business and poverty alleviation that Fair Trade provides. Sessions include

  • The Politics of Fair Trade Certification and Governance
  • Embracing Social Media to Grow Your Business
  • How to Be An Effective Fair Trade Advocate
  • Beyond Fair Trade… the next generation
  • How to Sustain your Sustainable Business
  • Media Magic: Getting the Message Out
  • Keys to a Successful Fair Trade Town Campaign
  • Sales Skills Training for Fair Trade Retailers
  • Kids: Creating a Fair Trade Future
  • Fair Trade 101
  • And More!

The Futures Conference also offers opportunities to share our different views on key factors influencing the future of Fair Trade. In the spirit of cooperation, we will also host a number of debates:

  • Value vs. Volume: Different Theories of Change in Fair Trade
  • Does Fair Trade Deliver on its Promise?
  • Is Certification Compatible with Fair Trade?
  • What is the Future of Fair Trade?

Representatives of four producer organizations and two Northern organizations have also been invited to share their perspectives in a signature speech:

  • Kevin Danaher, Co-Founder and Public Education Director, Global Exchange
  • Santiago Paz – Founder of CEPICAFE which represents coffee, cocoa, fruits and sugar cane producers of the Piuran mountains and the northeast of Peru
  • Gaston Vizcarra – President of Candela Peru, a WFTO member which offers FLO certified Brazil nuts and Brazil nut oils
  • Safia Minney, Founder, People Tree (Invited)
  • Gisele Fleurant (Invited) – Director of Comite Artisanal Haitien (CAH), which represents more than 170 individual Haitian artisans and groups
  • Esther Gyepi-Garbrah (Invited) – Seamstress and co-founder of Global Mamas, a cooperative of women batikers,
    bead-makers, soap producers in Ghana

For the schedule to date, please visit the Conference Website.

Sign Up before April 18, 2010 and Save!

Visit the Conference website for information on

  • Group Discounts
  • Scholarships for Students and Producers
  • Discussion Boards
  • Much more!

By land, by Sea, by Twitter, by Facebook – help us spread the word!

This conference is made possible through the generous contributions of many sponsors and supporters, including Catholic Relief Services, Cooperative Coffees, Equal Exchange, the Fair Trade Federation, the Fair Trade Resource Network, Global Crafts, Green America, Handmade Expressions, the Presbyterian Church of the United States, SERRV International, Ten Thousand Villages Canada, and Ten Thousand Village USA.

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Share Your Views on Fair Trade and its Future

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

Tweeting is all the rage, seems like everyone has a PDA with email, and let’s not forget how fun it is to post updates to hundreds of our Facebook friends. But, really, isn’t in-person communication still the best way to to share information, struggle with challenges, and create effective strategies? Call me old-school but I think so! It is no surprise, then, that I love Fair Trade conferences. Attending inspiring keynote addresses, reconnecting with colleagues, sampling exhibition treats, and being immersed in a fun, spirited environment helps me stay connected to important issues and individuals.

The Fair Trade Futures conference coming up in Boston this September is designed to be even more special than usual. The leadership group, including CRS Fair Trade, is doing our best to create a space for dialogue and debate and we need your views! Some topics CRS is considering are:

* Necessary but Not Sufficient: The Realities of Fair Trade Coffee
* Mobilizing Young People for a Fair Trade Future
* Striving for a Fair Trade Tipping Point
* Ask a farmer: Does Fair Trade Really Make a Difference?

The deadline for proposals to make it on the conference agenda is February 10. For a set of guidelines, please contact Rachel Bradburd whose email is conference “at” fairtradefederation.org. Or give her a call at (202) 636-3547.

All sessions are expected to range between 60-90 minutes in length and be engaging and interactive. While only very limited funding is available to offset travel expenses, some scholarships will be offered to support the attendance of registered students and producers. If chosen to present, presenters will receive a complimentary registration for the event.

Speaking of registration, even if you don’t want to present, please plan to attend! Early bird registration discounts end March 31. We look forward to hearing from you in September!

Producers and consumers can come together at Fair Trade events.

This photo of Rigoberto Diaz, a Mexican coffee farmer, was taken by CRS staffer Jesus Huerta at a Fair Trade event in Chicago supported by the CRS Fair Trade Fund.

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Sowing Fair Trade Seeds and Nurturing Blossoms

Friday, August 7th, 2009

One of my favorite New Testament stories is the parable of the sower, where we learn about how seeds flourish depending on the type of soil they fall on.  The scattering of seeds, knowing that some will dry up and blow away and others will take root and prosper, is a motivating image for me as CRS tries to spread the message of economic justice far and wide to U.S. Catholics.

This week CRS Fair Trade is at the Catholic Marketing Network trade show. Religious bookstores and schools come to the event to make purchases from publishers such as St. Benedict’s Press, iconic images, vestments and we hope, some day, Fair Trade items.  Offering samples of Equal Exchange coffee, chocolate, and snacks, a team of CRS Fair Traders- Dennis Fisher of the CRS-Northeast office, Global Fellows Msgr. Joe Ciampaglio  and Fr. Tom Fenlon, and Charitable Giving and Awareness staffer Rob Kearney, talked to Catholic business owners about CRS’s work in more than 100 countries and the power of Fair Trade.  Yesterday we were joined by Sr. Maureen McGowan, of Fair Trade Uniforms and Handcrafting Justice, who displayed unique handcrafted items from countries such as the Philippines.  Sr. Maureen’s organization is a member of the Fair Trade Federation, and we were also proud to distribute the FTF’s  “Does your Gift Shop Make Change” handout made possible in part through the Fair Trade Fund.

It is hard to know at these types of events what impact, if any, you are making.  Some people listen intently to why Fair Trade is important and how products will appeal to U.S. Catholics.  Others breeze by, picking up a bit of chocolate or two.  The vast majority of people politely pick up materials and walk away.

For me, though, the only thing better than talking directly to consumers is the chance to get away from my desk and be with colleagues.  Away from the cubicle, and with several hours together, you learn about the great work people are doing in ways large and small, hidden and popular.  You trade travel stories and favorite tales of producers who touched your heart.   You munch on yummy chocolate, and you feel so grateful to do work you love with people you care about.  Great colleagues and good times are not exclusive to the Fair Trade world, of course  But through the CRS network of fully committed Fair Trade companies, I’ve been blessed to know many good, dedicated people who make justice bloom for the disadvantaged and marginalized around the world! We are glad you are part of our work, and we look forward to some retail stores joining us.

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