When she is not out running half-
marathons or visiting Haiti, Abby Causey finds creative ways to bring together the people in her parish to support CRS Fair Trade. Take a big event back in May of 2008: Abby got her parish–Holy Spirit in Virginia Beach, VA–to commit a whole evening to economic justice by hosting a Work of Human Hands crafts sale, serving dinner, and offering educational presentations. Abby gave an overview of Fair Trade and middle school students presented two commercials they created during their CRS FoodFast experience. Young members of JustFaith also spoke about Fair Trade chocolate, and how their “J-walking” group promoted Fair Trade coffee. Surely this community is geared up for a great 2009!
Posts Tagged ‘crafts’
10th Ambassador of Christmas: Abby of Virginia
Saturday, January 3rd, 20095th Day of Ambassadors: Rick of Louisiana
Monday, December 29th, 2008One of the really neat things about Fair Trade is that it connects people with shared interests together in powerful ways. Rick Yelton, CRS Fair Trade Ambassador of New Orleans, is not only a great word-of-mouth marketer for economic justice, he is a passionate advocate for youth AND for the environment. When he’s not doing Work of Human Hands crafts sales a local market, Rick works at the Alliance for Affordable Energy helping at-risk kids train for “green collar” jobs.
Notice how many levels Rick operates on using the art of the t-shirt billboard:
The many ways to give Fair Trade this Christmas
Monday, December 1st, 2008Today and tomorrow, a whole crew of staff/volunteers is helping Katy host our annual Work of Human Hands sale here at CRS Global Headquarters. If you are in the Baltimore area, come on over!
Ambassador Mick Smith at one of his Fair Trade sales events in California
Of course, shopping at a sale isn’t the only way to give Fair Trade this season. Hundreds of individuals like you also chose to donate to the Fair Trade Fund in honor or memory of someone, knowing that CRS will recycle your dollars into capacity building grants around the world. This kind of gift allows CRS Fair Trade to support projects such as an Olive Harvest Festival in the Holy Land.
In these tough economic times, another benefit of a Fair Trade Fund donation is that it is a tax-deduction for you. You can make the gift in any amount: every bit helps in our efforts to pursue economic justice and in yours to celebrate the spirit of Christmas!
Don't Miss Out! Free Work of Human Hands Shipping Offer
Wednesday, November 26th, 2008What’s the perfect thing to do when you’re stuffed with turkey and sitting on the couch? Online shopping with Work of Human Hands! If economic justice is on your Christmas list then don’t miss out this Thanksgiving weekend on free shipping for personal orders.
From November 26th through December 1st receive free ground shipping for personal orders on all fantastic handcrafts with a minimum purchase of only $25.00.
Shop online for all your holiday gifts this week. Don’t forget. Advent is just a few days away! Order your Advent Calendars, on sale now for $5.00!
The free ground shipping promotion is only available online and for U.S. addresses.
Please help build the movement by sharing this offer with your friends and family.
Students Say: You are what you eat…and drink, and wear!
Friday, November 21st, 2008When Lois Harr, CRS Fair Trade Ambassador from the Bronx, invited me to join her and Manhattan College student Sarah Cicuto in St. Louis at a conference with the theme, “Global Learning and Social Responsibility through a LaSallian Education,” I was all about the global social responsibility piece, but I had to do a little homework to learn who the “LaSallians” are. I quickly figured out these are the educators—both religious and lay–associated with the Brothers of the Christian Schools, an order founded by the “universal patron of educators,” French priest John Baptiste de La Salle. The warm welcome and the outstanding range of speakers I am experiencing here at their Huether Conference is educating me quickly on the power and reach of the LaSallian tradition. At our workshop, Lois and I discussed the faith-based roots of Fair Trade and how Fair Trade is a tool of economic justice. But Sarah was the star of the show, explaining how Manhattan College’s Just Peace group helps students live their values through eating chocolate and drinking coffee!
Sarah took the gathered group through the brief but impressive history of Just Peace on campus. In her role as Campus Minister, Lois had taken a group of student volunteers on a service trip to Ecuador where they were introduced to the need for Fair Trade. Soon after, some of the students decided to attend a United Students for Fair Trade (USFT) convergence in Boston in 2006 to learn how other students were bringing Fair Trade to campus. After seeking out examples from surrounding schools in their region, the students decided to take on a campus campaign. But first they organized themselves as an official student government organization, not only to spread news of their mission but also to get some of the budget allocated to student groups on campus. Pretty savvy kids.
Just Peace student Erin solicits Fair Trade support
The group started its campaign by encouraging students to fill out the comment cards in the dining halls asking for Fair Trade coffee, and then they set up a meeting with the Operations Manager for Sodexho to “demand” Fair Trade coffee. What they didn’t realize is that the manager, Dennis McCoskey, was quite willing to make the switch if the students wanted it. Sarah and her fellow group members were surprised that Sodexho was so willing to respond. Sarah says, “I learned that to make change sometimes you just have to ask the right people the right questions.”
She also learned that it is important to thank the decision makers and keep the lines of communication open. Just Peace and Sodexho now meet regularly to strategize over next product offerings, such as Fair Trade bananas or Fair Trade chocolate, and to make sure that the requests of students remain at the forefront of the food service providers’ concerns. Recently the Fair Trade Certified label wasn’t appearing on coffee carafes, so Just Peace had to hold Dennis and his staff to account.
But the relationship is not adversarial and another feature of Just Peace’s work is that they build celebration into their efforts. By working together to plan events, the group keeps up interest in Fair Trade and finds ways to educate a new generations of students. During Fair Trade month, thanks to support of the CRS Fair Trade Fund, they hosted coffee farmer Rigoberto Contreras Diaz from the MICHIZA cooperative in Mexico for campus visits, helping students put a face behind the Fair Trade coffee in their re-useable mugs. Other techniques they use include offering lots of Fair Trade chocolate samples, and hosting crafts sales to expose students to the range of products that make up the Fair Trade marketplace.
Looking forward, Sarah is relieved that two first-year students are ready to take up the leadership of Just Peace, after receiving CRS Fair Trade Fund scholarships to attend the 2008 USFT convergence in Seattle. The main lesson she wants to pass on to them, and that she shared with the LaSallian group, is that, “one step at a time takes time.” Although the group has accomplished a lot in its short history, it is able to do so because it took care to build mutually beneficial relationships, identify allies, and consistently share information. (hmm, sounds a lot like the Fair Trade principles!) A next step for the group will be to host a spring symposium for regional colleges in the Northeast on how Fair Trade relates to sustainability initiatives on campus.
I’ll ask Sarah to do a posting herself from that event!
Priest and Economist Helps Parish Strengthen Immigration Ministry
Thursday, November 13th, 2008With Thanksgiving on the horizon, I’m full of gratitude for CRS Fair Trade colleagues around the country sharing messages of Fair Trade as a tool of economic justice. From our Southwest office, for instance, Fr. Juan Molina was recently at St. Patrick parish in Colorado Springs, Colorado working to promote the role Fair Trade can play in social ministry. Fr. Juan has his PhD in economics, so he brings a unique dual perspective to making the case for Fair Trade. 
Bob Sallee of St. Patrick’s reports that Fr. Juan had several opportunities to share about the impact of Fair Trade, thanks to the work of several members of the St. Patrick community. Ann Christensen, Chair of the parish Social Ministry Council and a member of the diocesan Social Concerns and Public Policy Committee, made arrangements for Father Molina to offer weekend Masses and to present a “parish mission” which connected the dynamics of migration to the lack of economic opportunity in migrants’ home countries, a dynamic which can be changed by embracing Fair Trade. The Council, which includes representatives of more than a dozen outreach ministries, has focused on educating the parish on the seven themes of social justice put forth by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. As a direct result of a parish mission on immigration two years ago, the parish recruited and trained English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers, and began offering regular classes. A Justice for Immigrants committee also was established to aid with informing the parish on immigration issues and coordinating outreach to local immigrant populations.
For Fr. Juan, the lessons of the Fair Trade Program have made clear that Fair Trade can reduce the need for young people to migrate to support their families, contributing to the reduction of illegal immigration. He noted that there are 25 million small family farms growing coffee representing 100 million people. Fair trade provides economic opportunity, allowing people to take care of the essentials of life–food, shelter, clothing, health care, education– in their home countries. This financial grounding can lessen the “push” people feel to find opportunity outside their communities. The complexities of migration, both forced and voluntary, are a top priority for CRS globally.
Back at St. Patrick’s church, volunteer Julie Harmon has coordinated a Fair Trade Ministry focused on parish education, much of which takes place during various Fair Trade sales at the church. Annually, the parish hosts a pre-Christmas Bazaar offering a wide variety of craft items from the Work of Human Hands catalog, and also Divine Chocolate and coffee from CRS partner Earth Friendly Coffee. Coffee and chocolate are also offered on a monthly basis, and are available for sale from the church office during the week. The success of the program is evident from the large percentage of “repeat customers” who value the quality of these specialty food items. Parishioner Ann Christensen explained that the parish provided a $1,000 grant for the initial purchase of coffee and chocolate products to jump-start the ministry.
This kind of initiative and commitment is another reason for the economic justice team at CRS to be thankful! Working alongside our partners, we offer a range of Fair Trade projects but, as Fr. Juan said, “It is the parishioners around the country that make a difference….It’s the people of God who make a difference” when they commit to Fair Trade.
Double the October Celebrations: Fair Trade and Hispanic Heritage
Thursday, October 9th, 2008All our loyal blog readers know that October is Fair Trade month, but did you realize that September 15 to October 15 is also Hispanic Heritage month? Now is the perfect time to check out the Spanish language resources CRS has at crsespanol.org. The site is filled with examples of how CRS is assisting the poor and vulnerable overseas.
Fair Trade is a global movement, impacting communities in Africa, Asia and the US. But during the special month, let’s double our celebrations by learning about coffee from Latin American origins and beautiful Fair Trade crafts from Mexico, Central and South America!
It is Time to Host a Work of Human Hands Craft Sale
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008Autumn has officially begun, and with it come preparations for the holiday season. This year, through Work of Human Hands, purchasing ethical gifts for your loved ones is easier than ever. In response to your feedback, a catalog specifically for consignment sales is now available. The Work of Human Hands consignment catalog contains all the handcrafts available for your sale, as well as a step-by-step guide to hosting a sale and cut out stories from producer’s overseas to decorate your sale and educate shoppers.
In addition to the Work of Human Hands consignment catalog, the regular catalog for Work of Human Hands is still available and contains hundreds of handcrafts not available on consignment. This is a great complimentary catalog to have available at your sale for Work of Human Hands supporters to take away with them and do their shopping at home.
As Kevin Olin, a CRS Fair Trade Ambassador and sale host in Apple Valley, California, puts it, “Who would have guessed that promoting global solidarity, fighting poverty and doing justice could all start with a cup of delicious coffee or the purchase of a beautiful gift?”
To order either catalog from Work of Human Hands please call 1.800.685.7572 or visit www.crsfairtrade.org.
CRS Fair Trade Recycles
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008A key Fair Trade principle is engaging in environmentally sustainable practices, and with Fair Trade month on the horizon we thought we’d celebrate how the CRS Fair Trade program recycles! Twice a year the Fair Trade Fund transforms financial resources made possible by you into movement building grants! Every time a person, a parish, a school or a diocese makes a purchase from the CRS Fair Trade partner network, a significant contribution is made to the Fair Trade Fund. The Economic Justice program at CRS then recycles those contributions into grants by providing financial support to Fair Traders. This year we recycled about $89,000 in grant awards!
Through our country programs overseas and our network of Fair Trade partners, we help producers in the field access the Fair Trade marketplace. Some past grants have included supporting trainings of artisans, sponsoring activities that improve coffee quality, and building the capacity of producer groups. Here in the United States we make grants to advocates who are working to build the Fair Trade marketplace. Some of our U.S. recipients, such as the Just Peace group of Manhattan College and the Chicago Fair Trade coalition, are using fund resources to galvanize their communities for Fair Trade month and beyond.
Here are some projects our Fair Trade Fund compost—if you will—is fertilizing:
• Centro Mujeres de la Esperanza in El Paso, Texas will receive $14,000 to support its Fair Trade education and outreach efforts. The center seeks to build its capacity to serve as a hub of Fair Trade participation. The Diocese of El Paso recently declared itself a Fair Trade Diocese.
• Providence Coffee in Minnesota received support for a pilot effort to provide Fair Trade hot chocolate at high school stadium events to raise awareness and educate on Fair Trade issues.
• The Fund committee allocated $10,000 in support of the United Students for Fair Trade convergence, to be held in Seattle, November 7-10, 2009. In addition to serving as an “organizer sponsor” CRS Fair Trade will provide up to 12 scholarships to college students who wish to attend this skill building event.
Natalie Terry of John Carroll University promotes Fair Trade flowers
Once Fair Trade month is over, the gift giving season approaches. Consider some environmental stewardship of your own in the form of reducing consumption. Instead of buying a Christmas gift, you can make a direct contribution to the Fund in honor of a special person. You’ll be able to recycle at gift giving time, and the recipient will know that she or he is helping to promote human dignity through Fair Trade!
Prepping for Fair Trade Month: New learning resources
Tuesday, September 9th, 2008This month means “back to school” for many Fair Traders and is also crunch time to prepare for Fair Trade month in October. Faith based groups such as CRS are fortunate to have an array of allies who helped form the foundation of Fair Trade. Two of the largest Fair Trade organizations in the United States—Ten Thousand Villages and SERRV—have their roots in the Mennonite Central Committee and Church of the Brethren, respectively. More recently, Catholic institutions have bolstered the Fair Trade system in varied ways at home and abroad. In the highlands of western Guatemala, for example, the Catholic church was instrumental in establishing the APECAFORM cooperative, which sells its coffee to some of the companies that participate in the CRS Fair Trade Coffee project. In addition, the Adrian Dominican Sisters were among the first investors to provide financial support for the pioneering work of Root Capital, which provides low-interest loans to Fair Trade producers around the world.
Such “Fair Finance” is the theme of a new set of learning resources for church communities produced by Oikocredit, whose roots are in the World Council of Churches. With suggestions for supplementing liturgy, sermon talking points, a multi-lingual DVD, and promotional materials including cartoons and stickers, Oikocredit provides inspiring and entertaining insights into the role that fair financing plays in Fair Trade. The materials explore how low-interest loans and pre-payment of orders help associations invest in the equipment and materials they need to hand-craft and hand-harvest Fair Trade products we bring into our hearts and homes. To receive a free packet of materials for use by your congregation, contact Oikocredit by email at us.nos”at”oikocredit.org. While you wait for your mail to arrive, check out CRS Fair Trade dowloads….
…Or delve into to a new bible study on Fair Trade, from Partners for Just Trade, an initiative of Presbyterian Church (USA). Entitled Fair Trade: Using our Purchasing Power for Justice and Hope, the guide grounds Fair Trade principles in biblical teaching and provides resources for prayer, reflection and action. With tips for facilitators and questions for discussion, the guide is a great resource for study groups or Religious Education classes. In addition to sharing some background information on Fair Trade and organizations working in the movement, the guide focuses on artisan experiences in Peru to convey the realities and potential of Fair Trade. The guide costs $5 for individual copies, and there are discounts for bulk orders. Visit the PJT website to learn more.
Inspired by new knowledge, make plans for how your community can continue the tradition of 
faith-based participation in the Fair Trade movement. Host a Work of Human Hands sale, encourage students to Raise Money Right, or convert your after Mass coffee-hour to Fair Trade. Use the comment form below to tell us how you are planning to celebrate Fair Trade month and how we can help support you!
