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Campaign Goals Revisions in Response to COVID-19

Kylie Nealis July 1, 2020
Dear advocates,
Over the past few months since the COVID-19 pandemic has spread across the globe and disrupted all of our lives in one way or another, we here at Fair Trade Campaigns have been strategizing around how to ensure that our campaigns can keep the momentum going.
We’re excited to be able to share with you some revisions to the goals that will enable your team to continue making progress towards earning Fair Trade status throughout this summer and fall via online engagement and outreach – from the comfort of your home.
We understand that this is far from ideal, and that the heart and soul of Fair Trade advocacy is in-person engagement, events and outreach. We hope to be able to return to that model as soon as it’s safe to do so but, in the meantime, we look forward to partnering with you to continue making  a positive impact for farmers, workers and artisans around the world through your advocacy – at a time when we need Fair Trade now more than ever.
Please read on for the updates, and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Kylie, Campus & Community Engagement Manager (kylie@fairtradecampaigns.org).

*NOTE*: all of the goals revisions listed below are retroactive i.e. any progress towards these since the beginning of March can be entered on your campaign page and be counted as an example.

TOWNS

Goal #2 – Reach out to Retailers:

WHAT: Promotion of local Fair Trade retailers and brands via online channels (social media, newsletter) will now count towards goal #2. Examples include products offered, ways retailer/brand is lending additional support to Fair Trade producers during the pandemic. HOW: Enter the physical location of brand/store that your campaign is promoting on your campaign page for goal #2, in the same way you would usually and include how you’re promoting/supporting in the description.

Goal #3 – Enroll Community Organizations:

WHAT: Promoting/supporting local nonprofit organization’s efforts to support Fair Trade producers and/or COVID-19 relief efforts in the local community will now count towards goal #3. Examples include dedicated social media post promoting the organization’s efforts, feature in newsletter, collaboration with organization on call, campaign or program or inviting representative from organization to speak on a call with your team and/or broader supporters/members to share about their efforts to support Fair Trade producers and/or COVID-19 relief efforts in the local community. HOW: Enter the Enter the physical location of the group/organization that your campaign is promoting on your campaign page for goal #3, in the same way you would usually and include how you’re promoting/supporting in the description.

Resources: 

UNIVERSITIES and SCHOOLS

Goal #2 – Reach out to Campus Outlets

Goal #3 – Enroll Offices and Catering

WHAT: Option #1 – Brainstorm Fair Trade sourcing requests to engage campus dining and catering around when campus operations eventually return to normal (i.e. specific products, companies or brands to source). Develop a sourcing plan to engage campus dining and catering around which campus outlets you have left to cover and potential products to offer and Fair Trade product availability through catering. Consider how to engage academic departments that are back on campus in selecting Fair Trade certified coffee and tea through their office supply ordering or other avenues for sourcing in offices.

Option #2 – create a petition around increasing Fair Trade sourcing and/or passing a Fair Trade resolution through your campus or school administration, leverage your campaign’s social media, newsletter, etc. and/or partner with other campus organizations and offices to circulate widely among the student body. HOW: add your sourcing plan or screenshot and link to your petition as a resource on your campaign page.

*Either or both options will count as an outlet covered on your campaign page*

Resources: 

ALL CAMPAIGNS

Goal # 4 – Commit to Fair Trade Education & Events:

WHAT: Virtual meeting/events will now count towards goal #4 for towns and colleges/universities and goal #2 for schools and congregations. Examples include: committee meetings and community discussions hosted online, webinars on Fair Trade and related issues, online screenings and/or discussions of the Fair Trade Campaigns 2020 National Conference sessions. HOW: select ‘meeting’ or ‘event’ under the goal, note the platform it was hosted on, what topics were covered and a general overview of who attended (committee members, community members, partner organizations, etc.)

*NOTE*: we encourage campaigns to coordinate online screenings and/or discussions around racial justice issues as part of the events & education goal. In the wake of the recent uprisings and momentum around racial justice and Black Lives Matter, we’ve partnered with Fair Trade LA compiled a list of ongoing live online trainings/workshops and recordings on racial justice. You can find them here: https://bit.ly/BLMResourcesForFairTraders.

Resources:

THE GRADUATION PLEDGE

Fair Trade Campaigns is partnering with the Graduation Pledge Alliance to provide opportunities for current, past and upcoming college graduates to advance social & environmental sustainability via the Graduation Pledge!

Taking the Pledge will connect graduates with resources to find careers that deliver impact, engage decision-makers through your job or volunteerism, educate yourself more on the issues that you care about and uncover ways to leverage your power as a consumer to live a sustainable lifestyle. If you’re a recent or upcoming graduate, we invite you to take the Graduation Pledge of Social & Environmental Sustainability and join us in continuing the fight to protect the planet and its people.

Comment, questions, ideas? We want to hear from you! Reach out to Kylie (kylie@fairtradecampaigns.org)

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Kylie Nealis, National Organizer for Fair Trade Colleges & Universities

Kylie brings over 5 years of community organizing and non-profit experience to Fair Trade USA, previously working with Global Exchange and Sierra Club. At Global Exchange she took on a variety of roles including Community Rights Program Associate, Fair Trade Campaign Coordinator, Fair Trade Store Sales Associate and Interim Director of Operations. For the past two years she worked in the Executive Office at Sierra Club providing support to C-level staff and the Board of Directors. Kylie is knowledgeable and passionate about Fair Trade, climate and energy issues, human rights and social and economic justice. Kylie graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a BA in Community Studies and Politics. She also lived in Thailand for 5 years and is conversational in Thai and learning Spanish. In her free time, Kylie enjoys being outdoors, hiking and traveling.