Lead for Change Blog
Webinar: Fair Trade Month Event Planning
August 10, 2012Date: Wednesday, August 15 Time: 5:00 pm PST/8:00 pm EST Register Here! We invite you to register for our next webinar titled, Fair Trade Month Event Planning on Wednesday, August 15. The webinar is 100% free so be sure to reserve your spot today! Why should you attend? It will be perfect for those who […]
Fair Trade Campaigns Conference: Registration Open!
August 7, 2012When: Friday – Sunday, October 26 – 28, 2012 Where: Chicago, IL Register here for the Fair Trade Campaigns Conference! Join us for the second Fair Trade Campaigns National Conference this Fall! The conference will bring together leaders and organizers from Fair Trade Towns and Fair Trade Colleges & Universities campaigns at all stages, as […]
Campaign Spotlight: Pasadena, California
July 26, 2012Fair Trade Pasadena turned 2 years old in January 2012, where the movement has continued to gain momentum in the historic city bordering downtown Los Angeles. The fervor for Fair Trade is not new to Pasadena. Several years ago many organizations and religious groups, along with several enthusiastic city officials, united to help open a Ten Thousand Villages store on Lake Street, the center of a busy shopping market. The stage was set to become a Fair Trade Town.
Registration Open: Fair Trade Campaigns Conference
July 24, 2012When: Friday – Sunday, October 26 – 28, 2012 Where: Chicago, IL Register here for the Fair Trade Campaigns Conference! Join us for the second Fair Trade Campaigns National Conference this Fall! The conference will bring together leaders and organizers from Fair Trade Towns and Fair Trade Colleges & Universities campaigns at all stages, […]
Fair Trade Towns USA Small Grants Program
July 20, 2012As October, the month of Fair Trade, is slowly approaching, we want to remind our campaign organizers to take advantage of the Fair Trade Towns USA Small Grants Program to plan and fund Fair Trade events in their communities. Providing organizers with much needed resources for building capacity, diversifying their outreach, and ensuring the […]
RECORDING: Answering Difficult Questions Webinar
July 18, 2012On July 10, Fair Trade Towns USA hosted a webinar called Answering Difficult Questions in Your Community. With the help of two of our National Steering Committee and local lead organizers, Joan Harper (Fair Trade Los Angeles) and Ryan McDonnell (Fair Trade Boston), this webinar helped to bring clarity to the challenges and issues […]
Go Bananas for Fair Trade this October!
July 12, 2012Take The Challenge We need you to build consumer demand for Fair Trade bananas in your community! Take the Go Bananas Challenge from noon on October 13 to noon on October 21 by organizing Fair Trade banana themed events. Campaigns will submit photos and/or number of bananas eaten at their event(s) to win cool prizes. […]
Organizer Spotlight: Paul Renshaw – Mankato, MN
July 11, 2012Ever wonder what inspires people to start Fair Trade Town campaigns? How about what kind of impact a campaign can make on the availability of Fair Trade products in a community? Get the low-down on Mankato, Minnesota’s phenomenal success through the words of their chair, Paul Renshaw.
Save the Date: National Conference
July 10, 2012Save the Date: National Conference Friday – Sunday, October 26 – 28, 2012 Chicago, IL To bring together Fair Trade enthusiasts from across the nation, Fair Trade Towns & Colleges/ Universities will be organizing the 2nd annual National Conference in Chicago on the weekend of October 26-28. The 3-day gathering will focus on […]
Organizer Spotlight: Laura Mullin – Winter Park, FL
June 28, 2012It is so empowering to be a part of a worldwide campaign. I hope that one day Fair Trade is not just a limited option, but instead the opposite; the only option. I am excited to continue to develop relationships with those dedicated to the fair trade movement. I am proud to know that I have had something to do with the awareness of fair trade in my own community, and I am ready to see this movement grow into something beautiful!
Giveaway: HAE Now OrganicTees
June 26, 2012Looking for a sustainable t-shirt to print for your next fundraiser or event? Or, are you trying to get restaurants and community organizations to embrace Fair Trade with cool options? Then check out HAE Now’s high quality fair trade organic cotton blanks where you’ll find t-shirts, aprons and baby items. Soon you’ll find bistro aprons, polo style t-shirts and wash cloths.
The National Team Grows!
June 8, 2012In February 2012, Fair Trade Towns USA invited four new members to join its National Steering Committee: Joan Harper, Scott Tess, Ashley Fessler, and Elizabeth O’Connell. Each member brings creative ideas and new perspectives to the table, continuing to spread the Fair Trade movement throughout the country with their unique and invaluable experiences. Prior to these fresh faces, the committee consisted of a team of seven people from various backgrounds, such as Fair Trade USA, Fair Trade Resource Network, declared or in-progress Fair Trade Towns, faith-based organizations, and more, all cooperating and working towards the similar vision of a Fair Trade nation. You can find stories and biographies of all current members of the National Steering Committee here.
Fair Trade Photo Contest Accepts Entries June 1-26
June 7, 2012The 4th annual Fair Trade Photo Contest has begun! Educate about Fair Trade, or help spread the word about your business or organization and the beauty of Fair Trade.
Campaign Spotlight: La Mesa, California
June 5, 2012The Fair Trade movement is gaining momentum in La Mesa and throughout San Diego County, thanks to the La Mesa Fair Trade Town steering committee. The word is spreading that, simply by our consumer choices, we can make a difference for the environment, the marginalized and local businesses.
Campaign: Bethlehem, New York
May 24, 2012By Anna McMahon, Lead Organizer, Fair Trade Bethlehem The Fair Trade Bethlehem NY campaign began in May 2009 with a Fair Trade coffee-sampling outside one of our independent cafes. Since then we have expanded our efforts in many directions: organising public events; taking presentations to local schools and community groups; generating media interest and […]
Fair Trade USA and Partners Deliver Record Impact in 2011
May 24, 2012Community Development Premiums Empower and Improve Fair Trade Farming Communities; Impact Driven by Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration By: Fair Trade USA Fair Trade USA recently released its 2011 Almanac, an annual publication which provides detailed information on the supply and impact of Fair Trade Certified products. According to the Almanac, in 2011 farmers and farm workers […]
Giveaway: Kopali Organics
May 21, 2012Win 1 of 3 FREE bags of Fair Trade Certified Kopali Chocolate Bananas! Find out how at the bottom of this post. Kopali Organics: What’s In A Name? Did you know Kopali (ko*pah*lee) is an ancient Mexican Nahuatl word meaning “incense”, particularly identified with the forms of tree sap resin used as a […]
Fair Trade Tour with Indian Artisan Coordinator, Lata Kachhawaha
May 11, 2012Lata Kachhawaha joins Handmade Expressions and Fair Trade Towns for a fair trade tour along the west coast. There are millions of artisans around the world who live in poverty. Lata Kachhawa is a passionate social activist who has devoted her life to improving the conditions of such impoverished artisans, particularly women. Lata ji founded […]