Lead for Change Blog
Campaign Goals Revisions in Response to COVID-19
July 1, 2020Dear 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 […]
How the University of Iowa Became the First Fair Trade University in the Big Ten
May 22, 2020Wow, we made the University of Iowa a Fair Trade University! The news broke on April 8th after the President signed our resolution. Honestly, this was a shock to me. I did not expect administration to be focused on procurement policies during a global pandemic, but hey, I’m not complaining! Now that we’ve achieved our […]
We’re Hiring: 2020-21 Fellowship Applications Now Open!
April 16, 2020Learn more and apply here: https://bit.ly/FTC2020-21Fellow Are you passionate about Fair Trade and social justice? Are you a student or recent graduate looking for rewarding part-time work? Do you want to gain hands-on experience supporting grassroots organizers, developing leaders, building regional networks, and executing communications strategies? If you answered yes to any of these questions, […]
Advocacy in the Time of COVID-19
April 6, 2020By Billy Linstead Goldsmith, Director of Fair Trade Campaigns. As we all grapple with the upheaval to our everyday lives, our attention is naturally becoming hyper-focused on the things and people immediately surrounding us. For students, campuses closing with little warning has interrupted close friendships and campus initiatives. New learning styles are now required and […]
Highlights from the 2020 Virtual National Conference
April 1, 2020From March 18th-21st, we brought over 400 Fair Trade partners, advocates and supporters together online for four days of learning, inspiration and exploring the intersectionality of the Fair Trade movement. Building on the energy of the 2018 conference in Washington, DC and the 2019 National Conference in Chicago, IL, it was an inspiring reminder of […]
Share the Love: Valentine’s Day 2020
January 14, 2020On February 14, many of us take time to show extra love to the special people in our lives. This Valentine’s Day, we’re partnering with Alter Eco and inviting you to share the love with the farmers behind your Fair Trade chocolate. Why Chocolate? The global cocoa market’s value is estimated at almost $10 billion […]
Year in Review: Top 10 Achievements of 2019
December 20, 20192019 was an exciting year for Fair Trade Campaigns! Let’s take a look back at the Top 10 Achievements of the year. 1) We welcomed nearly 400 advocates, supporters and partners to the 2019 National Conference in Chicago, IL. In March 2019, we spent three inspiring days learning from leaders from across the Fair Trade […]
Fair Trade Your Holidays – 2019
November 14, 2019To help take some of the stress out of your holiday preparations, we’ve rounded up a collection of Fair Trade gift guides and recipes right here. Did we miss your holiday favorites? Share in the comments below! The holiday season is a time to gather and give thanks with family and friends. However you celebrate, […]
Meet the Speakers: Fair Trade Campaigns 2020 National Conference
October 31, 2019Innovating for a Just and Sustainable Future Conversations at Fair Trade Campaigns 2020 National Conference will highlight intersections between sustainability, social justice and Fair Trade, and explore solutions for a just and sustainable future with advocates, brands, nonprofit organizations, and producers themselves. The program will feature inspiring keynotes, engaging breakout sessions and interactive networking with […]
Farewells and Welcomes: Fair Trade Campaigns Fellows
October 31, 2019As the Fair Trade movement continues to grow across the U.S., we are more grateful than ever for the strength of our regional networks. In the Mid Atlantic, Northeast, Southwest and Great Lakes, these networks bring together town, college and university, school and congregation campaigns to learn from and collaborate with one another. None of this […]
Fair Trade Finals Fall 2019
October 16, 2019Fall 2019 Fair Trade Finals Sign-up by Nov. 11th: http://bit.ly/FTFinalsSIgnUp Always wanted to host a Fair Trade Event? Here’s your chance to get free materials for a Fair Trade event this semester! Donations from a few generous Fair Trade partners make it possible for us to support campaigns hosting a Fair Trade study break or […]
Bring Your Campus to LA for #FTConf2020: A Student Perspective
September 27, 2019Last spring, I had the opportunity to attend the Fair Trade Campaigns National Conference alongside other University of Iowa students and Fair Trade advocates. Our student organization, Fair Trade at Iowa, was able to take advantage of the Campus Partner Program, which allowed us to bring 13 students from Iowa City to Chicago! We […]
Campaign Spotlight: Quincy, MA
September 16, 2019Fair Trade advocates and campaigners tend to share one desire, and that is to spread Fair Trade awareness to their neighbors and friends. As most of you already know, this is not always as easy as it sounds. Between coordinating with campaign members, finding time and space for community outreach and attracting participants, hosting events […]
Petition | End the Humanitarian Crisis in the Coffee Industry
September 6, 2019Sign the petition to demand better for coffee farmers and call on coffee companies to pay fair prices. “When the price is good, we have work, but when it isn’t, we have no money to pay the rent, no money for food, no money for the doctor,” said Angela Poló Gámez, a coffee picker from […]
Campaign Spotlight: James River High School
August 13, 2019As a recent graduate, I can still remember that bitter-sweet feeling of wanting to see my friends, but not wanting to take exams. Since I won’t be heading back to school this fall, the feelings I have are all sweet as I think about what our student advocates are planning for the upcoming year. To […]
Partner Spotlight: Ten Thousand Villages
July 22, 2019Ten Thousand Villages is a strong ally in the Fair Trade movement and, with thoughtful organizing, can be a game-changer in the progress of a Fair Trade Town campaign. When people think of Fair Trade items, they often think of coffee, tea and chocolate; the three classics. However, there are also plenty of opportunities to […]
Bringing Fair Trade to Campus
July 12, 2019University of California Santa Cruz student reflects on her Fair Trade journey and starting her school’s Fair Trade University campaign. My name is Saajia Bidar and I am a senior at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC). This is my second year working on our Fair Trade campaign. I was introduced to Fair Trade […]
Academic Year in Review: 2018-19
June 17, 2019Now that we’ve reached the end of the 2018-19 academic year, it’s time to look back on our accomplishments. We are so happy to see how much our work has grown over the past year, thanks to our amazing Fair Trade advocates across the country! Fair Trade Campaigns is always growing. Throughout the last year, […]