Lead for Change Blog
Fair Trade Campaigns’ Newest Regional Network: The Great Lakes
August 10, 2017Fair Trade Campaigns has experienced rapid growth over the past few years. We now have over 250 Fair Trade Campaigns in communities, K-12 schools, congregations and on college campuses across the country! To meet this growth, we’ve developed regional networks across the country comprised of regional fellows and volunteer leadership teams to better connect our […]
Trip Report: Fair Trade Advocacy in Ecuador
August 1, 2017Fair Trade Towns is a global movement. Today, there are almost 2,000 Fair Trade Towns in 30 countries around the world. During our recent trip to Ecuador, we had the chance to connect with local Fair Trade organizers from the country’s two Fair Trade Towns – Quito and Riobamba – and learn so much about […]
Learning from Leaders in Fair Trade
July 11, 2017Awareness of Fair Trade in the U.S. has been steadily growing in the past decade. A significant driving force in this growth has been the active organizing by Fair Trade advocates throughout the country. In keeping with this rising tide, it is important to learn from longstanding campaigners about their experiences to ensure an impactful Fair […]
Fair Trade Campaigns in the Media – Spring 2017
June 30, 2017Our campaigns have been making great progress all over the country, and getting a lot of media attention for it! From newly declared Fair Trade campaigns to Fair Trade educational events, there’s a lot of good news to share. OLP Becomes 29th Fair Trade School in Nation Academy of Our Lady of Peace, January 25, 2017 […]
A Look Back at the 2016-17 Academic Year
June 27, 2017As the 2016-17 academic year comes to a close, let’s reflect on all of the progress that our college, university and K-12 school campaigns have made over the past year. The Movement is Growing! At the end of August 2016, Fair Trade Colleges & Universities started its 8th year with: 37 Declared Colleges and Universities And Fair Trade […]
Fair Trade in Your Classroom – Lesson Plans
June 16, 2017Bring Fair Trade education into your classroom with Lesson Plans from Fair Trade Campaigns At Fair Trade Campaigns, we are always looking for new ways to raise awareness about Fair Trade and provide resources to support our dedicated campaigners around the country. This new project combines both of these goals in one package. In conjunction […]
Fair Trade on the Ground: A Visit to Doi Chaang Coffee Farm in Thailand
June 8, 2017Last November, I had an amazing opportunity to visit a Fair Trade farm for the first time in my life. Even though six months has passed since my visit, it feels like it was yesterday because of the lasting impact that the experience had on me. As the National Organizer for Fair Trade Colleges & […]
The Power of Fair Trade Advocacy: From Los Angeles, California to Port-au-Prince, Haiti
May 22, 2017Fair Trade advocacy connects individuals from different ages, backgrounds, interests, passions, and even geographies. As a college student who is new to advocacy and nonprofit work, I was eager to become the Southern California Colleges & Universities Fellow to gain work experience – little did I know that I would come to value the people […]
Celebrate World Fair Trade Day!
May 1, 2017This year, May 13 marks the fifteenth annual celebration of World Fair Trade Day. In communities around the world, people will come together to show their support for Fair Trade and celebrate the benefits that Fair Trade provides to producers and their families. And we want to invite YOU to be part of the celebration! Whether you […]
It’s a Fashion Revolution
April 27, 2017Have you heard the latest buzz about Fair Trade fashion and ethical branding? It’s a hot topic for a diverse audience all around the globe. Why? Because Fair Trade fashion matters. This is a topic that heavily affects us all – 1 in 6 people on Earth are involved in the global fashion industry in some way, […]
Fair Trade Spices: Small Product, Large Environmental Impact
April 20, 2017There are small changes we can make every day that contribute to environmental sustainability. As a Fair Trade enthusiast I am always excited to find new Fair Trade products. Not everything that we purchase, need, or want is Fair Trade certified, and when these products are not available I do my best to buy local, […]
How Fair Trade Impacts Health Around the World
April 7, 2017In celebration of World Health Day, which was established to commemorate the creation of the World Health Organization, let’s take a look at some of the ways that Fair Trade helps farmers and workers pursue better health care and achieve a more sustainable way of living. The UN Declaration of Human Rights proclaims that all […]
Fair Trade Campaigns is Hiring 2017-18 Fellows
March 27, 2017UPDATE 6/19/17: Applications are now closed for all regions except the Southwest. To apply for the Southwest Regional Fellowship, please apply online by Friday, June 30. 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 […]
From Students to Fair Trade Entrepreneurs
March 23, 2017Students have played an integral role in shaping and growing the Fair Trade movement across the country. From UCLA in California to Green Mountain College in Vermont, students work to educate their classmates, spread awareness to administrators, and make sure their campus sells products that provide better working and living conditions for those that make […]
Fair Trade Your Graduation and Support Artisans in Guatemala
March 15, 2017Graduation is the first day of the rest of your life – what will you wear? The following is a guest post, written by Allison Havens, Executive Director of Y’abal Handicrafts. Have you ever stopped and marveled at the artistic masterpiece that is your clothing? Ever wonder how each minuscule thread in your fabric […]
Fuel Up For Finals With Fair Trade – Spring 2017
March 3, 2017Spring 2017 – Program Highlights We worked with 65 campaigns on college and high school campuses across the country who have strong relationships with retailers and food service and are influential voices in their communities. Over 8,000 people were reached through campus events including students, staff and faculty. Schools with the largest turnout were Academy of Our Lady of Peace High School in San Diego, CA (750 attendees), Texas A&M University […]
Fair Trade: A Movement for All
February 3, 2017True fair trade is about mutually beneficial relationships rooted in trust and respect spanning geographic and cultural boundaries. As a global movement, fair trade brings attention to people around the world who work under exploitative conditions and highlights the true costs of goods in global supply chains. Organizations and activists, businesses and brands, farmers, workers […]
Coffee Is Not Produced Alone
January 12, 2017Social transformation through Fair Trade cooperatives in Peru How often do we think about the source of where our coffee comes from, if at all? Brought from thousands of miles away, do we know whether the people who farm and harvest the coffee beans are fairly compensated for their labor? Last October, I got a […]