Market-Building Grants

Photo courtesy of John Carroll University

Fair Trade without education and action can be little more than an empty marketing strategy. The Fair Trade Fund supports efforts here in the United States that help build the Fair Trade movement as a force for economic justice. A great example is the effort at John Carroll University (JCU) to combine the selling of Fair Trade with the sharing of its messages of empowerment and sustainability. In 2007, the Campus Ministry of JCU received a Fund grant to support the work of Fair Trade interns, Natalie Terry and Scott Zimmerman. During the 2007-2008 school year, they worked as a team to create a range of fun learning opportunities to attract their fellow students to the movement. On special occasions, these JCU interns promoted Fair Trade products for purchase, and they consistently worked with the dining hall service at the university to explain why commitment to Fair Trade coffee was essential to their Jesuit mission. The office of Campus Ministry itself pours Equal Exchange coffee, and the annual holiday festival on campus featured Work of Human Hands items.

As part of their outreach to professors and students, the interns created a page on the JCU website dedicated entirely to Fair Trade. Scott explains, "I feel like everyone has their part to do, and I felt a strong inclination toward Fair Trade. I didn't really know too much about it before taking the position, and I feel like it is a great opportunity for me to learn about Fair Trade and to educate others on the topic." Natalie is also helping spread the word about Fair Trade beyond the boundaries of her campus. Recently she was elected to head up a national campaign conducted by the United Students for Fair Trade, an organization also supported by the Fund in the past. Leading the "full Monty" campaign, Natalie will work with other student activists to guarantee 100% Fair Trade product lines for their campuses. Scott and Natalie were guided in their efforts by Christopher Kerr, Coordinator of Social Justice Initiatives and Immersion Experiences at JCU. CRS Fair Trade is proud to have certified Chris as a Fair Trade Ambassador last year because of his passionate and persistent pursuit of economic justice. Check out this video on YouTube to see more about the many ways JCU is cultivating "A Faith that Does Justice."

Use the menu at left to read more profiles of some of the CRS Fair Trade Fund market building grants.