Got something to say? I invite you join me on January 10th to engage local experts at a forum to discuss the disruptive nature of the Fair Trade economic model. This will be the third such discussion that the Greater Boston Vineyard has hosted in the past year. My favorite part of these small gatherings has been the opportunity to meet and socialize with like-minded people about issues of social justice. At our gathering in October, we shared our experiences with the Fair Trade movement, sustainable farming, and poverty in developing nations while sampling ice-cream sundaes made with Fair Trade Certifiedâ„¢ ingredients. This time we’ll be doing much of the same while eating baked goods and hot cocoa.

At the discussion, local experts are slated to talk about the history, successes, and challenges of the Fair Trade movement. Ample time will be reserved to ensure that you can share your story about social justice too, if you wish. Featured speakers include Anna Utech, director of Equal Exchange‘s Interfaith Program, Liz Green, lead organizer for Fair Trade Boston, and Ryan McDonnell, executive director at the Boston Faith & Justice Network. Perhaps you want to do more than talk. Use this opportunity to discover how you can involve yourself in the effort to fight poverty on either a personal or community level just as Fair Trade Boston moves into the final stages of its campaign to have the city of Boston declare itself a Fair Trade Town.

I hope you’ll come to learn more and support this critical movement! Please register (so that we know how many cookies and other treats to bake!)

January 10, 2010 | 1:15-3:00PM

Greater Boston Vineyard Offices

15 Notre Dame Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140

Fair Trade enables farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty by investing in their farms and communities, protecting the environment, and providing access to the global economy. Fair Trade principles include fair price, fair labor conditions, direct trade, democratic and transparent organizations, community development, and environmental sustainability.

Jeff Purser has a real passion to find sustainable solutions to eliminate extreme poverty. He serves as a community organizer for Fair Trade Boston and lives near Central Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Check out the most recent blog post from Fair Trade Towns USA to learn about Fair Trade activities this holiday season, and for a fun video showcasing the Fair Trade zeal of high school students in Montclair, New Jersey.

It is with great pride and excitement that I can announce that Sunday
– September 13, 2009 – marked the first day that the Greater Boston Vineyard
served Fair Trade Certified™ coffee and sugar in its Sunday
morning café. This was no random, quick decision. It took a 7-month
advocacy effort from a team of volunteers dedicated to seeing a shift
in the way that our church purchases and consumes products. To
celebrate we affixed permanent stickers to the coffee pots and a
permanent sign next to the condiments in the Vineyard Cafe. As people
filed in before and after services, volunteers had the opportunity to
talk with them about simple ways that they could combat poverty every
day. The response was overwhelmingly positive. Now that our team has
made the switch at our own church, we are ready to focus our efforts
on advocating for increased exposure and use of Fair Trade
Certified™ products in our larger community. We are excited to
see Boston become a Fair Trade Town in 2010.

Cafe crowd enjoying the new FTC coffee in the Vineyard Cafe.

A man pours a cup of justice.

Jeff Purser has a real passion
to find sustainable solutions to eliminate extreme poverty. He
recently completed his MBA at Northeastern University and lives near
Central Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts.