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April 2007
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ALUMNI PROFILE |
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SIS Alumni Lead Fair Trade Efforts Last fall, when Carmen Iezzi, SIS/BA ’00, SIS/MA ’01, was named executive director of the Fair Trade Federation, which represents more than 250 fair trade businesses in North America, she knew she had a substantial job to do – in breadth and importance. At age 28, she views her role as the youngest person to lead the group as bringing new energy to an important cause during a key time of growth. “I’m the press spokesperson, the accountant, and I set the overall direction and course for the organization,” says Iezzi of her Washington, D.C.-based organization funded primarily by member dues and some additional partnerships with Oxfam America, Catholic Relief Services, and several other large nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Iezzi explains the goals of the Fair Trade Federation - the only association in North America that supports 100 percent fair trade businesses - as twofold: to educate consumers about why choosing fair trade is important and to support people who are fully committed to fair trade. “We work hard to educate the public, and to help our businesses be better fair traders and better businesses,” she says. That may entail partnering with groups who provide special services to members, helping members with branding and marketing, or connecting businesses and members with the International Fair Trade Association, based in the Netherlands. Running a business where 100 percent of the products are fair trade is neither easy to do nor something a business owner takes on casually, explains Iezzi. "They've chosen to adopt this business model because they believe that practicing fair trade is the best way to alleviate global poverty and empower global producers in the developing world." Some people compare the recent impetus for consumers to buy fair trade products to “the new organic,” because of the media attention and positive trajectory it’s on, says Iezzi. “There are probably more fair trade products in people’s communities than they realize.” Take for example the international handmade gift store called Ten Thousand Villages. It is one of several fair trade brands that’s fast becoming a household name. Others include Divine Chocolate; Dean’s Beans coffee; Equal Exchange coffee, tea, and chocolate; World of Good products such as purses, baskets, and jewelry available in Whole Foods; and the Alter Eco brand of coffee, chocolate, sugar, rice, tea, and other related goods. Without question, the surest way to get more fair trade products in any given market is to ask, says Iezzi. “Go to your manager at your local grocery store,” she suggests. “What’s nice about fair trade is it’s driven by consumer demands. When consumers start to articulate the need for beautiful and affordable goods that are produced in a way that’s sustainable and fair, that’s when the system will change.” Iezzi first learned about fair trade as an AU student. Now, she notes proudly, the Davenport Lounge in SIS sells fair trade coffee, as does Fair Trade Federation member Pura Vida in the Mary Graydon Center, she notes. The SIS Fair Trade Student Association, founded by Brad Hamrlik, SIS/MA ’01, was one of the first fair trade student chapters of the association in the nation and serves as a model for other student fair trade chapters across the country, agree Iezzi and Hamrlik. SIS Professor Jim Lee's Trade Environment Database has gotten quite a bit of international recognition as well. By definition, Fair Trade Federation wholesalers, retailers, and producers are fully committed to seven principles:
In June, thanks to the kindness of SIS Dean Lou Goodman, AU will host the Fair Trade Federation conference, which Iezzi expects will draw nearly 200 Fair Trade Federation members and partners. "Naturally, when I needed to plan my first big event at the Fair Trade Federation, I turned to my alma mater for support," she says. "It will be a great chance to bring more fair trade to AU and to bring AU to the fair trade community." Beth (Heard) Provo, SIS/BA ’98, owner of Marigold Fair Trade Clothing in Olympia, Wash., is already planning her trip. "I'm very excited to return to AU for the upcoming fair trade conference," says Provo, who has been working for the past four years with a fair trade co-op of 200 women from the slums of Mumbai, India. Provo and Tripp Pomeroy, SIS/MA ’94, who runs 100 percent fair trade coffee roaster Café Campesino in Americus, Ga., are two of several alumni Iezzi says are active in the fair trade movement. In the United States, there were $400 million of fair trade sales in 2004, says Iezzi. “That’s out of a multibillion dollar home and gift market. It’s a small percentage presently but has the potential to grow considerably because people in the U.S. are starting to ask more questions about from where their products come.” To find the fair trade stores in your area, visit http://www.fairtradefederation.org/memret.html. -Melissa Reichley
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