|
About Chicago Fair Trade
Chicago Fair Trade was founded in June 2006 to increase support for fair trade in the metro area in response to consumer demands for greater knowledge about the source and quality of products and a deeper understanding of our global connectedness. As corporations moved their operations overseas, there were fewer environmental restrictions and less attention to the blight of workers.
Consumers can be sure that fair trade products are produced with high standards and provide livings wages to workers. The Chicago Fair Trade (CFT) coalition brings together organizations and individuals of diverse faiths, ethnicities and interests committed to the common cause of fair trade and its implications for economic, social, environmental and ethical impact. Since its inception, CFT has grown from 24 founding organizations to more than 70 organizations, including 35 fair trade businesses. CFT member businesses represent links to producers in 35 countries and include a range of fair trade business models. CFT’s rich connections with fair trade producers have inspired numerous activities and partnerships, including:
Securing passage of the Fair Trade Resolution in City Council in February 2010 that begins Chicago’s journey to becoming an official Fair Trade Town; Co-sponsoring an annual World Fair Trade Day celebration in Daley Plaza with the Chicago Department of the Environment; Hosting tours in Chicago for fair trade producers, such as Mexican and Ugandan coffee growers, to highlight fair trade’s positive impact on economically disadvantaged communities; Offering a workshop for United Kenyans of Chicago about starting fair trade businesses; Sponsoring our annual Globalfest gala, which highlights fair trade producers from a different continent each year.
 
But responding to all these opportunities to build awareness for fair trade is very demanding for a young organization with a small staff. Nancy Jones, CFT director, relies on many volunteers and two interns for these activities. Last year she found a new volunteer through WomenOnCall.org, Kyla Springer, who had professional public relations experience. Kyla has been able to take on reaching out to the media on behalf of the organization, editing the annual publication and managing its production, and editing the program for our annual benefit.
“Having someone with these professional skills has been a tremendous gift to our organization,” says Nancy Jones. “Kyla spent time learning about our organization and looked for ways she could strengthen what volunteers were already doing.”
 About Kyla Springer
Most recently, Kyla was a senior account executive at Jasculca Terman and Associates, a Chicago-based public affairs firm. Prior to that, Kyla managed the communications of Counterpart International, a humanitarian aid and development organization in Washington, D.C. She is now pursuing a certificate in nonprofit management and volunteering her time for organizations whose mission she feels passionate about.
“I love working with Chicago Fair Trade because it’s an issue I care about, and one that I think Chicagoans respond to favorably when they better understand it. I hope to help the organization reach more
people and organizations by assisting with its events and publications,” says Kyla. “I love not only helping out with the communications committee activities, but also responding to quick email questions Nancy may have, and sharing advice based on the clients I used to work with.”
“WomenOnCall.org was an incredibly useful tool in finding this volunteer opportunity. I love that I can choose my skill categories and non-profits can reach me with an alert describing their needs. Inever would have known that Chicago Fair Trade needed someone with my experience, and the site easily facilitated our introduction.”
|
