DC Make Trade Fair

What motivated you (or your organization) to become involved in peace and conflict resolution?

I'm motivated to support ttrade justice because of the person-to-person connections we have through commerce. I think about why my family line came to be in this country and I know that economic hardship is exactly what my great-grandparents left Ireland to overcome. Unfortunately, many people living in poverty around the world can't afford to migrate elsewhere for opportunity. Not all people can afford to sell a cow to obtain the money for a ticket out, as the mother of my great-grand father did. However, with all that we know about trade and development, we can help people develop their own communities. Opportunity awaits.

Please feel free to provide a short bio about yourself or the work of your organization (no more than 3 paragraphs)

My interest in trade justice was inspired by a conference held by Americans for Informed Democracy. I was specifically introduced to the the Fair Trade Movement and the Ten Thousand Villages chain. I volunteered as a Sales Associate at the New Haven, CT, store until I moved to DC in October 2005. In November 2006, I launched DC Make Trade Fair!, which was inspired by other national coalitions. I have a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Connecticut and have begun to gain experience in public relations with the non-profit sector. In the future, I will continue my eductaion in international commerce and policy, as I develop my skills to make a career as a Freelance, Ethical Marketing Consultant.

What is your current country of residence (or location of your organization)?

USA

What is your current job (and organization) and/or where and what field are you studying?

Current job: unrelated field. Fields of study: marketing, journalism, international commerce & policy

What is your personal or organizational website?

http://www.fairtradedc.blogspot.com

What is one of your favorite websites in the field? (please provide one answer per box)

http://www.fairtradefederation.com

What is one of your favorite websites in the field? (please provide one answer per box)

http://www.worldofgood.com

Which are your primary sectoral areas of expertise (or the primary sectoral areas of your organization) ?

Development, Education

Which are your primary skills areas(or the primary skill areas of your organization)?

Training, Fundraising, Advocacy, Research

What are some of your current areas of research (if any)?

Consumer response to trade and development and isssues of child labor