Fair Trade Futures Conference  

From September 10-12, 2010, the Fair Trade Futures Conference will bring together entrepreneurs, students, advocates, faith community members, concerned citizens, interested individuals, and others in Boston, MA for the largest Fair Trade event in North American history!

The event will include workshops, debates, discussions, social activities, and an exposition of 50+ Fair Trade vendors to educate and inspire about the holistic approach to business and poverty alleviation that Fair Trade provides. Sessions include

• The Politics of Fair Trade Certification and Governance
• Embracing Social Media to Grow Your Business
• How to Be An Effective Fair Trade Advocate
• Beyond Fair Trade� the next generation
• How to Sustain your Sustainable Business
• Media Magic: Getting the Message Out
• Keys to a Successful Fair Trade Town Campaign
• Sales Skills Training for Fair Trade Retailers
• Kids: Creating a Fair Trade Future
• Fair Trade 101
• And More!

The Futures Conference also offers opportunities to share our different views on key factors influencing the future of Fair Trade. In the spirit of cooperation, we will also host a number of debates:

• Value vs. Volume: Different Theories of Change in Fair Trade
• Does Fair Trade Deliver on its Promise?
• Is Certification Compatible with Fair Trade?
• What is the Future of Fair Trade?

Representatives of four producer organizations and two Northern organizations have also been invited to share their perspectives in a signature speech:

• Kevin Danaher, Co-Founder and Public Education Director, Global Exchange
• Santiago Paz - Founder of CEPICAFE which represents coffee, cocoa, fruits and sugar cane producers of the Piuran mountains and the northeast of Peru
• Gaston Vizcarra - President of Candela Peru, a WFTO member which offers FLO certified Brazil nuts and Brazil nut oils
• Safia Minney, Founder, People Tree UK (Invited)
• Gisele Fleurant (Invited) - Director of Comite Artisanal Haitien (CAH), which represents more than 170 individual Haitian artisans and groups
• Esther Gyepi-Garbrah (Invited) - Seamstress and co-founder of Global Mamas, a cooperative of women batikers, bead-makers, soap producers in Ghana