The Coffee Prayer (from Catholic Relief Services)

A prayer for all those people who work to make the coffee we drink, at any stage of production

La oración del café

Amado Señor

Bebo esto en solidaridad con quienes plantaron las semillas,
en solidaridad con quienes cultivaron la tierra,
en solidaridad con quienes regaron los árboles,
en solidaridad con quienes cosecharon los granos,
en solidaridad con quienes trajeron la cosecha al mercado

¡Ha habido un largo proceso detrás de la preparación de esta bebida!
Con cada sorbo, rezo por justicia para todos los que participaron en el proceso.
Rezo especialmente por aquellos cuya pobreza
les impide disfrutarde la abundancia que tú nos concedes.
Solidaridad y justicia: ¡esos son nuestros desafíos!
Pero una cosa he aprendido de ti Señor,
y es que con nuestros pequeños gestos haces grandes milagros,
y que todos podemos ser uno y vivir unidos en ti.

Amen

Small Business Saturday #ABQ: Local & Socially Conscious Gift Ideas

On Small Business Saturday (and ahead of #GivingTuesday), we would like to highlight  a handful of local organizations that serve the community by creating jobs for low-income people or providing space for artistic expressions. You can support some of these organizations with a donation during the holiday season. In some instances, you can make a purchase. We also list a couple of small businesses that offer unique gifts that are produced almost entirely here in Albuquerque.

Supporting Community Arts

from Artful Life website

You can make a donation during the holidays to one of these three organizations. Art Street (a project of Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless) and OffCenter Community Arts Project each offer an open studio, a space for anyone and everyone to create various forms of art. Artful Life is a New Mexico-based community organization dedicated to transforming communities through the beauty and power of collaborative art.

• Donate to OffCenter: Our mission is to promote positive self-identity and resilience through art-making by providing a safe environment for creative social interaction with an emphasis to enhance the lives of those most marginalized in our community, "
• Donate to Art Street (via AHCH): Our community-based project and collective open studio space where art is used as the connection for community-building for those without and those with homes. Art therapists also facilitate closed group sessions weekly for sub-sections of AHCH clients.
• Donate to Artful Life. Together, artists and residents of underserved communities work together over months and years to co-envision, co-design and co-create significant works of art. In doing so, they find each other in new ways, discover the power of working in teams, and create.  Their creative work tells the public who they are, where they live, and what they dream. 

Textiles, Creativity and Job Opportunities

from Southwest Creations website

A handful of organizations and businesses in Albuquerque offer low-income women the opportunity to learn about the textile and confection business. Southwest Creations Collaborative was organized as a sewing and handwork poverty alleviation project 13 years ago with a single goal: to provide dignified, living wage employment to women from low-income communities. Tenderlove Community Center teaches skills to women that allow them to enter or re-enter the job market after traumatic circumstances, including survival of domestic violence or incarceration.

• Donate to Southwest Creations Collaborative. Since we opened our doors in 1994 we have provided dignified employment while improving access to education for youth and adults. We have also developed and implemented proven strategies in college readiness, family engagement, early childhood development, employability and leadership.
• Donate to Tenderlove Community Center. Our sewing curriculum gives women a sense of accomplishment while learning marketable skills. Skills learned in sewing classes are transferable to other jobs and situations, making our students employable across the job market. Sewing allows caregivers to adapt their work schedules to accommodate family needs while continuing to help support themselves and their family.
• Kei & Molly Textiles, founded in 2010, opened its retail space in the International District of Albuquerque in April 2017. One of the missions of the company is to help and employ immigrants in the community. "We are committed to creating good jobs in this area, and work with refugee resettlement programs to find many of our employees. We provide on-the-job training, health and education benefits, flexible hours, and, we hope, a great place to work," said the company website. Textiles designed by Kei Tsuzuki and Molly Luethi are sold around the county, and the new retail space (located at 4400 Silver Ave. SE) makes the items more accessible locally.  Shop for products online.  See list of other retail locations nationwide that carry items from Kei & Molly Textiles.
• Common Good Thrift and Consigment (2902 Eubank NE) is an upscale thrift store that raises funds to support the  community programs of East Central Ministries while also providing volunteers with vocational development, in the form of skills and experience in retail and customer service. The store accepts donations of clothing and furniture during regular business hours, Tues - Fri 10 am to 5 pm, and Saturdays 10 am - 4 pm. 
• Immigrant and Refugee Village of Albuquerque serves low or no income, vulnerable kids and families who are refugees, immigrants, and locals, without discrimination, including the homeless and almost homeless populations. A principal objective of the organization is to prevent homelessness by creating a sustainable program to train and hire 75 people annually through the manufacture of traditionally inspired garments and accessories for eventual sale online in New Mexico and globally. The organization also promotes education and gardening (including nutrition). Donate to the IRVA (via paypal)

Food and Agriculture
Here are three totally different ways to support local programs or purchase local products.

Three Sisters Kitchen opened in 2017 to fulfill a need and to complement existing food and health programming in Albuquerque. This is a place for people to come together to eat, cook, learn, and build. As a discovery-based test kitchen, community classroom and local foods shop we support the incubation of new ideas and work towards our vision of a food-secure community with a vibrant culture of health and a deep commitment to food and economic justice Donate

 La Cosecha, a community supported agriculture project of Agri‑Cultura Network, feeds more than 300 families every week in Albuquerque. Agri-Cultura Network is comprised of nine local farms committed to using sustainable practices to grown food for our community. "We work to create a healthier food system, build self-sufficiency among local farmers and families, and improve community health by increasing access to healthy, affordable, locally-grown food and community-based nutrition education," said La Cosecha CSA" We offer members the opportunity to invest in local farms and receive weekly bags of locally grown, sustainably produced, fresh fruits & vegetables as the return on your investment." La Cosecha CSA provides subsidized and sponsored produce for qualified low-income families.  Learn More about Joining the Project

Los Poblanos Farm Shop. Located on the historic Los Poblanos Ranch in Albuquerque's North Valley, the shop features artisan lavender products and a broad selection of farm foods, books, seeds, kitchen tools, linens, household items and much more. "We take pride in hand-crafting quality, meaningful products for you and your family."  Shop for Gifts

(Note: This is Part 2 of our ethical trade series for this year.  Part 1 listed organizations that offer Fair Trade products in Albuquerque and Santa Fe)

On 'Golden Friday,' Shop Locally for Fair Trade Presents

Image from Ten Thousand Villages

A search on the internet for the term Golden Friday found two results: the Friday after Pentecost in the Orthodox Christian Church and the practice of some employers to give occasional Fridays off to employees.

A couple of stores in Albuquerque that sell fair trade items are using the term Golden Friday to substitute for Black Friday for a promotion today.

 "Nob Hill Fabrics, HoonArts, and Baskets of Africa will begin the weekend with "Golden Friday," continue on to "Small Business Saturday," and finish up with "Spectacular Sunday." You'll have so much shopping success and fun with us that you'll be able to skip "Cyber Monday" altogether.

In other words, on this day (and every day of the Christmas shopping season), buy presents not only with your loved ones in mind but also in consideration of the small independent artisans and producers in other countries that will benefit from your business.

At one time, there were two principal destinations for people seeking fair trade products in our area: Peacecraft in Albuquerque and Ten Thousand Villages in Santa Fe.  Unfortunately, those two stores were not able to stay in business.  But we still have at least four options to acquire fair trade products from overseas and items produced by local artisans.

Zulu Ilala Palm

Baskets of Africa offers a wide variety of high quality, true Fair Trade, baskets from throughout the African continent. Each of these uniquely handwoven baskets are individually photographed for your shopping convenience.You can choose with confidence, knowing that you will receive the exact basket you see on display ( online). It is always our goal to provide beautiful, functional, and unique African arts and crafts for the home, office, or gifts - while fully implementing Fair Trade principles to further the economic development of the African basket weavers.The retail site (by appointment) is located at 4603 McLeod Rd NE. Call 505-323-2315

Embroidered shoulder bag, Arunicrafts

HoonArts Fair Trade is dedicated to bringing unique, high quality handmade arts and crafts from Tajikistan and other countries along the Great Silk Road to the US market, using Fair Trade principles. "HoonArts" is the fusion of the Tajik word "hoonar" or "hunar," meaning "art" or "craft," and the English word "arts." We hope that HoonArts will serve as the first major handicrafts bridge between Tajikistan and the US, helping to preserve and promote traditional Tajik handicrafts while also promoting economic development for the artisans, many of whom are impoverished women in rural mountain areas. The showroom, called Artisans Nook, shares space with Nob Hill Fabrics, 4401 Cutler NE.

Fiesta Earrings

Lillybead Jewelry offers fairly traded handwoven jewelry supporting young indigenous women from Santa Cruz, a remote rustic village of a few thousand people on the shores of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. The young artisans produce earrings, charms, and a broad array of bracelets. The U.S. operation is based in Santa Fe, but there is no actual retail location. (Project founder Lilly Jacobs lives in Santa Cruz, Guatemala). All transactions for the jewelry, certified by the Fair Trade Federation, are conducted by mail. Order here

Nicaragua Pottery

The Next Best Thing to Being There carries a multitude of unique home goods. The shop is an eclectic mix of modern and antique products; bringing in different cultures from all around the world. The shop carries fair-trade items from Soma Artisans from Turkey and pottery from the residents of San Juan de Oriente, a small village nestled among volcanoes in Nicaragua. The shop is located at 1315 Mountain Rd NW, in the Sawmill District of Albuquerque.

 Other Selected Fair Trade Sites

Colores del Pueblo
"Since 1997 we have been working with artisan cooperatives in Latin America and primarily Guatemala. Through fair trade practices we hope to inspire postive change in the world. Not only does paying a fair wage help families and communites rise above the cycle of poverty, but it gives them an incentive to continue cultural craft traditions like weaving, basket-making, pottery-making, woodworking and more. And by paying a just wage, our customers are ensured a quality hand-made product."  See Full Mission

Partners for Just Trade
"We are committed to a holistic approach to fair trade. For us, it goes beyond ensuring fair wages and healthy, safe work conditions. It includes our long-term partnerships with artisans in Peru, Haiti, and Cambodia to help grow their businesses and strengthen their communities."

There are many retailers around the country that offer fair trade products online or through local businesses. One good way to find other sites is to conduct a search via a Fair Trade Federation Search

(Note: This is the first in a two-part series of local fair-trade shopping. The second part will feature organizations and stores that sell products made by immigrant, homeless and other local artists). 

Advocating for Albuquerque to Sign the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact

We will work to develop sustainable food systems that are inclusive, resilient, safe and diverse. -The Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (signed by 159 mayors around the world)

Local actions are critical to achieving the goal of eradicating hunger and malnutrition, guaranteeing more sustainable food systems which are also more resilient to the effects of climate change, and ensuring a healthy and nutritious diet for all. -Graziano da Silva, director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization at Valencia meeting

Photo: Milan Urban Food Policy Pact website

On October 20, representatives from 159 cities gathered in Valencia, Spain, for the third mayor's meeting of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact, an international protocol created on World Food Day 2015 to offer cities around the world an opportunity to work together on developing that are based on the principles of sustainability and social justice. (The concept was actually conceived in 2014, when the city of Milan in Italy joined with 40 other cities to consul and exchange views on how the pact would be constructed). The annual gatherings, which occur around World Food Day, provide the mayors and other city officials  an opportunity for signatory cities to exchange ideas and share their progress in meeting the goals of the pact.

A commitment from 159 Cities
Many of the cities that have signed the agreement are in Europe, but a few others are located in Latin America, Asia and Africa. The world's largest cities have subscribed to the agreement, including Rio de Janeiro, Paris, New York, Toronto, São Paulo, Moscow, Beijing, Brussels, Berlin, London, Rome, Mexico City, Seoul, Barcelona, Dubai and Chicago. Other large cities in the U.S. that have signed the pact include Baltimore, Miami, Pittsburgh and San Francisco.

In Latin America these cities have signed the agreement: Guatemala City, Tegucigalpa (Honduras), Quito (Ecuador), Córdoba (Argentina), Mar del Plata (Argentina), Mendoza (Argentina), La Paz (Bolivia), Belo Horizonte (Brazil), Garulhos (Brazil), and Bogotá (Colombia).

Albuquerque should consider subscribing to the agreement, especially with a coming change in administration.  A couple of US cities below 1 million population--Austin, Texas (population 947,000) and West Sacramento (population 53,000) are part of this family of 159 cities. In fact, a large number of smaller  cities around the world have made a commitment to address hunger and promote sustainability ahd fair trade through the pact. Some of these cities have a population smaller than our population of 560,00 in Albuquerque.They include, among others, Lyon in France (484,000), Utrecht in the Netherlands (334,000),Yeosu in South Korea (295,000), Sacile in Italy (19,000), Haapslau in Estonia (10,000) and  Navàs in Spain  6,000.

An Opportunity to Network
So what's in it for Albuquerque? The most obvious advantage would be the opportunity to network with other cities that have implemented food strategies and sustainable practices focused on food security, the fight against hunger and obesity, waste reduction, youth education and fair trade purchases.

The Milan Pact has also developed a Food Network Alliance, an effort to promote collaboration with different regional, national and international cities networks in order to foster the peer-to-peer exchanges. If Albuquerque were to join the agreement, our city could be connected with Austin and West Sacramento. The experiences of other U.S. cities like Pittsburgh, Baltimore and San Francisco might be useful.

And here's a thought. Albuquerque could join along with its sister cities of Guadalajara (Mexico), Chihuahua (Mexico), Alburquerque (Spain), Ashgabat (Turkmenistan), Helmstedt (Germany), Hualien (Taiwan), Lanzhou (China) and Rehovot (Israel).

Joining the Urban Food Policy Pact would represent a major step for Albuquerque to address hunger and sustainability issues in our community. How about it, Mayor Tim Keller or Mayor Dan Lewis? Of course, joining the pact would have to gain the support of the City Councilors Brad Winter, Don Harris, Pat Davis, Diane Gibson, Trudy Jones, Ken Sanchez, Isaac Benton and the winner of the runoff between Cynthia Borrego and Robert Aragon. (Citizens of Albuquerque, don't forget to vote in the Runoff Election on November 14. Here are the poll locations for both early voting and the actual election dayfor the runoffs for mayor and City Council District 5).

Hurricane Harvey's Long Reach

This tragic disaster is a reminder that the whole world is now tied together in a way that cannot be unwound, no matter the rhetoric of politicians the world over. As a citizen of the world, and a Fair Trade business owner, my vision is to help cement those ties in a way that no one "drowns" (physically or metaphorically) when disaster strikes anywhere in the world.

 By Rikki Quintana

Right now, I'm sitting in a hotel room in Anaheim, California, contemplating the global impact of what seems like only a local disaster, even if one of epic proportions for the modern US:Hurricane Harvey, in southeast Texas and Louisiana. The regional economic impact is expected to be in the tens of billions of dollars. But even that can't really be evaluated yet, because Harvey is still dumping rain in its painfully slow travel route, the waters are still rising in much of Southeast Texas and Louisiana, and more rainfall is expected to fall next week.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Entire towns are under water, and it will take days, if not weeks, for the waters to recede. It is now estimated that this storm has produced more local rain over its life than any other storm in recorded US history (over 50 inches in many parts of Houston). Tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of homes will probably be entirely lost, and many homeowners are not covered by insurance, since the flood has extended well beyond the recognized and insurable "flood zones." The loss of life is small so far (11 people), but may grow, and the emotional and economic impact on the individual people of the region will be unfathomable.

So, what does that have to do with a business like HoonArts Fair Trade, based in Albuquerque, New Mexico (many hundreds of miles away and safely dry)? How could it possibly impact artisans living in Central Asia on the other side of the globe?

I am scheduled to be an exhibitor at the Houston International Quilt Festival the first week of November, a short 2 months away. This event was anticipated to be our biggest show of the year, and probably our biggest show ever, since the show normally draws 55,000 to 60,000 people.

Right now, the downtown Convention Center where the Festival is scheduled to be held is atemporary shelter occupied by over 10,000 people who had to evacuate their homes due to life-threatening flooding. There is no estimate of when the Convention Center will be back in operation hosting events. Right now, all highways into the city are closed, and rescue and recovery vehicles will probably be occupying those highways for a long time after they become passable.

We don't know the status of the hotel where I have reserved a room. We don't know how long it will take the local airports to become operational again. Even if the Quilt Festival does go forward, we don't know how many local people will be able to attend, given the new economic reality of the area. Orhow many out-of-towners will brave the unknown, so soon after a disaster of this magnitude.

I have purchased inventory (and ordered more) in anticipation of the Festival. I can't predict today whether I'll be able to sell that inventory, whether or not the Festival goes forward. If I can't sell the inventory, that means my ability to purchase more inventory from our small artisan groups in Central Asia will suffer dramatically. It also means that other plans, like new product design, and possibly hiring a professional designer/pattern maker to help with new designs, will be put on hold. The potential cascade impact on our artisans is obvious.

Other Fair Trade businesses are also affected, no matter where they are located. For example, Albuquerque-based Baskets of Africa receives many of its shipments from Africa through the Houston port. No one knows yet when the port will be fully operational again. And no one is in a position yet to evaluate the cascade of impacts that will have on businesses at either end of the supply chain. Businesses all over the world will be affected.

While the direct impact of Harvey on HoonArts Fair Trade is something I can expect to weather over the coming year, the impact on artisans who already live very close to the margin is exponentially more difficult. This tragic disaster is a reminder that the whole world is now tied together in a way that cannot be unwound, no matter the rhetoric of politicians the world over.

As a citizen of the world, and a Fair Trade business owner, my vision is to help cement those ties in a way that no one "drowns" (physically or metaphorically) when disaster strikes anywhere in the world.We really are one, and we must all do what we can to build ever stronger ties.

 I'll keep you posted on Quilt Festival updates. Maybe by next month, we'll have a better idea about the immediate future.

(The author is owner and CEO of HoonArts Fair Trade and editor of the Beyond Tourism and Fair Trade Caravan blogs)

Five Ways to Start a Fair Trade School Year

You care about what goes into your lunch box. Whether you're sending the kids back to school or stepping up your own brown bag goals, the wholesome choices you make keep your family sustained and confident to take on the day. Believe it or not, those choices matter far beyond your home, school, or office. By packing a Fair Trade Certified™ product (or two or three!), you’re not just doing the smart thing for your family—you're giving much-needed support the farmers and workers who provide our food. Happy packing! 

Photo: Fair Trade USA

Schools in Albuquerque and other communities around the country started their school year a week ago. Schools in other cities and towns are starting next week. Fair Trade USA has developed a list of five ways in which families can start the school year with fair-trade practices.  This includes school supplies, clothing, and food items for breakfast, lunch bags and after-school snacks.

"Think of it this way: When you buy school supplies that are Fair Trade Certified, you aren’t just sending your kids back to school; you’re enabling a brighter future for hard-working families and enabling entire communities to invest in their own education," said Fair Trade USA. 

Check out Fair Trade USA's recommendations.

Fair Trade Faithful

The only way we're going to transform the political-global situation is through grassroots people-to-people connections. Rikki Quintana, Owner & CEO of Hoon Arts, Albuquerque

On May 13, the two local  fair-trade retailers certified by the Fair Trade Federation joined forces to celebrate World Fair Trade. We visited with them briefly at the event, which was held at Nob Hill Fabrics on Saturday.

One retailer, Baskets of Africa, has been around since 2002. The other retailer, Hoon Arts, is the new kid on the block, starting operations in late 2014. Baskets of Africa offers a wide variety of baskets and other handicrafts from many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Hoon Arts sells tapestries, rugs, silks and other handicrafts primarily from Tajikistan but also from the nearby former Soviet republics of Uzbekistan and Kyrgystan.

Each has a small retail location in Albuquerque.  Baskets of Africa is located at 4603 McLeod Rd, NE, between Jefferson and San Mateo, but the retailer does a large share of its business online. Hoon Arts rents a portion of the floor space from Nob Hill Fabrics, 4401 Cutler, NE. The retailer also has a website to sell products outside of Albuquerque. Below are a couple are brief histories of Baskets of Africa and Hoon Arts.

Cael Chappell founded Baskets of Africa in 2002

Baskets of Africa
Baskets of Africa was founded in 2002. Cael Chappell started working in African Art and Crafts in 1991 and fell in love with the incredible artistry and creativity of African basket weavers. This led to the creation of Baskets of Africa in order to focus attention on these amazing weavers and their work.

Over the year,s Chappell has developed a loyal clientele in Albuquerque, but a big chunk of business is conducted online. In addition to individual sales, Baskets of Africa supplies baskets for five independent retailers affiliated with the Ten Thousand Villages chain. "We feel that our business offers our customers a win-win situation: by purchasing one of our rare finds, you are not only getting a wonderful, handmade basket for your home or business, you are also contributing to the preservation of African culture and helping a craftsperson become financially independent," Chappell said in his website. "It's a true economic partnership in every sense of the word."

Rikki Quintana founded Hoon Arts

Hoon Arts
Rikki Quintana describes herself as a "recovering attorney" who supports international connections and cross-cultural understanding.

"When I was first starting out in law, I had visions of becoming an international relations lawyer — but my career took a detour and I ended up doing more general law first in Southern California and then here in New Mexico," Quintana said in an interview with Albuquerque Business First newspaper in July 2015.

A few years after leaving her  job in the legal profession, she met a group of artisans from Tajikistan and was impressed by the individuals and the products that they had to offer.  In November 2014, she founded Hoon Arts here in Albuquerque to sell products from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgystan, all countries that were part of the Great Silk Road.

Quintana came up with the name for her retail operation by combining Tajik word "hoonar" or "hunar," meaning "art" or "craft," with thethe English word "arts."

Hoon Arts received its certification from the Fair Trade Federation (FTF) in February of this year, meaning that the artisans get all or most of the income from their work at fair prices. The FTF follows the principle of 360° fair trade. "This means we work with small farmers and artisans in partnerships built on trust," said the certifying organization "It means good wages, safe working conditions, environmental responsibility, and more. It means our partners are empowered to build strong businesses for their families today – and for generations to come."

The products offered by Hoon Arts reflect the principles of fair trade."We hope that HoonArts will serve as the first major handicrafts bridge between Tajikistan and the US, helping to preserve and promote traditional Tajik handicrafts while also promoting economic development for the artisans, many of whom are impoverished women in rural mountain areas," Quintana says on her website.

Celebrate World Fair Trade Day in Albuquerque

Saturday, May 13

10 am - 4 pm

Nob Hill Fabrics 

 4401 Cutler NE Suite C (map)
Albuquerque, 87110

  
On Saturday, May 13, people of conscience across five continents will come together to celebrate World fair Trade Day. In past years, we we would have commemorated this day at Peacecraft in Albuquerque and Ten Thousand Villages in Santa Fe. 

While those fair trade retailers have since closed their doors, there there is a new option in Albuquerque. Baskets of Africa and HoonArts Fair Trade, both members of the Fair Trade Federation, invite you to an "on-the-ground" look at the Fair Trade movement, and why it matters more than ever in today's painfully chaotic global political and economic climate. Shop for extraordinary hand-crafted textiles, baskets, gifts and accessories from master artisans in Central Asia and Africa. Purchase your last-minute Mother's Day gifts, learn about fair trade and participate in a day of community-building.

A Donation-Based Benefit Dinner for Food Karma in #ABQ

Dig & Serve is teaming up with Food Karma (a not-for-profit ‘pay as you feel’ community food concept) to throw a donation-based benefit dinner party. The dinner will be locally sourced with the usual Dig & Serve surprises and only the best quality!

In keeping with the Food Karma vision, there will be NO SET PRICE for this dinner. We trust that once you hear our goals and mission, it will inspire you to donate. Donations will be accepted at the event and 100% of your tax-deductible donation will go directly to Food Karma.

We Dig Food Karma
A FUNDRAISING DINNER
Sunday, March 19, 2017  7pm
Albuquerque
No set price. “Pay as you feel!" donation-based (tax deductible).
BYOB
Appetizers
5 Locally Sourced Courses
Live Music

RSVP HERE
SELECT EVENT: Sun Mar 19, ABQ - "Join the guestlist"
USE CODE: wedigkarma

GET YOUR SEAT

* Exact location to be emailed to ticket holders 24 hours prior to event
**This event is contingent on us booking 40 seats. In the event that we do not book to capacity, the event will be cancelled and we will notify ticket holders no later than Saturday.

FUNDRAISING GOAL
Our goal is to raise $5,000 at this event for Food Karma.
We only have enough spaces for 40 guests! Hope to see you there.

What is Food Karma / Karma Cafe?
Food Karma is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization in Albuquerque. Their mission is to provide access to healthy food for everyone, regardless of their financial situation or otherwise. There are NO SET PRICES and the concept is based on a "pay as you feel" model. Donations from those who can afford a meal, go to help others who cannot. Eat Well. Do Good.

On Fair-Trade Friday, Make Purchases that Matter

Image: Open Clip Art

It's Black Friday. And you know what that means. It's time to separate you from your hard-earned money or to run up your credit debt. And you don't even need to get up at the crack of dawn and battle the crowds at the local mall or big box store. Black Friday lives in cyberspace through the promotions that come into your e-mail inbox. Heck, even a national park and a travel-arrangement site are offering deals via your computer or smartphone.

Setting my cynicism aside, let's talk shopping. Some of those promotions coming into my e-mail are from non-profits or anti-poverty organizations selling fair-trade products or items that directly help someone in a developing country. So let's call today Fair Trade Friday.

I would like to point out that the term Fair Trade Friday already exists. This is a monthly membership club sponsored by Mercy House Global to provide an avenue for women to empower women around the world.The project delivers high quality fair traded items to the door of those who enroll in the club. The items in the box are fairly traded and provide employment to women all over the world.

There are many worthy organizations that offer fairly traded items. I'm providing a list of  a handful of suggestions, including groups that found me by e-mail. These are in alphabetical order, and includes a few sentences on how they promote their catalogs or products. (This is not an exclusive list.  I'm sure I left out many worthy organizations)

Cafe Campesino
Our Purpose is to partner with small-scale coffee farmers, connect communities, and inspire conscious consumption... one great cup of coffee at a time. We do this by Roasting and brewing fantastic organic, fair trade coffee; Building long-term friendships and direct business relationships with farmers and their communities;Getting more money into the hands of hard working coffee farmers;Working to help our Customers to succeed; and Building a community within and around our company - one smile, helping hand, and pat on the back at a time.

CARE
What is a Gift of Lasting Change? It’s a gift that empowers people around the world to reach their potential. It’s a gift you’ll be proud to send. It’s a gift anyone will be happy and proud to receive. After World War II, the original CARE Package harnessed the power of generosity in a box. It changed the world by delivering food that relieved suffering across a devastated Europe. Today’s CARE Package is different. It provides relief today and the foundation of a better tomorrow. But it’s built on the same truth as the very first CARE Package — that when you give of yourself, you can be the difference in people’s lives.

Catholic Relief Services
CRS offers two ways to give back. You can either purchase fair trade products (via the CRS Fair Trade Catalog) or give a donation to a specific type of project in developing countries through Gifts of Hope (goods and services that help transform families and communities for the long term).

Church World Service
These gifts are examples of how Church World Service works in partnership to find effective ways of tackling poverty and injustice. Whatever gift you choose, you will provide vital support to those in need through CWS development programs. Your gift helps bring genuine and lasting change to those who need it most.

Colores del Pueblo
Since 1997 we have been working with artisan cooperatives in Latin America and primarily Guatemala. Through fair trade practices we hope to inspire postive change in the world. Not only does paying a fair wage help families and communites rise above the cycle of poverty, but it gives them an incentive to continue cultural craft traditions like weaving, basket-making, pottery-making, woodworking and more. And by paying a just wage, our customers are ensured a quality hand-made product.

Heifer International
Our mission is to work with communities to end world hunger and poverty and to care for the Earth. We empower families to turn hunger and poverty into hope and prosperity – but our approach is more than just giving them a handout. Heifer links communities and helps bring sustainable agriculture and commerce to areas with a long history of poverty. Our animals provide partners with both food and reliable income, as agricultural products such as milk, eggs and honey can be traded or sold at market. Choose a meaningful gift to give a loved one and help children and families around the world receive training and animal gifts that help them become self-reliant. Honor your loved ones with a free card from Heifer with every donation.

Oxfam America
Your symbolic gift is actually a donation that will be used where it is needed the most—to help people living in poverty around the world. Oxfam creates lasting solutions by working with communities and listening to people when they tell us what they need to change their own lives, whether it’s a dozen baby chicks or a chance to start a small business. Everyone benefits. Your friend or loved one gets a unique, memorable gift in his or her honor. You get a receipt for your tax-deductible donation to Oxfam, plus the satisfaction of giving a gift that gives back. And someone in need gets exactly what he or she needs.

Ten Thousand Villages
We are more  than a store. We are a place where you can explore and connect with your global village. From communities throughout the developing world, every inspired design is crafted with love using local materials (usually natural or recycled) and time-honored skills by makers we have known and worked with for years. Every purchase improves the lives of makers by supporting their craft and providing a fair, stable income.

Karma Cafe Offers "Pay as You Feel" Thanksgiving Meal

Karma Cafe, a nonprofit restaurant that operates on a "pay as you feel" system, invites the public to sample its special Thanksgiving menu! The restaurant, operated by Food Karma, is open today, Thursday, November 24, from 1100 am until 7:00 pm. The cafe is located at 1617 San Pedro Dr. NE at San Pedro Center.

"Stop in for a cup of hot cider or chill with us in our cozy cafe. Everyone deserves a hearty meal on Thanksgiving! Let's give thanks that we can join as a community and share delicious food with each other." say the restaurant owners.  Here is the menu:

The Concept of Pay as You Feel
So how does the "pay as you feel" work?  One person's donation goes toward another person in need of a delicious meal. "When customers are asked to pay what they feel their food is worth, they are given the opportunity to contribute to a world where honesty, respect, generosity, and kindness rule," say the Food Karma owners.

The current Karma Cafe site opened its doors just last week, serving breakfast and lunch between 8:00 am and 2:00 pm, Tuesday through Sunday (closed on Mondays).

On the menu are your good 'ole favorites: Breakfast Burritos, Market Omelettes, and Artisan Breakfast Sandwiches with Sourdough bread made by La Quiche Bakery!

Also included on our menu this week are Pecan French Toast, Grilled Sage Butter Chicken, Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas, and a Fresh Greens Salad with Feta cheese and Balsamic Vinaigrette.
The menu will change weekly on Tuesdays according to what ingredients are available.

Downtown Growers Market
While the brick and mortar site on San Pedro is fairly new, Food Karma has operated at the Downtown Growers Market for several summer and fall seasons, offering breakfast burritos, blueberry crepes, caprese omelettes and other delicious menu items.

At the Late Fall Market this past Saturday, Nov. 19, Food Karma features Grilled Sage Butter Chicken with Cauliflower and Carrots to pay-as-you feel customers. 

To stay connected with Food Karma invites you to Like its page on Facebook and to follow the Karma Cafe on Instagram.

One Thousand Bloggers to Write about Compassion and Social Justice on February 20

Social justice is an underlying principle for peaceful and prosperous coexistence within and among nations. We uphold the principles of social justice when we promote gender equality or the rights of indigenous peoples and migrants. We advance social justice when we remove barriers that people face because of gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture or disability.  

Eight years ago, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed February 20 as World Day of Social Justice.  In issuing this declaration, the UN invited all member states to promote national activities in accordance with the objectives and goals of the World Summit for Social Development, whose guiding principle is to put people at the center of development. The International Labor Organization (ILO), working with the UN, has taken this principle a step further, developing the link between the rights of workers and communities with the increasing trend toward globalization.  In June 2008, the ILO released the Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization.

The World Day of Social Justice has also given a group of bloggers an opportunity to come together on a single to post a piece about compassion. One Facebook group called 1000 Voices for Compassion has recruited 1000 bloggers to write posts about compassion, kindness, support, caring for others, non-judgement, care for the environment and other similar issues exactly two weeks from today. The number 1,000 is a target, not a limit. As of February 6, 1,107 people (including yours truly) had signed up for the group.  This means there could be 1,107 blog posts with the Twitter and Facebook hashtag #1000Speak on that day. 1000 Voices for Compassion also has a Facebook Page.

We do not often seem to think of social justice and compassion as compatible. Our thoughts about social justice are often about righting a wrong or fighting inequality. Those actions are often identified with angry protests by the oppressed and those who advocate for the oppressed against an oppressive economic system. February 20 is not about protests (even though they are certainly justified in most cases). By setting aside our anger about global inequalities (at least for a day), we are best able to enter into dialogue about the principles that should underlie economic and social relations within each country and among countries.

Here is a quote from the ILO's Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization.
The Declaration provides leaders and decision-makers with a balanced approach that connects with people and productive solutions at home, while also offering a common platform for governance at the international level. It contributes to policy co- herence for sustainable development in national policies, among international organizations and in development cooperation, bringing together social, economic and environmental object- ives. In this regard, it highlights that international and regional organizations with mandates in closely related fi elds can play an important role in the implementation of the integrated approach required and invites them to promote decent work. 

Stay tuned for 1,000 or more blog posts about compassion on February 20.

More Opportunties to Shop for Fair Trade, Just and Sustainable Gifts

 A few day ago we told you about two opportunities  to purchase local, sustainable and fairly traded gifts via events hosted by TenderLove Community and the Immaculate Conception Church Justice and Life Ministry. I would now like to share a couple more additional opportunities. One is a general guide from Sojourners: Faith and Action for Social Justice, and the other is an Alternative Christmas Fair hosted by St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Albuquerque.

Sojourners Just Giving Guide
"Do you love nothing more than the taste of fair trade coffee? Do you enjoy the thrill of finding unique gifts that help make a difference in the world?  The Sojourners Just Giving Guide offers an opportunity to acquire a broad array of gifts, cards and services.

The featured organizations are Bought Beautifully, Bread for the World, Cat Lovers against the Bomb, Church Health Center, Coexist, Covenant House, Equal Exchange, Freedom from Hunger, From War to Peace, Heifer International, Image Journal, International Justice Mission, Koinonia Farm, Limited Edition Hatch Bible, Love 41, Maryknoll Sisters, Plant with a Purpose, Sojourners Magazine, Sojourners, The Kitchen Book, William Greenbaum Fine Prints, World Vision, Yeshu: A Novel for the Open-Hearted. 

 Alternative Christmas Fair, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church

On Sunday, November 23, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 5301 Ponderosa Ave NE, Albuquerque (map), will host its Alternative Christmas Fair. Through this event, which begins at 11:00 a.m., the church helps with the sustainability of people and hunger issues in third world countries and local communities through the following participants:

• Angel Tree: helps provide parent - child bonding even when the parent is in prison. -
• East Central Ministries: provides community programs, youth programs, and neighborhood micro businesses.
• Gamma Phi Beta: makes jalapeño jelly and uses the proceeds for scholarships, or to help organiza- tions like the Roadrunner Food Bank. We couldn’t have an Alternative Christmas Fair without Shirley Wafford’s jalapeno jelly.
• The Heifer Project: works in the areas of livestock and agriculture. In areas where hunger and despair once prevailed, Heifer programs have reinvigorated commu- nities through livestock, training and Passing on the Gift.
• Just Coffee: Café Justo is a coffee grower cooperative based in Salvador Urbina, Chiapas, Mexico. We market a pure, organic coffee which is grown, harvested and mar- keted in the spirit of justice. Our goal is to provide incentives for people to remain on their family lands.
• Greater Habitat for Humanity: builds simple, decent, af- fordable homes for area deserving families. There will be a table of do- nated items for sell benefiting this organization.

A Belated Good-Bye to Ten Thousand Villages in Santa Fe

Why couldn’t they make it in Santa Fe, where the International Folk Art Market has drawn thousands of visitors looking to buy similar types of items, with a similar philosophy behind it of helping create a market for craftsmen and women around the world? Building rent that is too high and parking that is too scarce... -article in The Albuquerque Journal, June 20, 2014

Wait. How did I mis it?  It's been almost half a year since the Ten Thousand Villages store in Albuquerque shut its doors.  But I wasn't paying attention.  Now that I'm look to promote purchases of fair-trade and local products during the holidays, this option is now gone, a victim of the high cost of  doing business in the heart of Santa Fe. 

Karen and I visited Ten Thousand Villages in the summer of 2013, bought a few presents and a couple of packs of fair trade coffee. We had a nice chat with store manager Trish Padilla about Level Ground coffee, and why the store had chosen that brand over other popular fair-trade brands like Equal Exchange. There was also some conversation about an exciting schedule of events that the store had planned to bring in customers to the store over the ensuing months.  It was so exciting to have a Ten Thousand Villages operating in our state, especially after the decision of Peacecraft to cease operations in Albuquerque after nearly a quarter of a century. The decision to shut down was made at corporate headquarters, since the Santa Fe site was owned by Ten Thousand Villages and was not a franchise or contract store (which is the case with most other locations). I have to confess that after that one visit to Ten Thousand Villages in 2013, I never did make it back to Santa Fe to shop at the fair trade store.  

Stores in Colorado & Texas
With no fair-trade store in New Mexico, the next best option is to shop online or attend local craft stores that benefit organizations in our communities. So where is the closet fair-trade store?  There are five options in Colorado, including Ten Thousand Villages stores in Fort Collins and Denver, Momentum in Boulder, Glenwood Mennonite Church in Glenwood . Good Shepherd United Methodist Church and Beth-el Mennonite Church in Colorado Springs holds seasonal sales of products from Ten Thousand Villages.  Arizona has no actual stores, but two churches--St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Tucson and  Koinonia Mennonite Church in Chandler--sponsor holiday sales featuring fair-trade products from Ten Thousand Villages. In Texas, there are Ten Thousand Villages stores in San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth and Houston, as well as several churches in the state that sell fair-trade products.

Shopping at Apron Day and the Christmas Just Market

On the day after Halloween, many retail outlets bring out their Christmas displays, planting in your subconscious the idea that the shopping season is here. But you have a choice When you acquire gifts for loved ones for Christmas, you don't have to buy your presents at the big box outlet or at the shopping mall.  In Albuquerque, there are two opportunities to buy handcrafted and/or fair trade items.

The TenderLove Community Center's Apron Day (tomorrow, November 15th) offers aprons and arts and crafts created through the center's program for homeless women.[TenderLove Community Center is a 501(c)(3) organization that offers a 12-month training program for homeless and near homeless that teaches them sewing and assists them in obtaining employment within 3 months of graduation. “Our goal is to help them break the cycle of homelessness and empower them for a better future.”]

On Sunday, December 7, the Immaculate Conception Church Justice and Life Ministry will hold its Christmas Just Market, offering local and fair trade crafts, nativities, olive oil, coffee, chocolate and much more. The images below provide more details about the two events, including location and time.