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The Making of a Fair Trade World

Apr 29, 2011 ● By Megy Karydes

Chicago officially becomes a fair-trade city this month after two years of outreach to residents and businesses by Chicago Fair Trade, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting fair trade throughout the Chicagoland area. Chicago joins hundreds of cities throughout the world in this effort; it is the 22nd city in the U.S. and is the largest in North America to proclaim itself dedicated to fair trade.

The declaration comes during a time when people around the world, from Barcelona to London, will be celebrating World Fair Trade Day.

“This announcement is a culmination of a lot of hard work by our members and supporters who have been sharing why fair trade is important to us both locally and globally,” says Nancy Jones, executive director of Chicago Fair Trade.

The announcement takes place during its World Fair Trade Day celebration, co-sponsored with the city’s Department of Environment, on Friday, May 6, at Daley Plaza. The event will feature a global marketplace, interactive activities and West African drum music. A noon program, emceed by WBEZ’s Jerome McDonnell, will include speakers from the Department of Environment, the South African Consulate and Casa Guatemala, all of whom will speak about growth of fair trade both in Chicago and around the world.


For more information, visit ChicagoFairTrade.org.