We have a wonderful Teach-In planned for you guys, and the buzz is spreading across the town… check out the coverage in ‘The Battalion’! We will also be giving out samples of free trade coffee on first come first served basis

The event is this Thursday (January 31) at
Koldus # 111 from 5:30 to 6:50 pm
(update: please note the change in venue)
Click Here for the Map

The parking is available in the same building (University Center Parking Garage). We are also planning to broadcast the event live and the recorded version would be available for viewing later.

Here is a glimpse of what we have lined up for the evening:

• Our keynote speaker will include Texas A&M grad and current Peace Corps member James Cypert. He was stationed in Kenya, and one of his duties included working with a Fair Trade Coffee Cooperative. Kenya is currently undergoing civil unrest and the Peace Corps has terminated operations in Kenya indefinitely. This is a very unique opportunity to speak with an individual who has seen the economic and political conditions, and how these conditions relate to Fair Trade.
• Annie Behrman who has been working tirelessly on getting Fair Trade Coffee into different Texas A&M vendors and has had great success. She will be discussing Fair Trade Coffee and the role that students can play in changing the world.
• Blaze Curry, who worked in developing coffee cooperatives in Rwanda, will be sharing his knowledge of farming conditions, cooperatives, fair trade, and developmental practices communities are using to provide for their constituents.
• Meredith, who along with her husband, own Coffee Station. She is going to discuss why Coffee Station has gone 90% Fair Trade and organic coffee, and the role that local businesses can play in strengthening communities both here and abroad.

We will be having break out groups after the Panel to discuss specifics that you might be interested in. James will cover volunteering, human rights issues, and Peace Corps, and NGO work. Blaze’s group will be concerned with International Agricultural development, Annie’s with student activism. Meredith’s group will deal with the impact of local business, and help students balance social responsibility and business.

Please, everyone come! The Texas A&M administration will be present! This is your chance to use your presence to make an impact on campus policy, by showing that community is serious about their support of promoting fair trade products on campus. So tell your friends, we have more room now…come one, come all =) Lets keep the momentum going, the more people that show the better chance we have of getting Fair Trade products into A&M, and in BCS community. See you there!
If you have to come late or leave early b/c of prior engagements that is completely permissible.