As more Catholic colleges and universities join the ranks of Fair Trade Colleges, Carroll College in Montana has recently achieved a significant milestone: it is now the first in its state to be awarded the certification.
For the past three years, Carroll College has been striving to achieve fair trade certification. The committee responsible for the achievement led the college in the five Fair Trade Campaigns steps: Build Your Team, Reach out to Campus Outlets, Source Fair Trade at Events and Meetings, Commit to Fair Trade Education, and Pass a Fair Trade Resolution.
Carroll College advances fair trade principles in several ways, including sponsoring “Fair Trade Fridays,” bringing local fair trade vendors to campus, and selling fair trade chocolate for holidays. In addition, the College now sells fair trade coffee, tea, artisan goods, ice cream, and chocolate on campus. Many Carroll professors are committed to educating students about fair trade in the classroom, especially in relation to global poverty and care for creation. The director of the Hunthausen Center for Peace and Justice at Carroll College, Dr. Chris Fuller, noted that the certification is “a manifestation of Carroll College’s mission to serve the poor and marginalized as well as its work with Catholic Relief Services”.
Learn more about Fair Trade at Carroll College and how to become a Fair Trade College!
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