Moraine Park Technical College has become the first technical college in the U.S. to achieve Fair Trade status. The designation was granted by Fair Trade Colleges & Universities USA this past summer and will be celebrated during Fair Trade month in October. “The College’s mission is to prepare students for success in a diverse and globally connected world,” said Bonnie Baerwald, Moraine Park president. “Our interest and designation as a Fair Trade school demonstrates our commitment to exposing and teaching our students about social and ethnic values and struggles.” Fair Trade is a global trade model that promotes the purchase and sale of goods produced ethically and fairly. It ensures fair wages, safe working conditions, and environmental sustainability while prohibiting forced labor. Fair Trade products such as coffee, tea, chocolate and greeting cards are available at all three Moraine Park cafeterias and bookstores. Brenda Schaefer, social science instructor/service learning coordinator at Moraine Park said it was her students’ effort that helped the College receive this designation. “My ethics course took this on as a service-learning project as we learned about the value of Fair Trade and the inequalities and ethical implications of cheap labor and the effects of globalization in our society,” said Schaefer. During the processes, students worked with College vendors and food service providers and drafted a resolution for implementation. “The students learned how to work with vendors and learned about the processes involved at Moraine Park so the resolution could be accepted. It was a great experience and a great effort for everyone who was involved.” To celebrate Fair Trade month, two Lunch and Learn events will be held at the Fond du Lac campus. “How Can You Know Fair Trade is Fair?” will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in room O103. The Fair Trade designation will be explained, Fair Trade products from Just Fare Market will be available and there will be door prizes. The keynote speaker will be Serena Sato, from SERRV International in Madison. The second Lunch and Learn, “Shedding Light on the Dark Side of Chocolate,” will be held Wednesday, Oct. 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in room A112. This event will feature an excerpt from the BBC film, “The Dark Side of Chocolate,” products from Just Fare Market, door prizes and Fair Trade chocolate chip cookies made by Moraine Park culinary chef James Simmers. The keynote speaker will be Kathleen Stetter, UWO Emeritus Faculty and Just Fare board member.
