Name

Elizabeth Hulsing

School

Berea College

City or Town

Berea

Graduation Year

2013

How many hours are you able to commit to USFT weekly during the 2009/2010 school year?

15-20

Please summarize your experience in the Fair Trade movement.

I began working with Tonya Smith (the current Midwest Coordinator) last fall term (Fall 2009) and helped her this year with the Fair Trade University campaign as well as planning and pulling off various Fair Trade awareness events.

What is your understanding of anti-oppression and anti-racism?

Anti-oppression and anti-racism, to me, is the idea and pursuit of true equality between ALL people. When the world reaches actual anti-oppression and anti-racism, all people will have all of their basic human rights fulfilled. 

  Why would you like to be on the Coordinating Committee?:

I would love to be a part of the Coordinating Committee because I feel like I could really help in the Fair Trade efforts here in the US. USFT has a lot of passion and resources for making progress in the spread of Fair Trade and knowledge of Fair Trade. I want to be a part of those efforts and I feel that USFT is the best way for me to get involved in the movement at this point.

What do you think you can bring to the CC?

I am creative and outgoing. I care very much about people and the well being of all the people of the world. I think that as a member of the Coordinating Committee, I could offer my ideas of creative and interesting ways to reach out to people and make them aware of Fair Trade and why it is so important. I also am open to suggestions and other peoples' perspectives, and I am always willing to try new things, and try to the best of my ability. I have a lot of dedication and persistence to offer to the team as well.

What is your vision for the position(s) you are applying for?

I would love to see the Fair Trade University campaign continue here at Berea College, as well as spread across the rest of the nation. By being the Midwest Coordinator, I would be able to reach out to other schools and help them become Fair Trade Universities. I would also be able to plan ways to make Fair Trade more well known throughout the Midwest Region.

 What does Fair Trade mean to you?:

Fair Trade, to me, means an opportunity for a good life to all. It is not an end, but a significant step towards the end of inhumanity and injustice. It means that we, as a human family, are starting to care for each other in the way we ought to.

 Who are you, really? What are you passionate about?:

I am a soon-to-be sophomore at Berea College. I am very passionate about people and justice for all people. I think that all people deserve to have their basic human rights, no matter who they are nor where they are from. I am also passionate about culture, I love learning about culture and the different ways that cultures are lived out. I especially love music, I think that music is a beautiful way to tie cultures together, and allow others to learn about different cultures from their own.