About Us
MAFTTI owes a lot to this little llama. S/he came to Mankato on May 5, 2009, taking part in a Midwest tour by two Peruvian artisans, Ayde Riveros from Huancavelica and Eva Pizarro from Lima. Accompanied by Yochi Zakai (Green America) and Carrie Hawthorne (Partners for Just Trade), Ayde and Eva told their moving stories of emancipation and the struggle for economic justice through Fair Trade. The textiles that were among the co-op items they brought with them for sale provide the colorful backdrop to this site.
Afterwards, the local Churches’ Fair Trade Network, the group that had hosted the well-patronized evening program, decided that a Fair Trade Town project should be the next step. So MAFTTI was born in June 2009 with the objective of bringing Mankato and North Mankato to Fair Trade Town status.
MAFTTI meets roughly on a monthly basis, though its core Campaign Group is in frequent contact. From time to time special focus groups are formed to address particular agenda.
We are trying to promote awareness of Fair Trade products and principles in supermarkets, smaller retail shops, coffee bars and locally-owned restaurants, schools, colleges, community organizations, religious bodies, businesses and, of course, the two city councils.
The highlights of MAFTTI’s life so far are:
October 27, 2009: First MAFTTI Dinner/Fundraiser with Alicia Ranney (Director, Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition) as the guest speaker.
May 8, 2010: Fundraiser for Haiti coops on World Fair Trade Day (story posted July 2 on Fair Trade Towns USA).
May 10, 2010: Signing of Proclamation of support by Mankato Mayor, John Brady and President At-Large, Mike Laven following MAFTTI involvement in a working session of the Mankato City Council.
July 10, 2010: MAFTTI provided one of the 80 floats that took part in the North Mankato Fun Days Parade, an annual community-based fund raising event, in advance of further discussion with the North Mankato City Council about the path to Fair Trade Town status.
August 12, 2010: Second Fair Trade Film Night, featuring “The Fair Trade”.
August 31, 2010: Campus and Community Fair, Minnesota State University, Mankato.
October 9, 2010: MAFTTI float makes second appearance at MSU Homecoming Parade.
October 14-15, 2010: Global Connections conference, South-Central College, North Mankato.
October 18, 2010: Second MAFTTI Dinner/Fundraiser - guest speaker John de Graaf (documentary film producer responsible for “Buyer, Be Fair”).
December 20, 2011: North Mankato City Council passed a Resolution supporting the vision and work of MAFTTI.
February 21, 2011: MAFTTI table at YWCA International Fashion Show.
April 17, 2011: MAFTTI table at Mankato Area International Festival for the second time.
April 28, 2011: MAFTTI table at Humane Sociiety Wine & Chocolate.
May 7, 2011: MAFTTI table at Mankato Farmers' Market and for eight further Saturday mornings.
May 8-14, 2011: Fair Trade books (chosen by MAFTTI) on display at Barnes & Noble, River Hills.
May 14, 2011 (World Fair Trade Day): Fair Trade Coffee Sampling Table at Hilltop Hy-Vee for 5x2 hour sessions, May 13-15.
July 9, 2011: "Carmen Miranda" made her seond appearance at the North Mankato Fun Days Parade.
August 12, 2011: MAFTTI's third annual Fair Trade Film Night - "Birdsong & Coffee".
September 5: Mankato Free Press Editorial - "Fair Trade is a Sound Idea".
September 26, 2011: A MAFTTI delegation met members of the Mankato City Council for a 30-minute Working Session, presented a report and answered questions.
October 1-31, 2011: Fair Trade display at Blue Earth County Library for Fair Trade Month.
October 8, 2011: Another Fair Trade Coffee Sampling Table at Hilltop Hy-Vee.
October 17, 2011: MAFTTI Annual Fundraiser at Red Sky Lounge featuring three local music groups (Jim McGuire Trio, Fish Frye and Sister Ginn) and Fair Trade education in various genres.
October 24, 2011: Mankato City Council unanimously passed a Resolution declaring Mankato a Fair Trade Town according to the criteria of the national Fair Trade Towns USA Campaign.
November 19-20, 2011: Paul & Arlene Renshaw represented MAFTTI at the 5th International Fair Trade Towns Conference in Malmo, Sweden. (See News 2010-11 for report).
As you see, we have lots of balls in the air. We could do with some help catching them all.
