Fair Trade: News & Updates

IRTF initiated our annual Social Justice Teach-In (aka Liberation Lab) in 1999. This spring we feel a great need to call together justice-minded folks who are committed to human rights, liberation, and respect and dignity for all people. 

Every year for the past 26 years, this event has been an informative and inter-generational day of community building and education for high school and college students and other community members seeking ways to take positive action for social justice. 

To buy tickets or become a sponsor,  click here. To sign up for a volunteer shift, click here.

Join Equal Exchange on June 12 for their annual Summit!

to regsiter click here

We’re excited to announce that Equal Exchange will be donating a portion of their sales to IRTF when you shop their online store during 2026. 

To shop Equal Exchange click here. Find organic and fairly traded coffees, teas, chocolate, cocoa, nuts, dried fruits, and even olive oil—all from small farmer co-ops, available by the case for stocking up.

Promo code:  IRTFDonate . Enter this code when you check out and Equal Exchange will donate 10% of your purchase back to IRTF!

Equal Exchange was founded as a solidarity organization in 1986 to support small farmers in Nicaragua by importing their coffee despite the US embargo.  Forty years later, this worker-owned co-op continues to prove that a more democratic food system is possible.

To shop Equal Exchange click here

 Celebrate 7 years of Cleveland Owns at our Annual Celebration: Growing the Fruits of our Labor!

How can members of a community take back control of the resources that shape their lives? Join us on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, 7:00-8:30pm ET, for a free webinar with co-op developer and community organizer Jonathan Welle to explore this question.

to register click here

Join us for the screening of "Yanuni" with the Cleveland International Film Festival on april 17th at Playhouse Square 

to purchase tickets for the creening click here 

Promo Code: IRTF  

$1 off any ticket, with the exception of Opening Night, 7x7 Retrospective and Day Pass purchases.