Are you interested in traveling to destinations in the United States to learn about domestic issues? Please visit our Reality Tours section for information about all of our pre-planned and customized tours.
Marian O'Brien and Keith Whitaker began to produce Boku Books in 2001. They made a conscious decision not to purchase materials or products manufactured overseas unless it was from a Fair Trade manufacturer, hence the materials they use and production performed all take place in the United States. As printers, O'Brien & Whitaker were vigilant in their use of higher quality, minimally toxic pressroom chemicals and inks, but their attention to papers set them apart from typical printers. For the text paper in their books, they chose a 30% tree-free kenaf fiber / 70% recycled sheet.
In addition to supporting schools and children's groups with art supplies, a portion of Boku Books' proceeds are donated to the following nonprofit groups: River of Words, an international environmental art and poetry program for youth; International Rivers Network, a group which links human rights and environmental protection worldwide; and Living Rivers: an activist-based group that promotes river restoration through mobilization, seeking to revive the natural habitat and spirit of rivers.
More about kenaf: Kenaf is a 4000 year old crop that originated in Africa, and now grows well in many parts of the US. It is related to cotton and okra, and the plant's fiber yield is nearly five times greater than that of Southern Pine trees. Kenaf requires no fertilizers or pesticides for growth, and Kenaf fiber papers are energy efficient to process, while using fewer chemicals and no chlorine compounds. Kenaf grows quickly as an annual crop and makes an excellent archival and commercially viable paper. Kenaf requires a growing season of about 5 months, and has excellent harvesting yields of 6-10 tons of dry fiber per acre, which is 3-5 times more fiber per acre than produced from fast growing trees.
There are virtually no pesticides used, and minimal fertilizers. The crop offers a successful alternative to farmers for crop diversification, allowing for their continued independence, which helps to support America's small farms.
At the end of the growing season, the kenaf plant flowers. After blooming, the flower drops off, leaving a seed pod behind. In almost all parts of the US the seeds can never mature. Because of their African origin they require an additional 60-90 days of frost-free conditions to reach the point of germination. This means kenaf cannot run wild across the country like a weed. It also presents some interesting challenges for developers to ensure a consistent supply of seed for next year's crop. Much research work is being done in the area of seed development, with leading-edge companies like Vision Paper developing innovative and environmentally sound solutions.
Check out our Boku Books product selection.
In the era of welfare reform, The Enterprising Kitchen, a non-profit micro-enterprise, strives to address the needs of those women whose difficult personal histories, often including substance abuse and homelessness, would otherwise make them among the least likely to find work and achieve independence. Women are employed twenty-five hours per week and they are paid minimum wage initially. The income from the sale of our products covers the cost of materials and a portion of our fixed costs.
The Enterprising Kitchen does not receive any government funding. We continue to investigate various methods of increasing revenues from sales so that the business will support, to a greater extent, the costs of the program. The business is not only a tool for our job training, but most importantly enables TEK to effectively expand the impact of its mission.
Check out our The Enterprising Kitchen product selection.
Native Harvest produces and sells a selection of traditional foods, including wild rice, hominy, maple syrup, and jellies. Most of these foods are grown and harvested locally, and then are processed on site at their new building. Native Harvest acquired the building with the help of the Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation, and remodeled the kitchen into a state of the art commercial kitchen. This facility they hope will allow them to take production to the next level, and hopefully create more jobs for the community. The new building also provides a beautiful space for community meetings, workshops and other activities. The White Earth Land Recovery Project also moved their Gammill quilting machine into the new facility, and will be training community members to use the machine. In addition, other WELRP educational workshops on everything from basket making to language retreats will be held in the new facility. Hopefully the Native Harvest facility will be a valuable asset to their community.
The mission of the White Earth Land Recovery Project is to facilitate recovery of the original land base of the White Earth Indian Reservation, while preserving and restoring traditional practices of sound land stewardship, language fluency, community development, and strengthening our spiritual and cultural heritage.
Check out our Native Harvest product selection.
Peacecraft was founded in 1990, inspired by a benefit dinner where Hiroshima survivors shared their experiences and spoke out against any future use of atomic weapons. Later in the same year, they visited Japan and fell in love with handmade paper and the art of origami. The Peacecraft circle now includes many members of their family, as well as a small group of skilled origami artists. Through the sale of handmade ornaments and other items, they spread the story of the Peace Crane and contribute to organizations that relieve children's suffering. They hold themselves to the highest standards of quality and consistency, and make all of their products in the USA.
Peacecraft donates 5% of sales to organizations that work to relieve children's suffering. Previous recipients have been local hospices and meal programs, The Peace Abbey, Kobe Earthquake fund, NONA in Bosnia, Kosovo Refugee Aid, Amahoro in Rwanda, AIMS Hospital in India and the Mennonite Central Committee Afghan Refugee Program.
Check out our Peacecraft product selection.
Its not about the beans, its about the women at The Tomorrow Project. Homeless women work with simple ingredients like beans and spices for two purposes: to create handmade gourmet soups and to reshape their lives.
Who Are They?
There's only one unifying feature among the women--being homeless or...
* Some are young, many are middle-aged, and a surprising number are over age 50
* They are all races, all colors, and are from different family situations
* Some are school dropouts, some have college credits
* Most share a common background of generational poverty, poor coping skills, and low expectations
* They aspire to become self -reliant, and have a home of their own
At The Tomorrow Project, we are committed to
* Provide individualized job-readiness training for women
* Build competency and skills through the assembly and sales of gourmet dried-bean soup products
* Continually improve our product offerings, production facilities, and sales events
How Does The Tomorrow Project Work?
* Well-known San Diego chefs develop appealing recipes for "Savory White Bean," "Curry Confetti," and other soups
* The women lovingly assemble the ingredients: beans, spices and seasonings
* They carefully measure, weigh, and package each soup mix
* Each woman displays pride of workmanship by signing her name on every label
Goals of Work Training
* Soup assembly and sales teach basic skills that help the women become marketable. Each woman learns to:
* Report to work on-time and follow instructions
* Work cooperatively in a team and ask appropriate questions
* Follow specific sequences and check for quality control
* Connect with customers positively and fill orders accurately
Since these skills transfer to many work environments, attaining them adds to each woman's confidence. The training stipend is, perhaps, the first income she has ever earned. Getting paid for work conveys a strong message that her efforts are valued.
Our goals are that the women will
* Gain proficiency in transferable skills of computation, assembly, and sales
* Develop social skills and learn to work well with others
* Practice conflict resolution, and learn to set and meet goals
* Attain a new sense of self-worth
* Practice how to apply for and interview for jobs
The power of The Tomorrow Project stems from its ability to affect success factors beyond job readiness. The Project addresses the underlying barriers that hamper a homeless woman's ability to earn her own living. The Program Manager assesses each woman's needs and provides referrals for
* health issues and substance dependence
* remedial education in math and reading
* life skills and psychological counseling
* housing assistance
* education and career counseling
* job training programs for specific trades
The mix of job training and individual guidance creates an environment where each participant develops self-confidence. Beyond gaining skills, each homeless woman begins to visualize a brighter future of self-sufficiency and independent living.
Check out our The Tomorrow Project product selection.
to Global Exchange Fair Trade Program
