•Develop and strengthen inter-school connections and collaboration in order to deepen and expand the Sustainable Food & Fair Trade movement
•Increase the number of skilled, knowledgeable and confident youth leaders throughout the Western United States.
•Broaden the scope of the convergence to integrate Fair Trade & Sustainable Food-based Initiatives in an effort to foster new alliances and partnerships toward creating more just and sustainable communities and institutions.
•Form relationships, light fires, and have fun.

USFT is joining forces with the California Student Sustainability Coalition to create a superconvergence! This President's Day weekend, hundreds of youth and student leaders in the fair trade and sustainability movements will be joining us and the Community Agroecology Network at UC Santa Cruz for a weekend of workshops, discussions, training, and fun.

There is a registration fee of $35 to help cover the cost of the convergence, which includes two breakfasts, two lunches, and one dinner. We will be collecting the registration fee when you sign in at the convergence, so be sure to bring cash or a check (made out to Tides/United Students for Fair Trade) with you! Financial aid is available - contact westcoastconvergence@gmail.com.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:

(CLICK HERE for workshop titles and descriptions)

Friday, February 15
5:00-7:00PM: Arrival and registration
7:30: Welcome and keynote speakers Steve Gleissman, Magatte Wade-Marchand, and Anim Steel (view their bios here)

Saturday, February 16
8:00-8:45AM: Breakfast and open mike
9:00-10:00: Forum of youth leaders in the Fair Trade and sustainable food movement
10:15-11:45: Workshop session I
12:00-1:30: Lunch/vendor fair
1:45-3:15: Workshop session II
3:30-5:00: Workshop session III
5:15-5:45: Community gathering
6:00PM on: Explore Santa Cruz!

Sunday, February 17
8:00-8:45AM: Breakfast and open mike
9:00-10:00: Forum of major players in the Fair Trade and sustainable food movement
10:15-11:45: Workshop session IV
12:00-1:30: Lunch/vendor fair
1:45-5:30: Open space (Workshop session V)
5:45-7:00: Closing
7:00 on: Dinner and live music! The Bayonics (http://www.bayonics.com/) and Sourgrass (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendI...) will be playing.

Monday, February 18
9:00AM-1:00PM: Various local activities for those who don't need the day to travel

You can download the convergence information packet at the bottom of this page. You can also download the form to pick your preferred workshops - this form should be returned to WestCoastConvergence@gmail.com no later than Monday, February 11.

Contact us at westcoastconvergence@gmail.com with any questions.

For more information about the California Student Sustainability Coalition: http://www.sustainabilitycoalition.org/

For more information about the Community Agroecology Network: http://www.communityagroecology.net/

Short bios of our keynote speakers

Workshop titles and descriptions

Local hostels and hotels