Buena suerte Michael

If you have been touched by the CRS Fair Trade program–enjoyed its products like yummy Divine chocolate, experienced the fun of shopping at a Work of Human Hands sale, or learned how your cup of Fair Trade coffee helps you live out your faith on a daily basis, then you have been touched by the work of Michael Sheridan.

Michael has been leading the CRS Fair Trade program for about four years, after working with CRS in the Phillippines, a career as a journalist in Latin America, and studies at Georgetown and Princeton. He has enfused our work with a deep and abiding dedication to disadvantaged producers all over the world; he has raised the proverbial bar on CRS’s commitment to Fair Trade and its principles; he has created a range of materials that persuasively and beautifully convey the story of Fair Trade’s impact on producers. He has also developed a reputation at CRS headquarters as a rare cross between coffee snob and humble servant.

Our CRS colleagues in the Latin America and Caribbean region will be welcoming Michael in a few weeks. Based in Guatemala City with his family, Michael will be an advisor to the region on how to promote sustainable livelihoods among the people we serve. Here in the States we fully expect to stay in touch with Michael as he encounters new people and places who might benefit from Fair Trade connections. As a whiz with a technology and with a talent for story telling, Michael will be sharing reflections on what our partners are doing in LACRO and how folks in the United States can support efforts for economic justice.

We also expect recommendations and reports on the latest harvests of speciality coffee. Below is a snapshot of Michael at our annual holiday sale in Baltimore, demonstrating once again his obsession with only the finest brews. Watch out LACRO folks, not only are you receiving a talented development practitioner, but you also now have your own in-house barista! Of course, much more importantly, artisans and farmers have in Michael a resource and a champion. I send “un abrazo fuerte” to Michael and his family and welcome any comments you’d like to post about his service to CRS Fair Trade, because I am sure he is now a subscriber to our blog!

This entry was posted on Sunday, September 16th, 2007 and is filed under 100% Fair Trade, Beyond Fair Trade, Coffee . You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

4 Responses to “Buena suerte Michael”

1. Scott James Says:
   September 16th, 2007 at 6:00 pm

   Well done, mi hermano. I look forward to seeing what you and Margo accomplish in LACRO.

   As always, I consider it an honor to serve beside you. We’ll be down to visit Guatemala City soon!

   - Scott James
   Fair Trade Sports
   http://www.fairtradesports.com
   Fair Trade Soccer Balls!

2. J.L. Drouhard Says:
   September 17th, 2007 at 7:55 am

   Michael was instrumental in introducing fair trade coffee education and resources to our parishes in the Archdiocese of Seattle. I’ll always remember his excitement upon arrival in the “coffee city”. Buena suerte, Miguel.

3. David Funkhouser Says:
   September 19th, 2007 at 5:43 pm

   Michael is a “certified” Fair Trade Superstar! and it has been a huge privilege to work with him. I treasure the opportunities we had to share space and time, and I’m deeply grateful for his insight, his passion, his sensitivity, his imagination, his great skill in sharing the Fair Trade story. The list is much longer. I/We will miss him here, but we’ll keep gathering the harvest from the seeds he has planted. Love and blessings to you, Michael, Margo, and the children. I hope I’ll get to Guate while you’re there!

4. Kristi Says:
   September 19th, 2007 at 7:38 pm

   I met Michael at a Fair Trade workshop in Americus, Georgia last year… fantastic presentation, fantastic guy. Much ’suerta’ to you and your familia! I look forward to hearing some stories…

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