I’m always amazed that everytime I ask the Universe for a shot of inspiration, something pretty cool happens. Today I had a conversation with an amazing company called World of Good (www.worldofgood.com). I met the folks at World of Good as part of my research in putting together an event called “Careers in Social Change: A Talent Pipeline Event”. At the event 35 employers, 15 career coaches, 5 speakers and 250 students will gather to network, interview and engage in discussion about preparing workers for jobs in the evolving field of social enterprise and social activism.

World of Good has been on my list of organizations I wanted to get to know and enlist to come speak to the students on our panel about career development. This organization is awesome. They are a for-profit social enterprise that creates “opportunities for hundreds of artisan cooperatives around the world to share their best work by serving as a bridge to the U.S. retail market”. One of their goals is to make sure that local artists make enough money to put food on their table everyday. Additionally, World of Good provides “access to fair wages, safe working conditions and long-term economic sustainability”. Ten percent of all profits the company makes are channeled into the World of Good Development Foundation (www.worldofgood.org), which partners with businesses and non-profits to build a stronger fair trade crafts movement in the United States, to research and promote clear transparent international standards for fair trade crafts, and to invest in economic and social development projects in craft producer communities.

One of the managers of World of Good has agreed to come speak on my panel. Her insights and personal story will most certainly inspire others to figure out ways to get involved in careers that matter. Today, I purchase a 100% organic cotton fair trade environmentally safe t-shirt that was manufactured under strict conditions, resulting in a pesticide, herbicide, and chemical-free product. I was tempted by the recycled juice box tote, but it was out of stock. Maybe next time.