I stand, watching. The only light in the room comes from the nearby window which lets in some of the African sunshine. I watch closely at the precision with which my friend sits and weaves on her loom. She gracefully presses pedals to lift and lower different parts of the large loom. A machine so large looks as if it could eat this young woman whole, but she commands it with small movements of her feet and uses her hands to produce a beautiful product out of the intricacies. I am getting to look in on something that is so ordinary to her, work, and yet to me it is a beautiful moment. I feel like a little kid in awe at a new discovery, amazed by the magic another person can create. The piece she is creating is ultimately bound for the hands of people halfway around the world, people she may never see face to face.

One of my favorite things about our present time is the amazing interconnectedness we have. I can send a message to my friend in Uganda and receive a reply almost immediately. I can get on a plane and after 48 hours, with good connections, be almost anywhere in the world. This has made it possible to not just connect with people, but meet them in person. I can fly around the world, meet someone and hear their story in their own words.

I live in a world of storytelling. I have worked with artisans for the past 2.5 years in Kampala, Uganda. Telling stories comes with the territory in fair trade circles. Why do we tell stories? For the connection. I love being able to tell a customer that I know each person who had a hand in making their necklace.

Currently, I am spearheading and stepping into a role that takes this connection to the next level. My passion is to promote talented artisans around the world. My new role will be to build bridges between makers and the international market. Getting beautiful products, and their stories, into the hands of consumers. Helping people see a quality product and the journey it took to get there. What if the average person had peace of mind that all of the items they use or wear had an ethical source? How would that change consumerism?

My goal is to give the artisan a place at the table. Helping them to compete with the countless other products that tug at the purse strings of the consumer. Giving a beautiful piece of jewelry or clothing or art another purpose: connection to each other.

One of my favorite things about our present time is the amazing interconnectedness we have. I can send a message to my friend in Uganda and receive a reply almost immediately. I can get on a plane and after 48 hours, with good connections, be almost anywhere in the world. This has made it possible to not just connect with people, but meet them in person. I can fly around the world, meet someone and hear their story in their own words.

I live in a world of storytelling. I have worked with artisans for the past 2.5 years in Kampala, Uganda. Telling stories comes with the territory in fair trade circles. Why do we tell stories? For the connection. I love being able to tell a customer that I know each person who had a hand in making their necklace.

Currently, I am spearheading and stepping into a role that takes this connection to the next level. My passion is to promote talented artisans around the world. My new role will be to build bridges between makers and the international market. Getting beautiful products, and their stories, into the hands of consumers. Helping people see a quality product and the journey it took to get there. What if the average person had peace of mind that all of the items they use or wear had an ethical source? How would that change consumerism?

My goal is to give the artisan a place at the table. Helping them to compete with the countless other products that tug at the purse strings of the consumer. Giving a beautiful piece of jewelry or clothing or art another purpose: connection to each other.