Dollars, Sense and Dignity

“The pubic also mistrusts corporate America. The good news about this has been an increased motivation on the part of corporations to engage with social service organizations and show their commitment toward the communities in which they operate.”

When I began thinking about where I wanted my degree in Public Accounting to take me, I considered all of the things that were important to me. One of those things was the accessibility to community service. Being that my major was not directly helping those in need, I wanted to be able to give back in ways that I would enjoy. While living and working in a third world country is not really something I can picture myself doing, I can see myself running road races for charity, volunteering at local schools and soup kitchens and helping to organize clothing, toy and food drives in the office setting. Right or wrong, sufficient enough or taking the easy way out; these are acts of service to the community that I am able to give all of my heart. I was pleased to hear about the initiatives many companies are taking to offer service to the community. While companies may focus on increasing profits and expanding business, they really can be much greater.

“The world must not know about this, and I must be here for a reason. I think that I am the right person to change this.”

I think this quote can very much relate to our class. We have been fortunate enough to learn about the issues of Fair Trade and discuss them weekly. Moreover, some members from our class will even have the chance to experience these issues firsthand in just a few months. Very much like the woman from this article, we are in this class for a reason. Each and every one of us may have a million things going on but when we get to class, it is time to put them aside and focus on the issues in front of us. Can we do anything to change them? Can we dedicate a few more minutes to selling at the cart? Can we tell a friend about what Fair Trade means? Can we support Fair Trade in our everyday efforts? While we may not make as big of an impact as the author of this article, we are all certainly the right people to make small strides.

More blog posts in this category Common

• The Wound & the Blessing/The Economy of Communion Project Post
• The Crest- Jewel of Wisdom & Work as a Spiritual Practice Post
• "What Money Can't Buy" Blog Post
• Blog Post Ni: FTRN Booklet & Arithmetic of Passion
• Work as a Spiritual Practice (The Transformation of Work)