BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
METHOD:PUBLISH
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
PRODID:-//WordPress - MECv5.22.0.1779688543//EN
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://chicagofairtrade.org/
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:MEC-f5cfbc876972bd0d031c8abc37344c28@chicagofairtrade.org
DTSTART:20250731T223000Z
DTEND:20250801T010000Z
DTSTAMP:20250721T224200Z
CREATED:20250721
LAST-MODIFIED:20250723
SUMMARY:The Un-Sugarcoated Truth: How Sugar Workers are Fighting for Justice
DESCRIPTION:\nJoin us to learn how sugar worker communities in the Dominican Republic are organizing to fight injustice\n\n\n\nMore than 60% of products in U.S. grocery stores contain added sugar – but the truth behind the controversial crop is often hard to swallow. Join us for The Un-Sugarcoated Truth: a timely conversation about labor abuses in the sugar industry and how sugar worker communities are organizing to fight against injustice.\n\n\n\nThe history of sugarcane production presents parallels for the reality we see on sugarcane plantations today, which replicate conditions of exploitation, forced labor, and racism for profit. In the Dominican Republic today, many sugarcane workers suffer astounding abuses at the hands of the billion-dollar company Central Romana. These workers are continuing to fight for their rights despite all odds, even since U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reversed a decision blocking the company’s sugar from entering the U.S., despite clear evidence that forced labor is ongoing.\n\n\n\nThis event will spotlight Corporate Accountability Lab’s work on the Central Romana case and explore what needs to be done to transform the sugar industry to ensure it protects workers and the planet.\n\n\n\nAbout Our Panelists\n\n\n\nOur panel will be moderated by Jerome McDonnell: Chicago broadcasting legend, longtime host of Worldview on WBEZ, and board member of Chicago Fair Trade.\n\n\n\nCharity Ryerson, Founder and Executive Director at Corporate Accountability Lab\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCharity Ryerson is an attorney, legal designer, activist and strategist with two decades of experience fighting corporate abuse around the globe. She leads a team of committed advocates who design, prototype and test new strategies to protect the world and her inhabitants from corporate misconduct.\n\n\n\nDr. Howard Rosing, Executive Director of DePaul University’s Steans Center\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Rosing is a cultural anthropologist whose research focuses on sustainable food systems development, urban food access, economic restructuring, and food justice movements in Chicago and the Dominican Republic.\n\n\n\nDaniel Regueira, founder of Chicago Cane Cooperative\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHaving emerged on sugarcane plantations in the 17th century, rum has a troubling, blood-soaked history. Daniel founded Chicago Cane Cooperative, one of the first worker-owned spirits producers in the world, to focus on the creation of rum-based spirits that inspire collective action toward a more sustainable and transparent liquor industry.\n\n\n\nAbout the sugar industry in the Dominican Republic\n\n\n\nSugarcane workers in the Dominican Republic face some of the harshest working conditions in the world: conditions CBP once labeled as forced labor. The decision to lift the ban on Central Romana imports signals a dangerous shift in how labor laws are being enforced, or perhaps more accurately, ignored. In fact, this decision was made without regard to normal government procedures and under circumstances suggesting that an unholy combination of corporate money and raw domestic politics may well have played a role.\n\n\n\nThis conversation will explore the systems that enable abuse, the courageous organizing efforts resisting them, and how we as consumers and citizens can demand accountability.\n\n\n\nStick around for an ethical rum tasting!\n\n\n\nFollowing the panel, Daniel Regueira of Chicago Cane Cooperative will lead a short rum tasting featuring the cooperative’s locally produced, ethically sourced rum. Enjoy cocktails crafted with this standout spirit and learn how Chicago Cane Cooperative’s small-batch approach is redefining what a more ethical alcohol industry can look like.\n\n\n\nTickets\n\n\n\nTickets are $10 (including a complimentary rum cocktail or soft drink) or FREE for Chicago Fair Trade members. Space is limited, so please RSVP to reserve your seat.\n\n\n\n\n
X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:
Join us to learn how sugar worker communities in the Dominican Republic are organizing to fight injustice
More than 60% of products in U.S. grocery stores contain added sugar – but the truth behind the controversial crop is often hard to swallow. Join us for The Un-Sugarcoated Truth: a timely conversation about labor abuses in the sugar industry and how sugar worker communities are organizing to fight against injustice.
The history of sugarcane production presents parallels for the reality we see on sugarcane plantations today, which replicate conditions of exploitation, forced labor, and racism for profit. In the Dominican Republic today, many sugarcane workers suffer astounding abuses at the hands of the billion-dollar company Central Romana. These workers are continuing to fight for their rights despite all odds, even since U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reversed a decision blocking the company’s sugar from entering the U.S., despite clear evidence that forced labor is ongoing.
This event will spotlight Corporate Accountability Lab’s work on the Central Romana case and explore what needs to be done to transform the sugar industry to ensure it protects workers and the planet.
About Our Panelists
Our panel will be moderated by Jerome McDonnell: Chicago broadcasting legend, longtime host of Worldview on WBEZ, and board member of Chicago Fair Trade.
Charity Ryerson, Founder and Executive Director at Corporate Accountability Lab
Charity Ryerson is an attorney, legal designer, activist and strategist with two decades of experience fighting corporate abuse around the globe. She leads a team of committed advocates who design, prototype and test new strategies to protect the world and her inhabitants from corporate misconduct.
Dr. Howard Rosing, Executive Director of DePaul University’s Steans Center
Dr. Rosing is a cultural anthropologist whose research focuses on sustainable food systems development, urban food access, economic restructuring, and food justice movements in Chicago and the Dominican Republic.
Daniel Regueira, founder of Chicago Cane Cooperative
Having emerged on sugarcane plantations in the 17th century, rum has a troubling, blood-soaked history. Daniel founded Chicago Cane Cooperative, one of the first worker-owned spirits producers in the world, to focus on the creation of rum-based spirits that inspire collective action toward a more sustainable and transparent liquor industry.
About the sugar industry in the Dominican Republic
Sugarcane workers in the Dominican Republic face some of the harshest working conditions in the world: conditions CBP once labeled as forced labor. The decision to lift the ban on Central Romana imports signals a dangerous shift in how labor laws are being enforced, or perhaps more accurately, ignored. In fact, this decision was made without regard to normal government procedures and under circumstances suggesting that an unholy combination of corporate money and raw domestic politics may well have played a role.
This conversation will explore the systems that enable abuse, the courageous organizing efforts resisting them, and how we as consumers and citizens can demand accountability.
Stick around for an ethical rum tasting!
Following the panel, Daniel Regueira of Chicago Cane Cooperative will lead a short rum tasting featuring the cooperative’s locally produced, ethically sourced rum. Enjoy cocktails crafted with this standout spirit and learn how Chicago Cane Cooperative’s small-batch approach is redefining what a more ethical alcohol industry can look like.
Tickets
Tickets are $10 (including a complimentary rum cocktail or soft drink) or FREE for Chicago Fair Trade members. Space is limited, so please RSVP to reserve your seat.
