San Francisco Interfaith Council
When JJ and I first met three years ago, we spoke of the future of this project, and of our hopes. It was then that JJ shared with me his dream of spreading peace around the world, through this project. JJ asked me, and Thanksgiving, to join him in sowing the seeds of peace.
Truly, it has been an honor to join JJ in this work for peace, in the work of making dreams come true. But how would we do it? I thought long and hard about this challenge, and about how to integrate the goals of a fair trade coffee company with the realities of doing business in a competitive market with the work of building peace in the world. I realized that the strategy was simple: create a network of faith communities in the US who buy the coffee, thereby echoing JJ’s work to bring together the diverse farmers of Peace Kawomera. We would find common ground, affirm our shared values, begin to work together, and from there, begin to learn more about each other, what binds us, and also how we are different, and can respect, even celebrate our difference. And we, this collective, would connect through Thanksgiving Coffee to the farmers of Peace Kawomera, buy their coffee, sustain their families, and support their building of peace.
I first called Rita Semel, Executive Vice Chair of the San Francisco Interfaith Council in late April, 2006. I had to talk fast, because I know how people get skeptical when a businessman calls out of the blue. Somehow, in twenty seconds, I’d got the story I across: a cooperative of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim farmers produces a beautiful coffee. My company is a fair trade company. We’ve supported the co-op from the very beginning. We need to build a market for the coffee so we can go back next year to buy more. We want to spread the story of peace. Will you work with us?
“Let me think about it, this sounds interesting,” said Rita. Little did I know I was speaking with one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met. Rita is well into her 80s, and is brimming with enthusiasm and energy. She works tirelessly to bring the various religious communities of San Francisco together. She is a peacemaker. She is an inspiration.
Seven months later Rita introduced the project to the membership of the San Francisco Interfaith Council at their annual prayer breakfast Thanksgiving week. The moment is captured in the documentary (see On the Silver Screen below). Then yesterday, the leadership of over a dozen of San Francisco’s most prominent churches, mosques, and synagogues gathered at a luncheon at the SFIC’s interfaith chapel. Together, they welcomed JJ, and affirmed their support for his work. In the coming weeks they will each launch their own buying clubs, and through that, enlist the support of their membership. Together, thousands of Christians, Muslims, and Jews in San Francisco will work together to support thousands of Christians, Muslims, and Jews in Uganda. We thank Rita, the San Francisco Interfaith Council, and United Religions Initiative for joinining us in this work to make the world more just, more peaceful, and more beautiful place.
JJ shares his story with our friends at United Religions Initiative.
July 22nd, 2007 at 8:33 am
Hi–My family visited Mt Elgon 1 1/2 years ago, when our eldest was in the Peace Corps in Uganda. We are members of an interfaith congregation in Boulder Colorado, which is also part of a local inter-faith network. We would be grateful if you could forward any materials you have used in organizing the SF process. Thanks! Jackie and Jim