Social Action
Economic Justice and Global Fair Trade
Our Position:
A major concern is the growing wealth inequality in the US, now the most uneqalitarian country in the industrialist world, with the largest (and still growing) gap between the rich and the poor. The top 1% of our population has more wealth than the entire bottom 95%. Internationally, the gap between the rich and poor is even more dramatic in developing countries where indigenous people have been oppressed since colonial times. Many people are excluded or exploited by the national and global economic systems. We believe that every person should have the opportunity to participate in the economy and be compensated fairly for their endeavors.
Policies and Programs:
White Dog Minimum Wage - The minimum wage set by the federal government, $5.15 an hour, is not enough to live on. Therefore, we have voluntarily set a more fair minimum wage of $9 an hour. Entry level employees begin at $8/hr, and move to $9 within 90 days. Most employees at the White Dog Cafe make well above this amount. For more information on a living wage, visit Responsible Wealth.
Alternative Sourcing - We seek to use our purchasing dollar to bring more people into our economic system by supporting small businesses and minority-owned businesses. We buy directly from local family farms and we seek inner-city vendors, indigenous cooperatives and other minority firms when choosing vendors such as a printer or employment agency, or when purchasing imported goods. All of our draft beer is purchased from local micro-breweries. We buy coffee grown by indigenous growers in Chiapas, Mexico, (See info on Businesses for Ethical Trade and Human Rights in Chiapas below.) and we buy dried herbs and other seasonings from Frontier Natural Products, which supports indigenous cooperatives.
We accept and use a local currency, Equal Dollars, which was started by Resources for Human Development to encourage local trade and to bring people without access to dollars into the economy. We accept half payment in Equal Dollars and we seek Equal Dollar vendors, most of whom are minority owned companies, when we are purchasing items such as decorations, paper goods, and office supplies. For more information on Equal Dollars, contact Resources for Human Development.
Businesses for Ethical Trade and Human Rights in Chiapas (BETHRIC) - The White Dog has sponsored a number of trips to Chiapas, Mexico to better understand the Zapatista pro-democracy movement. After the Acteal massacre in 1997, Judy Wicks formed BETHRIC to give members of the U.S. business community who source coffee, crafts and other products from Southern Mexico a voice in defense of the indigenous people suffering violence and repression by the Mexican military and paramilitary.
Black Cat Whole World Products - We seek out merchandise for our store which promotes a more inclusive and sustainable economy, such as soap made by a women's training center in inner-city Chicago, boxes made by Brazilian Street children, jewelry made from recycled ball gowns by handicapped and homeless artists in New Orleans, weavings and handmade paper books by Mayans in Mexico, and many other products. We are always getting new merchandise in at out 3426 Sansom St. location or visit us on line at www.blackcatshop.com.
Visit our Community Programs page for more information on our Philadelphia Sister Restaurant Project to promote minority-owned restaurants in marginalized neighborhoods of Philadelphia.
Table Talks and Storytelling - We hold programs on many topics, including economic justice issues such as globalization, socially responsible investing and stories by former welfare moms. We announce events in our tri-annual newsletter to 20,000 customers. We have a series called “New Visions for Business” which features business people and ideas which use business as a vehicle to achieve economic justice. “State of the Labor Movement” is an annual breakfast around Labor Day.
Go to our Events page for complete listing of our upcoming events.
Links:
We work with and financially contribute to the following organizations who are addressing economic justice and fair trade issues:
United for a Fair Economy and Responsible Wealth
Global Exchange
Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility
First Nations Development Fund
Social Venture Network
Other Topics We are Engaged in
Economic Justice and Global Fair Trade
Environmental Sustainability
Socially Responsible Business
Criminal Justice Reform
Peace and Nonviolence
Children, Youth and Seniors
Celebrating Diversity
Social Change through the Arts
