Center For Reflection Education And Action Incorporated

CREA IS A SOCIAL ECONOMIC RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTER FOCUSING ON SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC RESEARCH AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, HUMAN RIGHTS, LABOR RIGHTS, SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES AND SYSTEMIC ANALYSIS.

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES AND DIRECT TRADE: CREA CONTINUES TO WORK WITH COOPERATIVES IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES, ESPECIALLY IN GUATEMALA AND WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WORKING IN HAITI, PALESTINE, UGANDA, EL SALVADOR AND OTHERS TO ASSIST THE ARTISANS AND FARMERS IN BRINGING THEIR PRODUCTS TO MARKET. CREA CONTINUES TO SUPPLY THE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS NEEDED FOR ANY CHILDREN IN THE COOPERATIVES WITH WHICH WE WORK SO THAT THE CHILDREN MAY ATTEND SCHOOL. WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS ANNUALLY SO THAT THOSE STUDYING TO BECOME TEACHERS CAN COMPLETE THEIR STUDIES AND RETURN TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES.

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: CREA CONTINUES TO WORK ON CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, FOCUSING ON ISSUES RELATED TO SUPPLY CHAINS AROUND THE WORLD. THESE ISSUES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, PREVENTING FORCED AND CHILD LABOR, SUSTAINABLE LIVING WAGES, REMOVAL OF TOXIC AND CARCINOGENIC CHEMICALS FROM PRODUCTION AND/OR INCLUSION IN FINAL PRODUCTS, AND MULTI-STAKEHOLDER INTERACTION ON THE LOCAL AND INVESTOR LEVELS. CREA COLLABORATES WITH OTHER NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THESE EFFORTS. CREA ALSO CONTINUES TO WORK ON ISSUES RELATED TO SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY WORK, FOCUSING ON THE IMPACT OF JOBS, USE AND MISUSE OF NATURAL RESOURCES, EMISSION OF WASTE PRODUCTS, ETC. ON THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH PRODUCTS ARE SOURCED/PRODUCED AND IN LOCATIONS WHERE THE PRODUCTS ARE SOLD WITHIN THE US. THE IMPACT OF THE BUSINESS SITE IS ALSO A FOCUS OF THE CSR WORK, LINKING IT TO THE SUSTAINABLE EARTH WORK DESCRIBED BELOW.

SUSTAINABLE EARTH; ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL: CREA CONTINUES TO GIVE WORKSHOPS TO VARIOUS GROUPS IN NEW ENGLAND FOCUSING ON THE ISSUES RELATED TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND HOW THEY AFFECT COMMUNITIES IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE WORLD. FOLLOWING THE FOUNDATION SET FORTH BY POPE FRANCIS IN LAUDATO SI', THE WORKSHOPS TEACH ATTENDEES HOW TO CONNECT ASPECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE WITH INCREASES IN FOOD COSTS, JOB AVAILABILITY. ETC. WHICH MOVES THE ISSUE FROM SOMEWHERE "OVER THERE" TO RIGHT HERE WHERE WE EACH LIVE AND WORK. IN ADDITION, ATTENDEES ARE TAUGHT HOW TO USE THEIR POWER AS INVESTORS, SHOPPERS, COMMUNITIES OF FAITH, ETC. TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE IN VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS LARGE CORPORATIONS. IN ADDITION, CREA IS DEVELOPING A SERIES OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS ON SPECIFIC ISSUES WITH EACH BOOKLET FOCUSING ON ONE ISSUE AND HOW IT CONNECTS WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND US.