Thank you for your interest in the Spring 2022 Directed Study with Grounds for Empowerment!
Below, you will find more information about the course/workshop experience, student qualifications, and how to express your interest in the program!
If you are interested in being a part of Grounds for Empowerment for the Spring 2022 Semester, please fill out the survey below:
About Grounds for Empowerment
Grounds for Empowerment (GFE) is a specialty coffee program powered by The Goizueta Business & Society Institute focused on providing women specialty coffee farmers the market connections and business know-how needed to enable them to reach their full economic potential. GFE works with partner organizations on the ground in Latin America to identify cohorts of promising farmers that engage in practical learning sessions with the support of GFE’s mentor network of industry professionals.
About the Business Tools Workshop
These workshops support women specialty coffee farmers as they create a farm identity (through storytelling) while analyzing farm revenues and costs. Participating farmers leave this workshop with a stronger vision for the future of their farms, and with specific plans to achieve more prosperous and sustainable businesses.
Under the leadership of Professor Peter Roberts and the Grounds for Empowerment team, students work with selected farmers to implement learning modules.
Post-workshop, students support farmers in the completion of deliverables including farm stories, financial analyses, and seed grant applications.
The Fall GFE Business Tools Workshop team will engage bilingual college students from business schools in Central America. The -bilingual- teams of US-based students and Central American students will work together to learn about specialty coffee and to support 40 coffee farmers from Central America.
Qualifications
The ideal student:
Is enrolled in an Emory or Partner University degree program, undergraduate or graduate;
Has excellent oral and written communication skills in both English and Spanish;
Has excellent quantitative and analytical skills;
Can work on a team, has respect for diversity, and is highly reliable;
Can attend a regular meeting every Friday morning from 10:00AM to 1:00PM; and
Has experience in multicultural settings, working with community organizations, and/or experience related to economic development (desirable but not necessary).
* No travel is required for this course experience as all sessions will be held in a virtual format via Zoom.
Questions
If you have any outstanding questions please email GFE Program Manager Giselle Barrera at gcarias@emory.edu
