CARE Conference & International Women's Day Celebration Marketplace and Action Center

Come visit the Marketplace and Action Center where you will have the opportunity to buy goods made from CARE supported projects abroad and other vendors, learn about CARE partner organizations and take an active role in the fight against global poverty by building a virtual CARE Package.

The Marketplace

CARE works in communities affected by severe poverty all over the world. CARE's mission is to help these communities develop sustainable solutions to daunting issues they face on a daily basis. In many communities CARE has assisted groups in creating artisan projects. These projects provide individuals with the opportunity to use their skills and local resources to create beautiful hand crafted goods which they then sell and begin to increase their income. After a few years of supporting these projects, they reach a point of sustainability and the project is run completely by the local community participants.

This year at the Marketplace, we are fortunate enough to have items from three projects that CARE has supported – these items come from Thailand, Bangladesh and Tanzania. Participants will have the opportunity to see the inspiring talent of the women who take part in these projects, honoring the artistry that has allowed them to have greater opportunities.

In addition to items from CARE supported projects, you will have the opportunity to purchase unique goods from the following vendors:

Come to the Marketplace, experience CARE's work and support women and their communities by purchasing beautifully hand crafted items.

The Action Center

The Action Center provides conference participants with a place to take 'actions' supporting a cause they believe in while reaching out to friends, family, the media, elected officials, and anyone else who shares the goal of ending extreme poverty. At the Action Center conference participants will be able to blog, tweet, and update their facebook pages, getting out the message that they are at CARE's 2011 National Conference. Participants can broadcast what they are experiencing at the conference, along with the need to support the key legislative issues that they will be advocating for on Capitol Hill the following day.

The Action Center is a vital resource for participants who wonder ''WHAT's NEXT?'' After visiting the Action Center you will walk away having spread the word while gaining an understanding of how to keep on demanding a world without poverty after the NCC.