ABOUT US

A History of the International Women's Coffee Alliance (IWCA)

The International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA) evolved from the vision of Karen Cebreros and Kimberly Easson, who planned a women-only coffee trip to Nicaragua and Costa Rica for 18 women working in the specialty coffee industry.

This eventful trip in February 2003 was planned with the goal of connecting women working in North America's and Canada’s consumer coffee industries with women coffee producers in Latin America. The simple aim of this trip was to encourage a better understanding of issues that women at origin faced, while creating connections between women in all segments of the coffee industry.

The highlight of the trip was the connection that formed between the tour participants and the women from SOPPEXCCA co-operative in Jinotega, Nicaragua. In three short days in Jinotega, women from diverse backgrounds connected and discussed ways to make a difference through their trading relationships. From this international connection, the idea to form an organization dedicated to promoting connection between women in the coffee industry blossomed.

The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) annual conference in Boston later in 2003 provided the first opportunity to continue the idea and gather women from the coffee industry together. Founding members Colleen Crosby, Karen Cebreros and Kimberly Easson knew that they had they had hit on something big when nearly 100 women showed up to an inaugural breakfast. They had anticipated a small group of around 30 and had booked a small room for the event. Tables were removed, chairs found, and attendees ate while balancing plates on their knees. After the official program, women stayed and talked. No one wanted to leave. There was a warm and energized atmosphere as women shared stories and networked.

A year later, in 2004, at the SCAA conference in Atlanta, the group had blossomed into hundreds of women. Speakers came from Rwanda, Nicaragua, and the USA. Group sessions were held to discuss the needs and interests of women working in the coffee industry.

IWCA is now an official 501c3, with 11 board members, seven active volunteer committees, and four international chapters.

Since its small beginnings in Jinotega, the IWCA has accomplished a tremendous amount. With the generous support of donations from individuals and industry partners, and through an incredible amount of generously donated volunteer time, the IWCA has:

• Provided self-powered radios to farmers in Rwanda
• Helped 200 women in Peru to expand the variety and quantity of vegetables grown in their farm gardens to provide additional income and supplement their diet
• Provided funds for schools and school supplies
• Contributed to cancer vaccines for 1,700 women in producing countries
• Granted Lifetime Achievement Awards to Erna Knutsen (2003), Sunalini Menon (2005) and Colleen Crosby and Linda Smithers (2006)
• Hosted 5 annual networking breakfasts
• Hosted 2 annual scavenger hunt fundraising events
• Developed international chapters in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and El Salvador with others in progress

With four solid years of fundraising and network development, the IWCA is poised to increase its impact on women’s lives throughout the global coffee community. We thank our initial Founding Partners, America's Food Technologies Inc., Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Foundation, Bunn-o-Matic Corp., and InterAmerican Coffee in particular for their visionary support of our work. We invite additional financial and volunteer support.