Lecture Description
This panel will spotlight the transformative power of community-led development in coffee-growing communities across Latin America and East & Central Africa. Local leaders who have participated in The Chain Collaborative’s Community-Led Development Incubator will share their experiences, from identifying community challenges to designing and implementing impactful solutions. Attendees will hear first-hand accounts of their projects and key takeaways and learnings from the process. The session will highlight the importance of centering local expertise and leadership to drive sustainable change in the coffee sector.
Date: Saturday April 26, 2025
Time: 10:15am - 11:15am
Location: Room 360ABC
Category: Sustainability
Access: This lecture is free to attend with a Specialty Coffee Expo entry badge. Register to attend Specialty Coffee Expo here.
Please note that lecture sessions are open on a first-come, first-served basis. Early arrival is highly recommended to secure your seat.
Speakers
Nora Burkey (she/her)
Founder and Executive Director, The Chain Collaborative
Nora is the founder and director of The Chain Collaborative (TCC), a 10-year-old non-profit that practices and promotes community-led development (CLD) in the coffee sector. Through their CLD Incubator program, they invest in projects that are designed by local leaders of community-based organizations and coffee associations in coffee-growing regions of Africa and Latin America. Under the banner of TCC and in collaboration with other industry colleagues, Nora also consults on various assignments in the development and agricultural sectors. Past and present clients include Fairtrade International, Root Capital, Nature Conservancy, Sustainable Coffee Challenge, and more.