Virtual Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference to Be Held Next Week
It features 14 sessions over two days, preceded by a Responsible Gem Fair buying event.
Jewelry designer Susan Wheeler launched the Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference in 2017 to build awareness and knowledge as well as find solutions for more equitable and sustainable supply chains.
This year’s conference is slated for Friday, Nov. 12 and Saturday, Nov. 13.
The event features 30 speakers in 14 sessions, with presenters coming from such organizations as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Human Rights Watch, Jewelers Vigilance Committee, Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Workers Union, and the U.S. Department of Labor, among others.
Session highlights include the following.
-- “How to Elevate a Nation’s Gemstone Trade Through a Single Gemcut Design;”
-- “What is Currently Happening in the Supreme Court, Child Soldiery, and Laws Pertaining to the Jewelry Industry;”
-- “How the Jewelry Industry Funds Governments and their Militaries;”
-- “Sex Trafficking and Gender-Based Violence in Mines and Mining Communities;”
-- “Adaptations and Implementations of Craft Code in Artisanal Mining: Where Can Market Expectations and Artisanal Miners Meet?” and
-- “How Do Jewelers Form Partnerships to Create Positive Change? A Responsible Design Panel.”
There will also be a virtual Responsible Gem Fair taking place the day before the conference begins, on Thursday, Nov. 11. Gem suppliers focused on responsible mining and social impact will offer the trade the chance to hear their stories and buy stones directly from them.
All-access admission tickets to the 2021 Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference are $350. There are also student tickets available for $50 per day.
Additionally, to encourage involvement from all sectors, event organizers are offering a pay-what-you can ticket option.
For full session information about the 2021 event and to register, visit ChiResponsibleJewelryConference.com.
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