Tammy and Andy James opened Market Street Traders after a trip to Thailand last year opened their eyes to the difference fair trade could make in the lives of people around the world. They will be sharing that realization with the rest of Ballard through a drum circle celebration on World Fair Trade Day May 9.

The fair trade movement builds equitable and sustainable trading partnerships between North American organizations and countries around the world and creates opportunities to alleviate poverty, posts the Fair Trade Federation Web site.

The Jameses decided to focus on fair trade after buying about $500 worth of handmade embroidered bags, woven bracelets and belts from villagers on their Thailand vacation. A village elder told them that the amount that they had spent would be able to send all the children in their village to school for a year.

“It really empowered us to really want to do this and bring attention to fair trade,” Tammy said. "They figure one store like ours, even though we're not so big, supports about 10,000 people in extreme poverty. That's a big deal in this economy, where there are so many people hurting."

World Fair Trade Day is celebrated in more than 80 countries and the James' will be celebrating with an event they are calling “Drum Up Support for Fair Trade.”

“One of the themes of Fair Trade Day is ‘Drum Up Support for Fair Trade,’ Tammy said. “So what we would like to do is try and see if we can get the largest drumming circle that Seattle’s every had and line both sides of Market Street with drummers of all kinds.”

Tammy said they would like to bring visibility to this sleepy little event that needs to grow to bring awareness of fair trade to the community.

The business owners are hoping to find drums of various kinds and connect with drummers from John’s Music Center in Wallingford and the Fremont Drum Shop who are spreading the word about the event. But, they are still looking for more drummers.

“It’ll be fun, on a Saturday, and the weather has a decent chance of being nice,” Tammy said. “I think it’ll bring people to Ballard and kind of showcase Ballard and showcase that we’re a community that cares and that there’s a lot of great businesses here that are socially aware.”

For more information and to get involved, call Tammy James at 206.838.3340.