CEPA Update: A Successful November Slowvember

Over the past month, the Catholic Ethical Purchasing Alliance celebrated strong progress through our November Slowvember campaign and an organized presence at the Ignatian Family Teach-in in Washington DC.

In Slowvember’s first year, individuals and institutions committed to slowing down consumption and prioritizing care for workers and the planet, resulting in 27 individual pledges and 28 institutional registrations, including high schools, colleges, community organizations, and even a participating religious congregation in Ireland. One highlight was a creative and thoughtful video produced by a participating high school, 3 Minute Theology: Slowvember, which beautifully captured the spirit of the campaign and showed how young people are connecting faith, ethics, and everyday purchasing choices.

CEPA also had a lively presence at the 2025 Ignatian Family Teach-In, where our store was filled with conversations and connections. We hosted a large panel, “Weaving the Threads: Successes, Struggles, and Strategies for Bringing the Ethical Purchasing Movement on Your Campus.” Student leaders from Saint Louis University, the University of Dayton, and Loyola University Maryland shared how they are promoting ethical purchasing on their campuses by supporting worker rights, protecting the planet, and overcoming real challenges along the way. Their leadership, honesty, and creativity highlighted a growing, student-led movement rooted in solidarity, ready to continue building power across the Ignatian network.