Responsible Sourcing Network Spins Off From As You Sow

MEDIA CONTACT: Jamie Fortin, jamie@sourcingnetwork.org, (415) 226-9538

BERKELEY, CA—NOV. 17, 2021—The former human rights program of As You Sow, Responsible Sourcing Network (RSN) is now an independent 501c3 tax-exempt nonprofit corporation. After 12 years of leading As You Sow’s labor rights and slavery in supply chain initiatives, RSN will continue its focus on eradicating slavery at the raw commodity level in global value chains. RSN’s board of directors voted to make Patricia Jurewicz — formerly vice president at As You Sow — CEO of RSN. 

“RSN is committed to unifying stakeholders to identify, prevent, and mitigate abuses of human rights and forced labor,” said Jurewicz. “Activating RSN as an independent organization will allow us to pursue an enhanced theory of change. Building multi-stakeholder groups with corporations, RSN aims to leverage capacity for human rights due diligence at multiple tiers of the production process.”

CEO of As You Sow Andrew Behar said, “As You Sow is proud to have incubated RSN and will continue to support and work with Patricia and the RSN team. We know that now is the right time for the organization’s independence, and look forward to RSN’s continued positive impact on underrepresented groups around the world.”

RSN builds multi-stakeholder networks, including a 300+ strong coalition of global apparel brand signatories to our slavery-free cotton pledge enabling RSN to negotiate with the Uzbek government for the rights of forced laborers — children and adults — in cotton fields.

RSN continues to engage a diverse range of companies, investors, and civil society stakeholders to implement value chain solutions targeting human rights abuses in mineral mining. RSN has a due diligence model to eradicate slavery at the raw commodity level. In 2022, the organization plans to expand its flagship initiative YESS: Yarn Ethically & Sustainably Sourced, which is currently in a pilot phase.

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Responsible Sourcing Network (RSN), a non-profit for-benefit corporation, champions human rights with vulnerable communities in the mining and harvesting of raw materials found in products we use every day. Responsible Sourcing Network is based in Berkeley, CA with a remote workforce. For updates on activities and events, subscribe to RSN’s mailing list.