“Beer is more than just a beverage. It is a dynamic cultural force with the power to bring people together and the ability to influence change.”

This passage from the Chicago Brewseum’s mission statement could not be more perfectly embodied in a brewery than by the two in this conversation. TRU Colors Brewery in Wilmington, North Carolina, strives to end the cycle of gang violence in America’s neighborhoods by breaking down barriers and creating new opportunities for active gang members through education, community, and economic security.  And yet, after our biased, inequitable, and racist social systems fail us, formerly incarcerated individuals encounter a multitude of barriers to reentering society, including access to education, training, and employment. Tap Social Movement is a brewery in Oxford, England seeking to stop the cycle of imprisonment by creating employment and training opportunities for ex-offenders.

This session brings together the founders of these breweries for a conversation around their missions and impact — and what other breweries can do — to work towards a fairer, more inclusive, justice system, help end systemic racism, and combat the culture of gang violence.

Paul Humpherson is the founder and director of Tap Social Movement, Oxford, England, UK, and an independent criminal barrister and a teaching fellow at University of Oxford. He has worked in a variety of legal roles across the criminal justice system, including as the lead lawyer on the Law Commission’s Sentencing, Misconduct in Public Office and Kidnapping reform projects, and helping to administer restorative justice conferences with the Oxfordshire Youth Offending Team.

Lucas Livingston (moderator) is on the Board of the Chicago Brewseum. He is an art and beer historian, brewer, museum consultant, and activist for leveraging the healing power of art.

George Taylor is the founder and CEO of TRU Colors in Wilmington, NC.

Cory “Blanc” Wrisborne was born and raised on the streets of Wilmington, NC. He got his first taste of adversity after losing his mother to gun violence at the age of 16. After the death of his mother, Cory spent more time with his brothers in the streets, and that bond led to his membership in the BLOODS. Violence and adversity continued in Cory’s life and over the next ten years he would lose more of those brothers than he could count on his fingers.

Cory embraced his journey of adversity and found his passion in sales. Graduating from hustling in the streets to an opportunity as an Account Executive at Untappd, he proved that a strong work ethic and solid street skills could translate to success in legitimate business. Cory used this to close over 200 customers in the first year, setting sales records that are still held to this day. Today, Blanc is an Area Sales Manager at TRU Colors. He credits this opportunity for fueling his passion to help save lives and push entrepreneurship into the community.

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