Over the past few years, new programs and non-profit organizations in beer have emerged. Their goal has been to raise funds to create scholarship opportunities, mentorship programs, and use networks to employ BIPOC in brewing and distilling. These groups are proactively working to create space and opportunities for the underrepresented within the industry. What has the impact been to date? Join us for a conversation with representatives and grantees from various organizations and platforms to learn how change is happening.

Latiesha Cook is the co-founder, President, and CEO of Beer Kulture, a St. Petersburg, FL based nonprofit focused on increasing diversity and inclusion in the craft beer industry. Born in the Bronx, New York, Latiesha is a wife, mother of four, Cicerone certified beer server, published author, and entrepreneur. In her leadership role at Beer Kulture, she has guided the team in launching an array of initiatives designed to diversify craft beer, including Cicerone scholarships, internships, a job board, and kollaboration beers with breweries around the world, as well as community projects to help local neighborhoods and causes throughout the country.

Ash Eliot is a hospitality, music and non-profit communications and marketing specialist based in Los Angeles who founded a platform called Women of the Bevolution, which is focused on empowering and supporting women, female-identifying and non-binary beverage industry professionals through resources and opportunities. In July of 2021, she co-founded the Brave Noise global collaboration brew and initiative with brewer Brienne Allan to advocate for a safe and discrimination-free beer industry.

Breeze Galindo is a Board Member for the Michael J. Jackson Foundation for Brewing + Distilling and is a Lead Brewer for Other Half Brewing. Breeze has been in the industry for almost eight years and professionally brewing for six. Along with continuing her journey in craft beer, Breeze is relentless in pushing the importance of fair representation for Women of Color in the industry. Getting her start in the West Coast, she was offered a brewing position at Other Half Brewing in New York in 2019 and since then has started The Other Half Women's Forum and serves as the Chair of the MJF Mentorship Program.

Ren Navarro (she/her) is the Owner/Operator of Beer. Diversity. With nearly a decade of experience in the alcohol industry, a passion for encouraging personal and professional growth, and her trademark wit, Ren Navarro is here to educate, enlighten, and engage. Since launching Beer. Diversity. in 2018, Ren has become a known name at breweries, wineries, distilleries, and beyond. She has given talks on diversity and inclusion at several colleges and countless festivals, panels, radio shows, and podcasts throughout North America. In addition to being a diversity educator, she is a craft beer consultant for bars and restaurants in Ontario and an educator for countless businesses throughout the country.