Six regional events receive support for inclusivity programming
Boulder, Colo. — The Brewers Association—the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers—today announced the recipients of its first-ever diversity and inclusion event grants. Out of 51 applicants, six events were awarded a total of $20,000 by the Brewers Association Diversity Committee. The grants will support local and regional events that promote and foster a diverse and inclusive craft beer community.
“These event organizers have truly embraced expanding to and engaging with new audiences. The Brewers Association is proud to support them, and to continue this program in future years,” said Julia Herz, craft beer program director, Brewers Association. “Beer events connect people with beer and each other. Inspiring organizers to deliberately welcome a broad and diverse group of attendees is the opportunity and our goal.”
This grant program continues the Brewers Association’s investment in increasing inclusivity within the craft brewing community, both with brewers and beer lovers. Since the creation of its diversity committee in 2017, highlights of the association’s work include the hiring of diversity ambassador Dr. J. Nikol Jackson-Beckham, Ph.D., and the publishing of a series of diversity and inclusion best practice resources for its members.
“Receiving one of Brewers Association’s diversity and inclusion grants will allow Suave Fest to highlight the contributions and talents of Latinx brewers and breweries,” said Jose Beteta, co-founder and CEO, Raices Brewing. “Because the grant includes the Brewers Association’s involvement as part of the sponsored projects, a national spotlight will be shed on underrepresented groups that need the exposure, coincidentally opening up a wider dialog for diversity and inclusion that’s been missing from the craft beer industry, and which we welcome with open arms.”
2019 Grant Recipients
Tapping Opportunity
- Organization: Great Lakes Brewing Company
- Event Location: Cleveland, OH
- Event Date: July 11, 2019
- Event Description: Tapping Opportunity is an employment fair that will convene representatives from craft breweries around Cleveland to highlight the many career opportunities available in the industry to the greater Cleveland community and provide a space for questions to be answered.
HeART and Soul Brew Fest
- Organization: Like the Fruit, LLC
- Event Location: Richmond, VA
- Event Date: July 27, 2019
- Event Description: HeART and Soul Brew Fest exposes a new audience to the local craft beer industry through urban music, urban art, craft beer, and soul food. The festival brings more than 20 black-owned restaurants and food vendors to Hardywood Park Craft Brewery.
Fresh Fest Beer Fest
- Organization: Fresh Fest Beer Fest, LLC
- Event Location: Pittsburgh, PA
- Event Date: August 9-11, 2019
- Event Description: Fresh Fest Beer Fest is the nation’s first black brew fest. The event returns for its second year with another amazing lineup of black-owned breweries as well as breweries collaborating with black artists and entrepreneurs from Pennsylvania and beyond.
Beers With(out) Beards
- Organization: Hop Culture
- Event Location: Brooklyn, NY
- Event Date: August 10, 2019
- Event Description: Beer With(out) Beards will host five unique events to cultivate conversations that elevate the position of women in the beer and brewing industry. The events will include women-led conversations, industry related skill development, and the opportunity to taste beer brewed by women or at women-owned breweries.
Suave Fest
- Organization: Raices Brewing Company
- Event Location: Denver, CO
- Event Date: September 14, 2019
- Event Description: Suave Fest is an opportunity to grow the awareness of Latino influence in the craft beer industry. The festival will focus on the pillars of family and community, giving this event broad appeal across a diverse group of attendees.
Craft Beer Employment Fair
- Organization: Mass Bay Brewing Company
- Event Location: Boston, MA
- Event Date: Fall 2019
- Event Description: This event will focus on increasing awareness of diversity and inclusion as it relates to the brewing industry. The event will present employment opportunities to a diverse population in the Boston area as well as give a platform to guest speakers to share the importance of diversity and inclusion.
Proposals for 2020 calendar year funding will be accepted beginning October 2019 and can be submitted on the Brewers Association website.
Contact: Abby Cohen (on behalf of the Brewers Association) 646-695-7044
About the Brewers Association
The Brewers Association (BA) is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The BA represents 4,800-plus U.S. breweries. The BA’s independent craft brewer seal is a widely adopted symbol that differentiates beers by small and independent craft brewers. The BA organizes events including the World Beer Cup®, Great American Beer Festival®, Craft Brewers Conference® & BrewExpo America®, SAVOR™: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience, Homebrew Con™, National Homebrew Competition and American Craft Beer Week®. The BA publishes The New Brewer® magazine, and Brewers Publications® is the leading publisher of brewing literature in the U.S. Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com® and about homebrewing via the BA’s American Homebrewers Association® and the free Brew Guru® mobile app. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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