Amid growing efforts to diversify a predominantly white and male industry, one of its most well-known figures has announced a program to encourage more black, indigenous, and people of color to study brewing. As a scholarship fund, it also provides an avenue for those looking for ways to support that cause financially.
Garrett Oliver, brewmaster of Brooklyn Brewery, says the nonprofit Michael Jackson Foundation for Brewing and Distilling, or MJF, will award two types of grants: the Sir Geoff Palmer Scholarship for Brewing and the Nathan Green Scholarship for Distilling.
In a tweet, Oliver said that the MJF’s mission “is to open doors for people of color within the United States brewing and distilling industries by providing (1) scholarships to accredited brewing and distilling technical courses and (2) a level of mentorship support that will help our awardees become industry leaders of the future.”