The second annual American Cider Affiliation BIPOC Scholarship is now accepting candidates. Partnering with diversity- and equity-focused craft beverage trade nonprofit Beer Kulture, the American Cider Affiliation (ACA) seeks to deliver 5 BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, individual of coloration) beverage professionals to CiderCon for his or her first time. Launched final 12 months as a aspect of the ACA Fairness Pledge, the inaugural scholarship was sponsored by Washington, D.C.-based ANXO Cider. This 12 months’s scholarship is sponsored by Washington’s Yonder Cider.
“The scholarship grew out of the work that the American Cider Affiliation is concentrated on with our Antiracism, Fairness and Inclusion Committee and is a part of a broader effort to create a extra numerous and welcoming cider group,” says Michelle McGrath, Government Director of the ACA.
The scholarship pays for 2023 CiderCon ® convention registration; journey bills together with airfare to Chicago and lodging for attending; in addition to the Licensed Cider Skilled Degree 1 bundle (examination included), two Licensed Cider Skilled Sensory Webinars (cider included), and the registration price for the Licensed Pommelier Examination — the ACA’s second degree of cider schooling.
“Having the Fairness Pledge alongside particular panels at CiderCon specializing in variety and inclusion is a primary step in creating an area the place our scholarship recipients can really feel snug and welcome at CiderCon,” says McGrath. Based mostly on recommendation from Beer Kulture and suggestions from final 12 months’s scholarship recipients, McGrath notes, “we additionally launched our BIPOC cider meetup and a brand new networking occasion for first-time CiderCon attendees.”
BIPOC beverage professionals at any level of their profession trajectory — notably those that are new to cider and particularly those that have but to attend CiderCon — are inspired to use. Functions are due by December 10, 2022. After a spherical of finalist interviews, scholarship winners might be notified on December 21, 2022. CiderCon 2023 will happen January 31 by way of February 3, 2023, in Chicago.
