OUR MISSION
The Roots Fund empowers underrepresented communities within the wine and spirits industry, to build successful careers through financial support, education, mentorship, and career development, fostering their long-term success in all aspects of the beverage industry.
-
Every scholar is mandated to have a mentor in our programs. We believe in a reverse mentorship process, so as the scholar is learning about the wine industry, the mentor learns about their life experiences. We encourage mentors to connect through happy hours, and online forums to improve their conversations. Mentorship moves the needle. Those who have great wine knowledge can share their methods for success. These monthly conversations will shape the future of our aspiring wine minds.
-
Our fund is based on charitable donations from individuals, organizations, wineries, and educational institutions. Quality education is a necessity to arming these students with the tools they need to be successful in this industry. We focus on scholarships to the most elite oenology and viticulture institutions, HBCU's, as well as independent business schools, and WSET to provide quality education to our candidates that will help to ensure the skills necessary to play an active role in the wine industry.
-
Utilizing our connections in the industry, we have secured dozens of wineries, retailers, restaurants, and distributors that have committed to hiring Roots fund students with the appropriate qualifications. We are well aware that recruitment and education do not carry value if we can not assist with career placement. Our organization goes through resume repair, interview training, and providing tips and tools in work environments. We make it a point to align with businesses with values that support inclusive spaces. Partnering triggers a level of accountability, that is unheard of in the current hiring processes.