FERMENTING THE FUTURE

Fermenting The Future is an innovative career and technical high school enrichment program designed to expose underrepresented youth to educational and career opportunities in the wine and beverage industry.

Who We Are

The Roots Fund is a non-profit organization focused on securing the pathway for underrepresented youth in wine. Built to create financial support for education, mentorship, and job placement opportunities, The Roots Fund is out “doing the work” to create inclusivity for these communities in the wine industry. Since its foundation in 2020, we have raised over half a million dollars and created more than 100 scholarships that will bring years of change and equity into the wine industry.

The Problem

The wine industry in the US alone is valued at a whopping $47 billion. This includes the production, purchase, and distribution of wine. Unfortunately, only 5% of this value represents marginalized people who work in and own businesses in the wine industry. Moreover, many people of color in the industry tend to join in their late twenties or early thirties and often find themselves in positions with limited exposure and inadequate opportunities for career advancement and higher earning potential.

The Solution

The Roots Fund established Fermenting the Future (FTF) to offer valuable information to marginalized communities. This program aims to educate high school students and their parents about the numerous opportunities available to them in an expansive industry as they plan for their post-high school future. The Roots Fund provides support on campus to help students prepare for FAFSA, along with sessions for parents to discuss college programs. FTF aims to expose students to educational and career opportunities in the wine industry, in a way that we hope will contribute to the creation of a more equitable industry.

What Do We Cover

Students who enroll in Fermenting the Future will have partial to full tuition paid for via The Roots Fund scholarship. We also assist with travel to and from school, funds for books, tutoring support, mental health services, mentorship, and language training services.

Components of The Program

  • The program begins with an informational career panel about The Roots Fund and the opportunities available in the wine industry. This panel is comprised of Roots Fund scholars currently working in the industry in various sectors. This panel can be hosted in person/virtually depending on the school/organization. We usually host an interactive exercise about enology in this informational.

  • Each group of students will engage in a college tour of a community colleges and 4-year university. This formal tour, hosted in partnership with the campus, includes visiting all wine and hospitality related programs, the office of financial aid, and academic advisors. Lunch is provided. We currently have partnerships with UC Davis, Napa Valley College, Washington State University, Santa Rosa, Sonoma State, Cornell, Finger Lakes Community College, and Linfield University.

  • The trip continues onto a local winery that we have partnered with to show vineyard operations. This also exposes the students to all of the diverse opportunities at a winery like hospitality, cellar work, marketing, winemaking, and accounting. This visit includes some work out in the winery. *Students are not given access to alcohol.

  • We provide a Parent Informational for any participants interested in pursuing our scholarship or internship placement. Here we provide a brief overview of our mission and scholarship offerings, while we educate parents about opportunities within the industry. If time and space permit, we also lead parents in a brief formal tasting if parameters support. Individual FAFSA and financial aid counseling are available.

  • Any high school student that attends our enrichment trips and decides to pursue a career in the industry is eligible for scholarship funding through The Roots Fund! We provide FAFSA assistance, and financial aid counseling to ensure they're getting the financial awareness that is needed.

    • We also just provide assistance to trade school or work programs. We understand that everyone doesn’t desire to go to college. Every scholar has a customized pathway for their future.

Career and Technical Pathways

  • Career Preparation

    Job Interview preparation and support are available through our Education Director.

  • Career Placement

    Internship and job placement opportunities are available to our scholars through our various partners across the country.