Happy Black History Month, coffee friends and family!

Hasn’t it been a remarkable month?!? Black History Month is always a time of reflection, but most importantly gratitude, for the many contributions Black Americans have given the world, specifically the world of COFFEE! 

It is our vision as the Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity to continue taking action towards an equitable coffee industry centering and celebrating the contributions of Black and Brown people.

Recognizing and celebrating Black history shouldn’t be something we do one month a year, but EVERY month. We work and move in an industry that is known as one of the most traded commodities in the world; therefore, we are committed to working tirelessly through partnerships and our mentorship programs to promote and fight for equity within the coffee sector. We are committed to building a racially diverse and equitable industry where everyone’s talents can be recognized, developed to their fullest potential, and rewarded.

On February 16th, Peet’s held a Black History Month event for its corporate employees to learn more about the work of CCRE, highlighting CCRE’s partnership with NKG and the development of the NKG(PACE) program. Phyllis along with Jayy Terrell, NKG(PACE) partner, spoke openly about the work of building racial equity within the coffee industry, what it has taken to start an organization like the CCRE, and what’s needed for the future. Jayy shared the need for companies like Peet’s to intentionally open their doors to more Black coffee professionals.

If you are still looking for ways to celebrate Black History beyond the end of the month, here are some pro-tips. 
 

Educate Yourself on Coffee’s Black History 
The CCRE has developed a remarkable literature review with the help of some of the brightest minds in our industry. If you haven’t taken a look, do yourself a favor and enjoy reading through some literary pieces that cover the way our industry  developed, and that will spark innovation as we determine what our collective future should look like. 

Support Black Owned Coffee Companies 
We are living in such an exciting time! There have never been more Black owned coffee companies as there are today. A quick Google search will lead you to MANY of them. Find a Black owned coffee company that meets your needs and invest in the community today! 

Celebrate Black Voices
We wouldn’t be where we are today as an industry if it weren’t for the Coffee Trail Blazers who have gone before us. Take a moment to send your favorite coffee professionals a note of gratitude or encouragement, and if you’re on social media be sure to tag us @coffeeforequity– we want to celebrate with you!  

Become A Mentor
Join our community through our mentorship program! Our team has worked tirelessly to design a mentorship program that genuinely works. Our program is meant to connect tomorrow’s coffee professionals with today’s coffee mentors, but we need YOUR HELP! If you’re a coffee professional seeking to mentor the next generation of coffee professionals consider becoming a CCRE Mentor!

The CCRE’s mentorship program provides opportunities for coffee enthusiasts to explore professional development at various points in their career. Visit our website to see how you can become a mentor today, or recommend our program to a coffee professional who might be interested in becoming a mentor.