Interactive Workshops on Allyship, Power & Privilege and Anti-Racism Designed to Educate Wine Industry Leaders and Facilitate Meaningful Discussion, Change and Community
7 January – Napa, CA — The Diversity in Wine Leadership Forum, a bi-annual summit for leaders of organizations dedicated to diversity and equity in the wine industry as well as a central resource for the wine community to connect and work with organizations with a core commitment to diversity and equity, today announced open registration for Do the Work, a new DEI education series for wine professionals. The three-part series of virtual workshops addresses topics such as privilege, allyship and anti-racism; it was crafted specifically for leaders working on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging initiatives in the wine industry who want to become allies and learn how to integrate anti-racism work into every aspect of their personal and professional lives. Workshops will be facilitated by the Forum’s co-founder and food and wine entrepreneur Maryam Ahmed and Dr. Akilah Cadet, the Forum’s co-lead and founder and CEO of Change Cadet, a consulting firm focused on driving workplace equity and belonging.
“In 2020, we created the Diversity in Wine Leadership Forum as a space for initiative leaders to collectively problem solve and collaborate because this work takes all of us,” said Maryam Ahmed, the organization’s co-founder. “We quickly realized that there was also a need to provide ongoing DEI education to wine industry leaders and workplaces who want to do the work of creating and sustaining meaningful change. As the Forum expands its offerings, I’m excited to partner with Dr. Cadet, a renowned leader who specializes in change management and diversity, to not only facilitate these important conversations about race, justice and equity, but provide measurable solutions and practical tools for advocates and leaders in the wine industry.”
Do the Work Series (Part 1):
- Power and Privilege: Monday, April 11, 2022 @ 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
- Becoming an Accomplice: Monday, May 9, 2022 @ 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
- The Anti-Racism Journey: Monday, June 6, 2022 @ 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
The investment for this three-part workshop series is $150 per person. Subsidized payment options are available upon request as well as the sponsorship of someone else’s enrollment.
As a follow up series, the Forum offers Doing the Work (Part 2) for those who have attended the Forum’s introductory three-part workshop. Over the course of two, 90-minute workshops, participants engage in a more interactive conversation with their peers about what’s working and not working, tangible tools and resources, and building a network of support.
The investment for this two-part workshop series is $100 per person. Subsidized payment options are also available upon request as well as the sponsorship of someone else’s enrollment.
Register here for the Do the Work Series.
“Diversity is more than the variety of grapes,” said Dr. Akilah Cadet, the Diversity in Wine Leadership Forum co-lead. “It is time for leaders from vineyards to corporations to realize they have the power to diversify their teams to make the change needed in the white-dominated wine industry.”
For more information about the Diversity in Wine Leadership Forum and its programs, visit www.diversityinwineforum.com.
ABOUT DIVERSITY IN WINE LEADERSHIP FORUM
The Diversity in Wine Leadership Forum was co-founded by Maryam Ahmed and Elaine Chukan Brown in 2020 to help connect inclusive initiatives in the wine industry in order to foster collaborative efforts and problem solving among advocates and leaders. The Forum provides a bi-annual summit for leaders of organizations dedicated to diversity and equity in the wine industry; a central location for information on organizations doing the work; and educational series focused on DEI training for wine professionals. Member organizations include Ahivoy, Assemblage Symposium, Bâtonnage Forum, Black Wine Professionals, Lift Collective, The Veraison Project, The Hue Society, The Roots Fund, Vinequity, Vinica Education Society, Wine Empowered, Wine on Wheels and Wine Unify.
ABOUT MARYAM AHMED
Maryam Ahmed is a food and wine entrepreneur based in Napa, CA. She specializes in community activation, strategic programs, and project management for food and wine brands with a demonstrated commitment to diversity and sustainability. Most often, her work takes place at the intersection of chefs, sommeliers, activists, sustainability experts, creatives, and organizations focused on diversity and equitable access within their communities. In addition to her consulting firm, Maryam + Company, she is the creator of the biannual Diversity in Wine Leadership Forum (co-founded with Elaine Chukan Brown), a cast member on SOMM TV, and a partner in PLAYTE Kitchen.
Maryam is a graduate of Cornell’s Hotel School (2011) and the Walla Walla Enology & Viticulture program (2015). She has completed the eCornell Certificate for Diversity and Inclusion. Maryam is an active member of the San Francisco Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier and a member of the board of The Symposium for Professional Wine Writers.
ABOUT DR. AKILAH CADET
Dr. Akilah Cadet is the founder and CEO of Change Cadet and organizational development consulting firm who happens to be known for their diversity efforts. Dr. Cadet has over 15 years of leadership experience in the public and private sectors. She is a 2021 Forbes Next 1000 Honoree and has been honored as one of Staffing Industry Analysts’ 2021 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Influencers. She has been featured in Elle, Forbes, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue and the Wall Street Journal to name a few. Dr. Cadet holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Education in Community Based Public Health, a Master of Public Health, and a Doctorate of Health Sciences in Leadership and Organizational Behavior. She is a lululemon ambassador, is disabled, lives in Oakland, CA, and is a proud Beyoncé advocate.
