Roots Fund/WSET Spirits Scholarship Application
The Roots Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to creating inclusive opportunities for communities of color throughout the wine industry, announced today that they will begin supporting education and careers in the spirits industry for BIPOC people.The four-year-old organization has partnered with WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) to create a new scholar program to provide certification for those who want to pursue careers in the spirits industry. WSET is the global leader in drinks education, and The Roots Fund is excited to have them as a partner as they build out their commitment to spirits.“The decision to expand The Roots Fund work into the spirits industry hones back into our overall mission to create economic opportunity for communities of color in beverages,” says The Roots Fund CEO Ikimi Dubose-Woodson. “Spirits brands have always heavily marketed and spoken to our communities, but industry representation reflects just as poorly as the wine world. The labor and executive leadership still make up less than 8% of the spirits industry. We plan to change this.”
Requirements to apply for a WSET/Roots Fund spirits scholarship: *Understand that receiving a Roots Fund scholarship requires a 1-year commitment to our program. Please submit an updated resume and proof of any certifications that you have to
wine@therootsfund.org.
Identify as a person of color
Be actively involved or demonstrate serious interest in the spirits industry
Must be a legal US resident, and currently reside in the US
Must be 21 years of age
Prepared to take WSEt level 1 & 2 in spirits
Commit to the Roots Fund organization for 1 year (participating in monthly events, training, etc)
Class instruction will be virtual, and tutoring will be hybrid
Personal Information
Full Name (as stated on government ID)
First Name
Last Name
Are you a current or vintage Roots Fund Scholar?
current scholar
vintage scholar
Phone Number
Please enter a valid phone number.
Email
example@example.com
Linkedin Profile URL
Instagram Handle
Please indicate your ethnic background. (Select all that apply)
Black/African American
Indigenous/Native
Hispanic/Latinx
East Asian
South Asian
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
Other
What is your current city and state of residence?
Select the option that best describes your annual household income. (Include all employed individuals in your household)
$0 - $29,999
$30,000 - $59,999
$60,000 - $89,999
$90,000 - $119,999
$120,000 - $159,999
$160,000 or greater
Are you currently experiencing or have experienced any type of finance hardship that has hindered you from pursing your spirits education? Please explain.
Employment and Education History
Current Role or Job Title
Current Employer
Please list any beverage school programs or certifications you are currently enrolled in. If none, write N/A.
Please list any beverage-related degrees and/or certifications that you currently hold. If none, write N/A.
Please list any wine brands that you have affiliation or sponsorship with. If none, write N/A.
What specific area of the spirits industry are you most interested in pursuing? Please limit it to 3 choices.
Spirits Production
Distribution
Restaurant/Hospitality
Distiller Management
Marketing
Importing
Journalism
Finance
Human Resources
Brand Management
Legal
Sales
Technology
Education
Viticulture
Compliance
Event Management
Mixoligist
Bartending
Beverage Director
Other
Short Answer Questions
Why are you a strong candidate for The Roots Fund Scholarship?
How do you pln to utilize this scholarship for your career growth?
Tell me about someone in the beverage industry who has impacted your journey in wine.
Final Steps
Please email an updated copy of your resume and any proof of certification you have received to wine@therootsfund.org within 24 hours of submitting this application. Failure to do so will automatically void your application.
Submit
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