Crafted Fellows Program

Crafted For Action

Crafted Fellows is an annual program that supports and empowers BIPOC owned craft beer businesses by offering strategic support during the Crafted for Action Craft Beer Conference and beyond. This one-of-a-kind program creates space for a small group of entrepreneurs to connect with and learn from one another while offering opportunities for professional development, network building, and mentoring.

Fellows will attend the annual conference to participate in a tailored track of panels and to compete for a grant and awards package. This cohort of Fellows will reconvene virtually for eight weeks of peer mentoring in the fall of 2023.

Congratulations to Our 2023 Class of Crafted Fellows!

Aubrey Perry, Crackem (Orlando, FL)

Crackem is an all-in-one mobile app that provides a digital option for ale trail campaigns as well as incentive, surprise & delight, and Pay-It-Forward campaigns. Unlike other options, Crackem is the only platform that can create campaigns that are tailored to each state’s beverage alcohol regulations.

Hannah Ferguson, DOPE Cider House & Winery (Youngstown, OH)

DOPE isn't only a cider and wine manufacturer, but a lifestyle brand that takes pride in creating connections and experiences uniquely through cider and wine. DOPE is about empowering underrepresented minorities in the industry as well as enthusiasts.

Joe Edelin, Lance Templeton & Dwight Ho-Sang, Hip Hop Heads Brewery (Atlanta, GA)

Hip Hop Heads is a craft brewery in planning producing true to style craft beer that is paired with its own musical soundtrack to accentuate the aroma and taste of the beer by creating a synergy of smells, tastes, and sounds. QR codes on each can link to a hip-hop playlist curated specifically for each beer, allowing the customers to "taste the music."

Joel Franklin, Indigo Brewing Project (Atlanta, GA)

Indigo Brewing Project strives to bring intentional and creative aspects to brewing craft beer through local terroir, ingredients and inspiration from an indigenous, minority culinary lens. We will intertwine community engagement and service through a local community garden, food pantry, and other initiatives needed within the local community.

Jossette Footmon-Smith, Our Culture Brewing Co. (Atlanta, GA)

Our Culture is a craft beverage brand that seeks to bring elements from our various identities to the beverages that we create - from malts to hops to adjuncts like fruits, herbs, honeys, and spices. We hope to bring flavors that are familiar and nostalgic to our target consumers, while also providing a solid base in the beverage styles we love whether it be beer or cider.

Kayla Stinnett, Stargazer Brewing (Birmingham, AL)

As a brewpub, our concept will revolve around offering fermented beverages crafted in-house and created by other women and minority-owned businesses within the market. Stargazer will focus on on-premise craft beer and beverage sales, allowing us to experiment with local and seasonal produce to create award-winning craft beer and other fermented beverages that appeal to various palates.

Stephanie Grant, Stephanie Grant Co. (Atlanta, GA)

A journalist and writer who focuses on stories that highlight and uplift the Black people, and in particular Black women, through articles in publications like Good Beer Hunting and also in my bi-weekly newsletter, The Share. There is currently no other beer-focused newsletter focused solely on Black women in craft beer.

Veronica Zamora, Turkey Forrest Brewing (Houston, TX)

We are the first Mexican American owned nano-brewery in Houston Texas, making beer with flavors we grew up with. We have made a Jamaican hibiscus sour and a cucumber (pepino flavor) beer, all of which remind us of the traditional aguas frescas we grew up enjoying. We want to incorporate our flavors in the beer community and show the diversity we can produce.

Fellowship Benefits

Fellowship benefits include:

Complimentary VIP registration to the annual Crafted for Action Craft Beer Conference in held June 14 - 17, 2023 in Atlanta, GA.
Complimentary access to the virtual panels for the 2023 Crafted for Action Craft Beer Conference.
Promotional highlight during the annual Crafted for Action Craft Beer Conference at the conference venue and on the website.
Personalized Crafted Fellows Track of sessions at the annual Crafted for Action Craft Beer Conference.
Entry into the pitch competition at the annual Crafted for Action Craft Beer Conference for a chance to win a monetary grant and resource package.
Invitation to participate in the 2023 Crafted Cohort convening after the annual conference.

Program Expectations

Fellows are expected to:

Participate in the 2023 Crafted Cohort mentoring and peer group. The Crafted Cohort will meet virtually on a regular basis for an 8-week period.
Provide the Crafted for Action Conference Committee with feedback on the Fellows Program.
Permit Crafted for Action to use the Fellow’s name and story for fundraising and other strategic needs.
Advise on the future of the Crafted Fellows Program, particularly in regard to the selection of the subsequent year’s Fellows.

Program Timeline

March 23: Application period opens
April 21: Application period closes
April 25: Crafted Fellows announced
June 15: Program Kick-Off
June 16: Crafted Fellows Track; Pitch Competition
Fall 2023: Virtual Working Group Sessions (8 weeks)

The 2023 application period has closed.