Inspiring Conversations with Mickey Bryant of Black and Brew Chicago

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mickey Bryant. 

Hi Mickey, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve been a beer drinker all of my adult life. in 2003 a neighbor introduced me to craft beer and shortly after a coworker began to invite me to breweries and craft brew festivals. Although I enjoyed the craft beer experiences, I realized quickly more often than not, I was the only person who looked like me attending craft beer events. With that in mind, I began to invite my family and friends to craft beer functions. It was hard to understand why they were not enjoying the experiences as much as I was until a friend said he would need a full-blown education to even start understanding the entire concept of craft beer. 

Recognizing that educating the consumer would be the most effective path to creating a more diverse craft beer community, Mickey developed a Consumer-Focused Educational Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategy Model. The model includes course development and delivery, collaborations with local breweries to host learning experiences to educate underrepresented demographics on craft beer, and a scholarship award program. The model has proven to be successful and, as a result, over the past three years, Black and Brew Chicago, Inc. has expanded to include Black and Brew Cleveland, Black and Brew Youngstown, Black and Brew Delaware, and Black and Brew Indianapolis chapters. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road. In a multi-billion-dollar industry non-white craft beer consumers makes up less that 14%. The most challenging obstacle I have faced trying to push a DE&I strategy is the decision-makers do not usually belong to any of the communities we’re advocating for therefore their empathy and understanding is limited or in some cases obsolete. Another obstacles is trying to convince brewery owners to understand that having DE&I discussions without an action plan and inviting BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and woman to visit their breweries and drink their beer without education are not sustainable DE&I strategies. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Black and Brew Chicago, Inc.?
Mickey Bryant, M.S. is the founder and president of Black and Brew Chicago, Inc. 

Black and Brew Chicago, Inc. is a charitable nonprofit organization advocating for a more welcoming, diverse, equitable, educated, and inclusive craft beer industry by-way of education, community outreach, and employment opportunities. 

Mickey is a Diversity Ambassador and Cicerone program Certified Beer Server, has been enjoying craft beer for over 20 years and has 20 plus years experience in corporate training development, design, and delivery. 

Our responsibility is to add value, comfort, and confidence to the consumer. We are proud that through providing educational learning experiences through each of our five chapters we are contributing to growing a more diverse, educated, and inclusive craft beer industry throughout the country. 

What do you like best about your city? What do you like least?
Chicago is beautiful. Good food. Good beer. Passionate people.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.babchicago.com
• Instagram: @BlackandBrewChicago
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/BlackandBrewChicago
• Twitter: @mickeybryant

Image Credits
Raphael Nash