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Raise the Bar Names Inaugural Lineup of Mentees
Following its announcement this summer, Raise the Bar Mentorship Alliance, the trade mentorship program presented by Uncle Nearest, Inc., announced its inaugural cohort of mentees.
The diverse group of bartenders from across the country were hand-selected for the program by Lucia Creed, Head of Trade Advocacy at Uncle Nearest, and Sarah de Sousa, Director of Mentor Development, with the help of the program’s mentor team. To be eligible, applicants needed to be working bartenders with at least two years of bartending experience, a completed application, and a letter of recommendation from another member of the industry.
Raise the Bar Mentorship Alliance, an initiative created to honor the legacy of Nearest Green, the first known African American master distiller, was designed to offer mentorship, guidance and support to individuals across all demographics, with a focused commitment to fostering a truly diverse cohort of mentees and championing representation in the spirits industry.
With the announcement of the mentees, the program is ready to enter its mentorship phase, pairing these talented individuals with industry-leading mentors to help them shape their professional goals, develop long-term projects to positively impact the bar community, and foster a more inclusive future for the industry.
“Raise the Bar Mentorship Alliance is about more than just guiding our mentees—it’s about empowering bartenders – both mentees and mentors – to be the change-makers and innovators who will shape the future of the bar industry,” Creed said in a news release. “We are deeply committed to providing these individuals with the support they need to make a lasting impact, not just within the industry at-large, but also within their communities.”
The majority of mentees were intentionally selected from areas outside traditional ‘major market’ cities, where access to guidance from influential figures is less readily available. This approach aims to connect a diverse network of industry leaders with individuals in these regions, fostering growth and opportunity in emerging or underserved markets. The inaugural cohort of mentees and their mentors include:
Mentoring sessions will officially begin on January 7, 2025, and conclude in late June. Each mentee will define a project that aligns with their personal goals and vision for industry change, with their mentors offering guidance to create a roadmap for achieving these ambitions.
The goal is not to complete the projects within the six months, but to provide mentees with the tools and resources they need to make meaningful progress. The program will culminate in a grant proposal presentation to Uncle Nearest leadership, with the opportunity for two mentees to receive $10,000 grants to fund ongoing work towards their projects’ completion.
This year’s cohort is passionate about creating meaningful change in the spirits industry. Their diverse projects range from improving bartender education access to supporting the inclusion of formerly incarcerated individuals within the industry. While the details of specific projects remain confidential, the diversity of thought, background, and passion within the cohort powerfully reflects the Raise the Bar program’s commitment to a more inclusive and representative industry.
“The range of ideas coming from our mentees is truly inspiring,” de Sousa added. “We’re excited to support these bold initiatives and watch them evolve over the next six months.”
The program will also feature workshops on essential topics such as grant writing, financial planning, and mental health, to equip mentees with the skills they need to thrive. In the spring, an in-person retreat at Nearest Green Distillery will provide an opportunity for mentors and mentees to deepen their connections, visit the historic Dan Call Farm, and reignite their passion for the work they are doing.
Read more: Top 100 American Whiskeys of 2023 — RANKED
About Raise the Bar Mentorship Alliance
Raise the Bar, presented by Uncle Nearest, Inc., is a dynamic program designed to support the professional growth of emerging talent in the beverage industry. By pairing up-and-coming leaders with celebrated industry veterans, the program provides personalized mentorship, strategic goal-setting, and hands-on guidance like never before.
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