The beer industry has long been wading in the waters of diversity and inclusion, which has given rise to a countless number of resource groups for those of marginalized identities. While some have found community in the company of those who share their marginalization, few spaces have been curated with intersectionality in mind. This panel of Black, queer beer professionals will discuss the reconciliation of their identities, barriers they face, navigating the beer scene, and how to create more intersectionality-focused spaces.

April Boyce (she/her) is the outspoken co-founder of BlaQ & Soul. After 15 years in the medical insurance field, she is now a homemaker by choice. She has a YouTube channel documenting her homemaking journey and is currently working on a cookbook. She has a true passion for cooking and creating new recipes.  Cooking and finding new ways to infuse beer with good ole’ down-home soul food is what truly drives her newfound enthusiasm for craft beer. Although she is not classically trained or certified in beer, her unapologetically raw, upfront opinions and overall personality bring something new and exciting to the table.

Toni Boyce (they/them) is the co-founder of BlaQ & Soul and a beer industry equity activist. Their passion for creating space for Black, queer, trans, and neurodivergent identities to be merged has fueled the development of the BlaQ & Soul brand. Toni holds a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering and is a Certified Cicerone®, a BJCP Judge, and a former beer industry analytical chemist who is working to create a more equitable and just experience for the marginalized using lived experience-based equity education and beverages as conduits.

Robyn G. W. (she/her) is a craft beer professional raised in Brooklyn, NY and born in London, UK of Jamaican heritage. She is the owner and creative director of Kicks and Kegs LLC, a craft beer event and creative direction brand, she is the assistant brewer at Wild East Brewing Company in Park Slope, Brooklyn  and is presently pursuing level 2 Certified Cicerone

Ren Navarro (she/her) is the Owner/Operator of Beer. Diversity. With nearly a decade of experience in the alcohol industry, a passion for encouraging personal and professional growth, and her trademark wit, Ren Navarro is here to educate, enlighten, and engage. Since launching Beer. Diversity. in 2018, Ren has become a known name at breweries, wineries, distilleries, and beyond. She has given talks on diversity and inclusion at several colleges and countless festivals, panels, radio shows, and podcasts throughout North America. In addition to being a diversity educator, she is a craft beer consultant for bars and restaurants in Ontario and an educator for countless businesses throughout the country.

Patrice M. Palmer (they/them/their) calls both the Sea Islands of South Carolina and Detroit, MI home. Patrice is an award-winning diversity, equity and inclusion educator as well as a United States fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) of London. Patrice is an adjunct professor of Organizational Change Management at Colorado State University and currently serves as the Director of Social and Cultural Inclusion in the College of Business. That position is jointly held with New Belgium Brewing Company’s DEI Specialist role. In 2020 Hop Culture Magazine recognized Patrice as one of Most Important Voices in Craft Beer, they’ve also been featured in Forbes magazine, Imbibe magazine, Good Beer Hunting and 5280 magazine for their contribution to diversity, equity and inclusion within the industry. Patrice is also an entrepreneur owning and operating their own DEI consulting firm eROOT Consulting,

THIS SESSION IS SUPPORTED BY:

RYAN DANIELS