First announced at the Re:co Symposium in April 2018, the new Leadership Equity and Diversity (LEAD) Scholarship Program of SCA is aimed at increasing diversity of leadership within the global coffee community by enabling access to professional development resources to people from underrepresented or marginalized communities.
As a global nonprofit organization, SCA recognizes that access to membership, coffee events, and education differ for individuals depending on their identity, background, and access to financial resources.
The coffee industry has a lot of work to do to diversify its leadership at every point in the value chain, and overcoming these obstacles will require proactive efforts and dedicated resources. LEAD is designed to be a small but important step towards progress in this area.
SCA received over 60 applications from individuals all over the world, representing a wide range of coffee professions, including baristas, café managers, graduate and PhD students, and more.
After much deliberation five recipients were chosen for the 2-year program, which includes participation in events and educational activities, as well as career development and expansion of professional networks.
The 2018-2020 LEAD Scholars are Karla Ly Quinones, Lisette Barbera, Smayah Uwajeneza, Stephanie Alcala, and Taya Brown.
Learn more about the LEAD program, including benefits and future application opportunities, on our website at sca.coffee/LEAD.
