President of BD Imports, Phyllis Johnson, founded The Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity in July after the response to her Open Letter to the coffee industry.
The Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity (CCRE) is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to build greater racial diversity and equity in the U.S. coffee industry.
“Now is our opportunity for building partnerships to combat racism,” says Johnson. “Black Americans and the world are in desperate need of change that requires your participation.”
The CCRE’s Board of Directors is composed of 16 stakeholders within the global coffee community spanning six countries, and collectively speaking 13 languages. Reflective of the diverse experience each has within the coffee industry, they all envision a greater racial participation in areas of the industry included but not limited to: manufacturing, packaging, trading, distribution, education, media, research, international development, non for profits, entrepreneurship, and corporate, according to the CCRE.
Learn more about CCRE at its website, and stay tuned for our interview with Phyllis Johnson in the November/December 2020 issue!