By Honoring Black Storytelling through the Lens of Black Creatives, Initiative Reinforces Ongoing Commitment to Inclusivity & Diversity to Shape a More Equitable Society
NEW YORK, June 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Juneteenth marks a moment of celebration and meaningful reflection for the Black community, where families, friends and chosen loved ones come together to honor the past while celebrating progress made. For many, the day serves as a time to share stories with one another over food and drinks, preserving traditions that pay tribute to the legacy of generations past.
This Juneteenth We Honor the Vibrancy of Black Culture Through Food, Drink and Dynamic Storytelling
Pierre Serrao from Ghetto Gastro Toasting with a Tequila Don Julio Jubilee Marg
DIAGEO Partners with Equator and Ghetto Gastro to Celebrate Black Storytelling through the Lens of Black Creatives
Ghetto Gastro Toasting with a Crown Royal Buck
DIAGEO Partners with Equator and Ghetto Gastro to Honor the Vibrancy of Black Celebration
Through CÎROC, Crown Royal and Tequila Don Julio brands, DIAGEO brings the shared values of togetherness, generosity and devotion to this year's Juneteenth festivities through a dynamic film. This film was created as part of DIAGEO's ongoing mission to champion inclusivity, including amplifying Black stories told through the lens and voices of Black creatives who are paving the way for change. In partnership with Ghetto Gastro, a creative and culinary collective utilizing food as a medium to teach the world about the Black diaspora, and Equator, an award-winning Black-owned production company whose powerful work captures the dynamism of a people, the film brings to life the richness of Black cultural gatherings and reinforces the importance of storytelling as a vehicle for cultural preservation. The energetic :60 second film is an emotional reminder that African American history is American history.
The creatives at Equator developed the visual film, skillfully deploying every element from lighting to music to costume design to depict a contemporary and authentic perspective of Black culture.
"It's very important for us at Equator to align with initiatives with intention and work with like-minded creatives and collaborators, and the Diageo HBCU endowment was something we felt we could get behind," says Executive Producer Ashley Cimone. "It's the actions of large corporations that matter more than their words. This campaign was created with Black joy in mind, in honor of Black family, Black love and our resilience as a community. Juneteenth is a holiday the represents progress for all of America. Happy Juneteenth."
To bring families, friends and chosen loved ones together to celebrate, Ghetto Gastro was tasked with creating the menu. Co-founder Pierre Serrao says, "Food for the soul is the goal." Consumers can bring the tastes and spirit of this film home through an exclusive kit curated by Ghetto Gastro available on CocktailCourier.com. The Ghetto Gastro chefs leaned into the festive nature of CÎROC, the generous spirit of Crown Royal and the devotional craft of Tequila Don Julio to develop recipes to celebrate Juneteenth like the Valid Green Salad to savor with the Crown Royal Buck, Glazed Sticky Wingz to enjoy with the TequilaDon Julio Jubilee Marg, and the Yuzu Cherry Pie perfectly paired with the CÎROC Juneteenth Joy.
From striving to preserve traditions to cultivating the next generation of diverse leaders who will pave the way for a just, equitable and prosperous society, this is one of the latest initiatives for DIAGEO, which has pledged $10 million to create permanent endowments at 25 HBCUs across the country. With a goal of helping to change the complexion of the beverage alcohol industry, the unique program will enable the institutions to provide much needed financial assistance to thousands of HBCU students. Additionally, it consists of Innovation Hubs at select institutions to provide students and faculty with an experiential approach and resources that complement traditional learning – including mentorship, lecturers for faculty and students and curriculum development assistance. The company also joined the Congressional HBCUs Partnership Challenge to advocate for positive policies that will have a lasting impact on these institutions.
DIAGEO is also committed to showing up for moments of Black celebration and will continue to do so with partners in local communities across the nation.
"This Juneteenth, we honor the vibrancy of Black culture through food, drink and dynamic storytelling. Black stories told by Black creatives offer honest and authentically nuanced perspectives. These warm, joyful expressions of Black life preserve cultural traditions and keep them alive, while engaging every community in the brightness and beauty of the Black experience," commented Phil Pearson, Director Brands in Culture & Multicultural Experiences at Diageo North America. "DIAGEO, together with Equator and Ghetto Gastro, are proud to invite people across the county to welcome these recipes, cocktails and experiences into their homes, and make them a vital part of an unforgettably joyful Juneteenth celebration."
We encourage everyone to enjoy their Juneteenth celebrations responsibly.
Credits Ashley Cimone – Executive Producer / Creative Director Anthony Prince Leslie – Director Ryan Chun – Director of Photography Shayla Cox – Set Designer Ackime Snow – Photographer
About DIAGEO Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Casamigos, DeLeon and Don Julio tequilas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Tanqueray and Guinness.
Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: DGE) and their products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world.
For more information about Diageo, their people, brands, and performance, visit www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice. Follow at Twitter and Instagram for news and information about Diageo North America: @Diageo_NA.
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