Why Bâtonnage?
A letter from our Executive Director, Elaine Chukan Brown.
The last two years have been some of the hardest of my life. But not just personally. It’s a time of global challenges: uncertainty in the economy, our nation, the wine and hospitality industries, and even the weather. It all feels unpredictable.
Katie asked me: Why Bâtonnage? Why become part of the organization now?
With so much uncertainty, after all, it’s a hard period for a group like Bâtonnage to face. Public support for diversity and equity programs is down. They are literally illegal in parts of the country. Inflation and expenses are up. When incomes and the economy feel vulnerable, people usually donate less time or money to non-profit initiatives.
L-R: Cathy Corison, Theodora Lee, Elaine Chukan Brown, and Carole Meredith at Unified Symposium 2025.
Theodora Lee is someone in the wine industry I most admire. She farms a vineyard in Mendocino and has the beloved wine brand, Theopolis. (Ever had her Petite Sirah? It’s hard to find a red wine I love more.) She planted her Yorkville Highlands vineyard in 2003, and launched Theopolis in 2011. Following vintner Iris Rideau, Theodora is only the second Black woman to own a vineyard and winery in the United States. She’s also an employment lawyer.
The last time I spoke with her, I asked her for guidance on navigating change and uncertainty. We talked about getting through challenges in general. But I also asked her how to persist with social justice work in a society sometimes hostile to it.
She responded with straightforward advice: stay the course. Public support is seasonal. When efforts to bolster diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives surged in 2020, we already knew that meant they would also wane.
“We have to keep pointing out that representation matters,” she said. She described how people with different backgrounds and from different communities have different connections and insights that any of us can tap into. Diversity commitments are more than a social cause. Enriching our social and business’s diversity expands our own social and financial connections. Diversity strengthens our roots. It provides the resilience that is the basis for success. “Diversity makes business sense,” she said.
Seasonal changes (like with any change) are difficult. But they also make clear how to recognize the beauty that lasts. Public support might come and go, but the importance of diversity and equity efforts is not just seasonal. Like carnations, azaleas, daisies, coltsfoot, and lavender, the blooms return every year. The plant roots grow deeper, and over time the landscape is changed. This might be why carnations are the symbol of peaceful revolution over fascism in Portugal; why azaleas mean defiance in the face of tyranny in Japan; daisies stand for the permanence of justice in many Indigenous groups in North America.
So, back to the question: Why Bâtonnage? Why join the organization now?
Today, Bâtonnage is led by a powerhouse group of talented board members (13-members strong) that impress me everyday. Together they bring decades of experience across all sectors of the industry, a range of professional training and expertise, ethnic diversity, and a joint commitment to building a welcoming forum for woman-identifying wine professionals. Katie facilitates these efforts as board chair. Tina, as program manager, bravely keeps everything moving forward. My job as executive director is to help their joint vision for what Bâtonnage can become reality.
Recent conversations with board members have emphasized that the most important question any of us can ask each other right now is simply: are you okay? The most important question organizations like Bâtonnage can ask is the same, are we, as members of the wine and hospitality industries, okay? What do we need to be okay?
Our answers aren’t the same as what they were eight years ago, when Bâtonnage started. Everything has vastly changed, not just the industry or the economy.
The challenges all of us face right now offer something unique. We might call it a clean slate opportunity. It’s a crucible that burns away distractions, shallow needs, and untenable motivations. There is a greater chance to change deep-seated issues than we find in more stable times. And while that makes our choices feel like greater risks, it also means smart planning could offer greater positive change.
And that’s why Bâtonnage has chosen this year to assess everything the organization has accomplished, and what kinds of services it provides moving forward. In the midst of that, the board has clarified the Bâtonnage mission and core values that guide its efforts. And it is in the process of developing future programming, aligned with the mission and values.
So far, a few things are abundantly clear. The harder things are globally, the more our local communities matter. The more uncertain big picture problems (like the economy, our workforce, or our jobs) feel, the more important the health of our everyday lives. The more anxious, scared, or worried I feel, the more I benefit from slowing down, being present, and prioritizing real human connection.
When it comes to working together to build our communities, advocate for diversity and foster positive change, we’re all taking advice from Theodora. There is no better time than now to stay the course.
Pssst. Keep scrolling to the end of this email, why? Every month the Bâtonnage team will be sharing opportunities in our community, as well as a simple toolkit for supporting each other.
Let us know what is helpful, and what else you’d like to see here! Just send an email to info@batonnageforum.com. In the meantime, find current opportunities and toolkit below…
From Our Community…
BECKY WASSERMAN & CO BIPOC WINE SYMPOSIUM | BURGUNDY, APRIL 2027
Applications are now open for the Becky Wasserman & Co BIMPOC Wine Symposium. This immersive experience is open to wine professionals who identify as Black, Indigenous, Multiracial, or People of Color based in the United States of America. Four successful candidates will be invited to be part of a cohort that will travel, live, and engage in a week of learning with various vigneron(ne)s across Burgundy.
The application deadline is Monday, June 22, 2026 at midnight Pacific Time
COOKOUT IN THE VINEYARD | NAPA VALLEY, JUNE 11-13
If you haven’t been to Cookout in the Vineyard, get this year’s celebration on your calendar! It’s a multi-day gathering bringing together chefs, winemakers, and industry folks for a weekend of great food, wine, and connection. Ticket sales support The Veraison Project and their mission to create equity and access in the beverage industry.
All multi-day bundles are sold out, but individual day tickets are still available.
WINE TEAM OPPORTUNITY @ THE BATTERY | SAN FRANCISCO
This one’s for all of you SF Bay Area hospitality folks: Patrick Miner, Wine Director at The Battery and former Bâtonnage mentor, is hiring for an entry-level Wine Runner position with a growth path into a Sommelier role. This hybrid position combines floor service with hands-on cellar and logistics experience, making it an excellent opportunity for someone looking to build a long-term career in hospitality and wine. Restaurant experience is helpful, but prior Sommelier experience is not required.
Below are links to the job applications. Questions? Email Patrick at patrick@thebatterysf.com.
Community Toolkit
Here are three ways to support our local communities and local economy:
1/ Pay with cash. Why: cash payments for goods and services avoids processing fees required from using credit. Most local businesses have very small margins. Processing fees make those even smaller. Paying with cash helps boost their net income. Studies also show that cash stays in local communities benefiting all of us.
2/ Shop local and review local. Why: when possible, purchase goods and services from locally owned businesses. Then, when appropriate, leave a positive review for them online. Such efforts boost future customer support for not only the businesses but all of us who benefit from them.
3/ Attend local events. Why: the more people who attend any event, the more likely it is that event can happen again. Local events support local businesses, and give community members ways to meet and spend time together. This is especially important for members of the community who might have less opportunity to connect otherwise.