Black Women Vintners Are Changing the World of Winemaking

Indianapolis, Indiana-based women wine makers from Sip and Share Winery and Wine and Candles differ from other wineries.  While both women enjoy making and sharing their wines, they also love educating consumers on wine etiquette, different wine varieties and the winemaking process.  And the two owners are Black women.

In her research, Kearney [owner of Sip and Share] said she’s found about 100 Black and Latino winemakers throughout the country. The wine industry is ripe for more people of color to get into winemaking. Revenues from wine sales are $62.7 billion worldwide.

Read more about how these Black women entrepreneurs are changing the world of winemaking.

Amplifying the Voices and Work of Women

The Women’s Equality Coalition (WEC) of Linn County is getting ready to celebrate Women’s Equality Day scheduled for Aug. 26, and they are currently seeking nominations from the community for their Woman of the Year award, which is presented at the event. The last day to submit a nomination is July 25, and nomination forms are available on the WEC website, womensequalitycoalition.org.

According to WEC, role models are key to changing perceptions, and bettering lives.  But if their goal is equality, the first steps must come in their communities, by amplifying the voices and work of local women.

So, please, nominate a woman you value in Linn County -- a positive female role model so she can be honored and everyone can learn from.

Read more about looking for a few (more) good women.

Women Have a Lock-Down on Entrepreneurship

From trucking titan to the immigrant taking on Elon Musk in space, here is the annual Forbes ranking of the 60 richest self-made women.

These 60 women, who have a record combined net worth of $71 billion, up 15% from $61.5 billion in 2017, have shattered [glass] ceilings and scaled new heights, making fortunes in everything from genetic testing to slimming shapewear. The minimum net worth needed to make this year’s list is $320 million, up from $260 million last year.

Find out who made the list.  You won't be disappointed.  In fact, you even might be surprised!

Women-Owned Businesses Are Growing Five Times National Average

According to a survey by the National Association of Women Business Owners, the number of women-owned businesses is growing five times the national average, with 1 in every 11 women being an entrepreneur.

"To be able to support a woman-owned business is just the icing on the cake," said Katelyn Perry, a shopper at the Sequin Siren [on Popps Ferry Road in Mississippi].

A woman-owned business is something other women have no problem supporting.  Read more here.