Cassandra Schaeg: "Fresh Glass" is brought to you by Visit California.

California: dream big.

♪♪♪ Cassandra: The Conrad Prebys Foundation, Stone Brewing, Beyond Law, KPBS Explore, the Villegas Family Fund, Jonathan & Christina Barbarin, Gemma & Ross Blain, the Clarke Family, with additional contributions by "Fresh Glass" innovators.

♪♪♪ Cassandra: And viewers like you.

Thank you.

For a complete list of financial contributors, please visit www.FreshGlassProductions.com.

♪♪♪ Cassandra: Inglewood, California, is known as the city of champions.

Teo Hunter: Welcome to Crowns Inglewood, baby.

Beny Ashburn: Welcome to Crowns Inglewood.

Cassandra: I spent the day with women and BIPOC entrepreneurs dedicated to keeping culture and community alive and thriving in this historic city.

They started their businesses in Inglewood and are committed to sharing their resources, space, and knowledge to close societal gaps.

Amanda-Jane Thomas: How are we approaching this space to really empower, really?

If you just have access and space, sky is the limit.

Cassandra: Join me on this cool adventure.

This is "Fresh Glass."

Cassandra: I'm Cassandra Schaeg, entrepreneur, adventurer, and wine and beer enthusiast.

Food, beverage, and entrepreneurship are growing with women and BIPOC innovators creating brands and making a name for themselves.

Teo Hunter: Welcome to Crowns Inglewood, baby.

Cassandra: Join me on adventures and discover why they started, what drives them, and how representation is the cornerstone of their passion.

Amanda-Jane Thomas: What do you come to do?

all: Sip.

Cassandra: I'm creating a space for people who look like me to share their stories and their spirits.

This is "Fresh Glass."

♪♪♪ Cassandra: Located in South Los Angeles County, Inglewood's population is comprised of black and Hispanic residents.

With historic landmarks such as the Inglewood Forum, Hollywood Park Casino, and SoFi Stadium, the city is undergoing revitalization.

My first stop was Sip & Sonder on Market Street in the heart of Inglewood.

It's owned and operated by Amanda-Jane Thomas and Shanita Nicholas; Ivy League attorneys with a passion for coffee, community, and culture.

Cassandra: Hey, my caffeinated sisters.

Cassandra: Sip & Sonder started in 2017.

Their mantra is "for the community, for the culture."

Cassandra: Do you have lavender lattes?

Amanda-Jane: We do.

Cassandra: Okay.

All right, we in the game.

Shanita Nicholas: I think we need to walk on in.

Cassandra: Okay.

Cassandra: Amanda-Jane and Shanita bring that essence, providing a quality coffee in their neighborhood.

Sip & Sonder isn't just a coffee shop; it's a vibe for sonders to network and collaborate.

Cassandra: How did you come up with the name?

Where did--how did "Sonder" stick for you?

Amanda-Jane: Shanita says, you know, "There's this word that I came across, it's in 'The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows.'"

And she shared it, and it's sonder.

So sonder is the realization that everyone around you is living a life that's as beautiful and complex as your own, right?

Then the minute Shanita shared that, it was like this hit the nail on the head as to what we're trying to create.

Cassandra: Their journey into coffee came in a very unconventional way.

Shanita: I always say I went to law school so I could drink coffee in coffee shops.

Cassandra: Where'd you go to school?

Shanita: I was at Columbia University for undergrad law and business school.

Cassandra: Say that louder.

You went to where?

Shanita: Columbia University.

Cassandra: Okay.

Columbia.

Amanda-Jane: And I went to Harvard, so, for college and then law school.

Cassandra: Obama!

Amanda-Jane: We're kind of assembling this almost like toolkit of skills that you don't even know what that's ultimately leading to.

You know, I always joke, I'm like I would have never guessed that I'd be in food and beverage-- Cassandra: Who you telling?

Amanda-Jane: And doing this, right, but it's like every step and choice that, you know, you've made professionally has added, you know, to that toolkit.

It's just ultimately that navigating to what--that ultimate, what do you want to be when you grow up?

Cassandra: What they created is a place that reflects their expansive talents to share with others.

Cassandra: I notice the community is changing, and in that change, you know, gentrification is starting to rise in this area.

And how are you keeping us here, and how are you keeping the culture thriving with that change happening?

Amanda-Jane: The importance of having space that folks that look like you and I, black and brown faces can feel welcome.

If you just have access and space, sky is the limit.

How are we approaching this space to really empower, really?

Cassandra: The two Ivy League grads with the coffee shop in the neighborhood, how do you empower others?

Shanita: Before there was a coffee shop there was our nonprofit, which was really focused on how are we getting resources to the community around us, especially understanding the privileges that we have and have had as Ivy League-educated attorneys.

Amanda-Jane: In college they'd have, you know; okay, this head of state coming, you know, at lunch, and it's just open access to be in the room and have that access.

And there are so many gaps that we know exist.

Imagine the amazingness that can happen if you start to close those gaps.

Cassandra: How many locations do you have?

Shanita: So currently we have two locations.

So we're sitting in our flagship.

We have a second location right in front of the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

I mean, we also have other wholesale accounts.

So that's been a really amazing area for us to get our coffee out even beyond on the spaces that we call our own, and... [Cassandra drumrolling] Shanita: Target.com.

Cassandra: Yes.

Congratulations.

Shanita: Thank you.

Amanda-Jane: Thank you.

Cassandra: While they make my lavender latte, I ask Amanda-Jane and Shanita one more question.

Cassandra: What's the legacy you want to leave?

Amanda-Jane: If we all just approach everything with a little bit more love and empathy, we can move the needle.

The beauty behind the word sonder for me really gets to having that empathy and being able to connect, and I think that that's something that the world have a little bit more of.

Shanita: Really knowing and understanding that we are fully empowered to do whatever we want.

Like, there is nothing we can't do.

Amanda-Jane: Literally.

Cassandra: After coffee I headed over to a location where a different kind of brewing goes down.

Crowns & Hops is Inglewood's only black beer brand.

They've been brewing since 2018, and their vibe is as fresh as its founders.

Beny: What's up, guys?

I'm Beny Ashburn, the dope CEO of Crowns & Hops Brewing Company.

Teo: And I'm Teo Hunter, the head of brewing operations and COO of Crowns & Hops.

Welcome to Crowns Inglewood, baby.

Beny: Welcome to Crowns Inglewood.

Teo: Where's Cass?

Beny: I don't know; Cass?

Teo: Where you at, Cass?

Beny: Cass!

Cassandra: What's up?

Teo: What up, sis?

Beny: Yay, welcome.

How are you doing?

Cassandra: Wait, wait, wait.

Let me-- Teo: Welcome to Inglewood, sis.

Cassandra: How are you?

How are you?

How are you?

Now, I got you.

Beny: So we're still in the beginning stages, but we're about to break ground.

And you can come in and see it in its raw, beautiful form.

It's a beautiful building.

So are you ready?

Cassandra: Yes, yes.

Beny: All right, come on in.

Teo: Take a look at what we're building up for the community of Inglewood.

Welcome.

Beny: Welcome, welcome.

Cassandra: Dude, this is huge.

Teo: Yo, can you see what we saw?

Cassandra: What made you decide to land on this building?

Teo: I mean, I'd tell you we've spoken with brewery owners all over the world and one of the things that they have said unanimously: "Bet on yourself and get as much space as you can at the beginning."

Beny: And when you walk into Crowns, our hope is you enact all five senses; but this will be a place for you to just relax, put your phones down.

The intent it is to connect as human beings, which we as people of color do not get the opportunity to do that in a safe and comfortable environment.

Cassandra: Culture is at the heart of Crowns & Hops.

Beny and Teo are not only creating a quality craft beer, but they are also claiming space in the industry.

Their brand pays tribute to black America and its leaders.

They were also the first black beer brand sold at the Super Bowl.

Inglewood is home, and it's where they will create a space that connects black and brown faces to craft beer.

Teo: This is not a overnight thing, I mean, we've been-- I mean, I've been into craft beer for over 15 years now, and I think everybody who falls in love with craft beer, especially in California, knows you got to hit Miramar Road to see all the OGs.

We did not see ourselves in the industry.

Not only did we not see black and brown people, we didn't see our culture, which seemed ridiculous in a world of-- in the era of hip hop, right?

Cassandra: Yes; what's the legacy you want to leave?

Teo: Well, I can't start with that before acknowledging the legacy that I come from.

About three years ago I found out that my great, great, great grandmother Phoebe Johnson Crump was a brewer and she brewed from 1900 to around 1930 just outside of Faraday, Louisiana.

We realized that it wasn't that we were so much bringing to the world something new; but we were also sharing a legacy that was already there that had been buried under all the stories of slavery and all the stories of hardship, that there was some success stories there as well of people-- black people in the brewing business.

The legacy is in continuing that and making sure that people understand that Teo Hunter and Beny Ashburn are here to project black and brown excellence in craft beer.

Cassandra: Word on the street is you're brewing more than beer.

Teo: I'm brewing more than beer, and with that said, I'm going to have to exit stage right because I'm--I just brewed up a son who's going to be here any day now.

So I'm about to bounce and see about my son.

Cassandra: Okay.

Cassandra: After Teo left, Beny and I talked more about entrepreneurship and being a black woman in craft beer.

Beny: Oftentimes when you're the first to do it this big, there's going to be a lot that you don't know, and I think what's made us smart entrepreneurs and smart business owners is we understood we had to lay really strong foundation and get as many resources and build the team that can provide any holes that we might have.

Cassandra: One of the leading resources that people like us need in order to do this is capital.

Beny: Yes.

Cassandra: How did you raise capital to do that?

Beny: We are the first black-owned brewery to raise over a million dollars in equity crowdfunding.

So we're excited about that.

We have a 1,400-plus community everyday equity-- Cassandra: Yes.

Beny: OGFC, and that was important too.

We created the name OGFC for our investors, which stands for our OG Founders Crew, 'cause you guys are our OGs.

Like, you've been there with us since 2015 almost and watched us and supported us.

And even in those moments where we wanted to quit, we would meet people like you who would just give us a high five and say, "Thank you, and don't give up and don't stop.

This is bigger than you.

This is bigger than beer.

This is for the community."

Cassandra: Gentrification is commonly known as the process where urban areas are changed by wealthier people moving in, improving housing, and attracting new businesses, typically displacing current inhabitants.

I asked Beny her thoughts on gentrification, and her response was insightful.

Beny: Crowns & Hops is part of the revitalization of Inglewood, and the city is doing a really good job, I think, of making sure that the businesses here are black and brown.

It helps frame the cultural landscape for what this city already was, and we need to keep it, because when you do bring in the businesses like the SoFi Stadium, things start to shift and change, but I think if we can be a part of that change, then that's how we keep this place feeling like ours.

Cassandra: What's the legacy you want to leave?

Beny: My father was the manager and founder of the Commodores, so-- Cassandra: Not Lionel Richie.

Beny: Yes, Lionel Richie is my godfather, so--I know.

Cassandra: "Hello, is it me you're looking--" Wait a-- Beny: I know, I know, I know.

So Benny Ashburn was my father's name.

Beny Ashburn is my name.

And while he was in a very different industry, the music industry, he broke down doors in a space where they definitely weren't familiar with the power of a group like the Commodores.

And I think there's a lot of power, I think, in what me and Teo have built and I think it's even more powerful 'cause we've invited people to build it with us.

Cassandra: One place supporting Crowns & Hops is 1010 Wine and Events on La Brea Avenue.

I met sisters Leanne and Leslie Jones when they were just starting out, and they've been on the rise from the day they opened.

Cassandra: I'm honored to have met you two years ago having an event and you coming up like, "We're opening a wine bar in Inglewood."

And I'm like, "Well, call me if you need anything."

1010 Wine and Events is the first wine bar in Inglewood, but what makes you unique?

Leslie Jones: You know, we really focus on carrying black-owned brands, women-owned brands.

That was super important to us.

Yeah, I think that that really makes us unique and why a lot of people come in to visit because they--you know, they're like, "We've been to a wine bar before, but we've never seen these wines on a menu."

Cassandra: So describe being sisters and entrepreneurs doing a family business.

Leslie: There's no one else on the planet that I trust more than Leanne, so that's extremely beneficial.

But we're very different.

Even though we grew up together and we're very close in age, we have a different idea of how we should get to a certain destination.

Leanne Jones: If you're not ready to grow, then don't do it 'cause it would be a disaster 'cause you see stuff in yourself day to day that you have to change in order to not only have our relationships still work but to grow the business.

Leslie: And even though I may see her do something completely--in a completely different way than I would do it, I try to just say like, "Stay in your lane.

This ain't got nothing to do with you."

Leanne: And I will remind her of that.

"Why did you order this wine?"

"Not your field.

Not your field."

Cassandra: So 1010's a swanky place.

Describe what-- it's pretty swanky.

Describe what it look like pre-1010.

Leanne: Just imagine this being empty.

Leslie: There were oil stains on the floor.

It kind of didn't smell that good.

Actually, it didn't smell good at all.

Like, it was awful.

Leanne: He restored old school vehicles.

It was a garage door here, this whole area so that people could pull in their cars.

Honestly, everything you see in here was built from the ground up.

Cassandra: From a car garage to wine bar, Leslie and Leanne are getting noticed.

Cassandra: You've had several celebrity sightings here.

Who takes the cake so far?

Leanne: Wow, that's tough.

That's tough.

I think because of being in the gay community, it has to be Niecy Nash and Jessica Betts for me, 'cause they changed the game with their Essence cover.

Leslie: For me it was Stevie Wonder.

We had a private party here, and he wasn't on the guest list and he literally just, like, came through the back door.

And not even two hours before, I was telling my team, like, how much I love Stevie Wonder and then two hours later he walked in, and I literally called my whole entire family in a matter of like five minutes.

Leanne: She was on the verge of tears, and I was like, "Is there something wrong?"

She's like, "No.

Stevie is here."

Leslie: And then he got up and started singing, and I just was like, "You know what?

We did it."

Cassandra: What's the legacy that you two want to leave?

Leslie: Yeah, so, our mom passed away of colon cancer at the age of 54, and so colon cancer is a highly preventable cancer.

It's one of the most preventable cancers.

So, you know, if you're African American and you're supposed to get screened at the age of 45, everyone else is supposed to get screened at the age of 50.

So, you know, honestly if our mom got screened at the age she was supposed to be screened at, she might still be here today.

So my sister Leanne and then also my older sister Leah and I have created the Bernice M. Jones Family Foundation, which supports colon cancer research and then also education, 'cause our mom was a nursing educator.

Cassandra: Beny stopped by 1010 Wine and Events to give us a tasting of their lineup with the help of longtime supporter and black beer influencer Brandon Montgomery.

I learned a lot about beer from Brandon.

His brand Black Beer Travelers promotes and brings awareness to black-owned breweries around the world.

Look at it as a tool to navigate their way in the craft beer culture.

Cassandra: Walk me through you falling in love with craft beer.

Brandon Montgomery: I was in Tokyo, Japan in the February of 2011 for work and a couple of my co-workers took me to the Delirium Café.

And, man, if you don't know Delirium, it's a well-known traditional Belgian beer brand.

And this was like super welcoming experience from the food to all their, like, traditional styles.

It just exposed me to craft beer.

Cassandra: Sharing this love is what inspired Brandon to create Black Beer Travelers to help others navigate the black craft beer world.

Brandon: When I first started, it was like myself by myself.

My favorite thing that I released was actual digital, like, Google Maps in which all you have to do is click on a link and it just brought up this, like, eclectic map of, like, breweries, beer brands.

It just gives you a sense of general inclusion for those that are underrepresented.

One thing in representing craft beer, I always have to take into account, like, can't just be an enthusiast, also have to, like, kind of back it up.

So I became a certified beer server on the Cicerone process.

One thing a university degree teaches you is sometimes you just need a piece of paper to shut somebody up.

Cassandra: With Brandon and Beny as our guides, we gathered around the booth to taste their beer.

Beny: Hi, guys.

Are you ready?

Cassandra: We ready.

Beny: Okay, so today we have three styles of our Crowns & Hops.

Here we have our 8 Trill Pils, our HBCU IPA, and our Inglewood juice.

There are three really important things you should do when tasting beers.

One, there's the appearance, there's the aroma, and then there's the overall flavor.

Right now if we look at the appearance of all three of these, there are some similarities in most of them; but with the beer that we're going to start with first, which is our pilsner, our 8 Trill Pils, if you hold it up you can see how very clean, clear, and crisp that is through the glass.

See right through it.

This beer is called 8 Trill Pils.

It's the beer that we brewed in our effort to achieve racial equity.

When we first brewed this beer, we actually brewed it in three countries and donated 100% of the proceeds to organizations focused on racial equity and we also started a grant program.

So in 2020 we gave away $100,000 to five black-owned craft beer brands to help them in the business of beer.

So today we have our 8 Trill Pils Initiative, which is focused on creating more resources and tools for black-owned craft beer brands.

So, cheers.

all: Cheers.

[all laughing] Beny: So what do you guys think?

Cassandra: This is my favorite beer because I'm a light-beer drinker.

I need to keep it light and crisp and still be able to eat and drink at the same time.

Brandon: I really like the light--the kind of subtle spice to it from the hot notes.

It's always been a go-to beer for me.

Can we talk about this HBCU?

Beny: Yes, we could talk about the HBCU.

So for anyone who doesn't know what HBCU stands for, Historically Black College and University, for anybody who doesn't know.

I went to Spelman College in Atlanta and Teo went to Howard.

Brandon: H-U?

Beny: Not doing it.

Not doing it.

Cassandra: Too late.

I knew it was coming.

I was like-- Beny: I went to Spelman, Teo went to Howard, and because he is not here, he is not able to compliment your chant.

Brandon: That's okay.

Everybody knows Howard.

Beny: And I think HBCUs, you know, purposely build and creates students to be explorers and to be creative and, you know, just do things no one else is doing.

So, right, so it's no surprise that this very small industry of less than 1% is filled with HBCU alumni.

And what can we do to honor and celebrate our HBCU heritage?

So we created the HBCU IPA.

It is your traditional West Coast IPA, but it doesn't have that lingering bitterness that most IPAs have.

So we tried to find a really happy balance between beers that we know people will love and really appreciate but also beers that can segue you into just wanting to try craft beer, and I think this West Coast definitely represents that.

So cheers, you guys.

Brandon: Cheers.

Beny: Cheers, cheers, cheers, cheers, cheers, cheers.

Happy drinking.

Okay, and the last beer we have: Inglewood juice.

There is no way in the world we were going to be one of the first and only black craft breweries in Inglewood and not create a beer that is the flagship for everything that we represent, everything that we represent sitting at this table.

It's a lot smoother than your West Coast IPA.

It falls on the palate a little nicer.

It dissolves a little bit faster than your West Coast IPA.

Brandon: Now, I remember when you first came out with this beer; first time I had it I was like, oh, this is perfect.

This is juicy, this is something I could give to a non-beer drinker and they'll be like, "What is this?

This is different.

This is unexpected.

I like this."

Beny: Brandon was one of the main people who singlehandedly centralized all of us and created a app and a portal for us to find each other, because that was the hardest part about everything that we were doing is how do we find each other?

Cassandra: Well, I don't like it.

[all laughing] Beny: "I hate it."

Get out of here.

I think the best thing about doing tastings with people is when they go, "Oh, I don't really drink beer."

And you're like, "Oh, yeah.

Okay, okay, okay.

Just try that.

Just do me this solid and just try it."

And every single time, "Oh, 'cause I don't normally drink beer, but I will drink your beer."

And I think that could be one of the biggest compliments I think we get as a brand, is that moment where someone realizes that they enjoy trying something new.

Cassandra: Cheers, everybody.

Beny: Cheers.

all: Cheers!

♪♪♪ Cassandra: Inglewood is truly the city of champions.

Our guests embody resilience, empowerment, and greatness.

They are Ivy League graduates, lawyers, entrepreneurs, and the dopest CEO.

These queens continue to honor the city's culture, build community, and revitalize local businesses with heart and passion.

Thank you for joining me on this episode of "Fresh Glass."

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ Cassandra: "Fresh Glass" is brought to you by Visit California.

California: dream big.

♪♪♪ Cassandra: The Conrad Prebys Foundation, Stone Brewing, Beyond Law, KPBS Explore, the Villegas Family Fund, Jonathan & Christina Barbarin, Gemma & Ross Blain, the Clarke Family, with additional contributions by "Fresh Glass" innovators.

♪♪♪ Cassandra: And viewers like you.

Thank you.

For a complete list of financial contributors, please visit www.FreshGlassProductions.com.

Cassandra: On the next episode of "Fresh Glass," it's nearly harvest time here in two of Northern California's largest and most renowned wine regions, and many here are fourth and fifth generation winemakers.

Chris Rivera: I've poured at low-rider shows.

I've poured at pop-up events.

The wine by Latinos is unique enough, I'm always the only one there.

Cassandra: They're mixing old traditions with new ideas and creating wines for the future.

Cassandra: It smells like a bouquet of flowers.

female: Cheers, cheers.

Cassandra: Tune in to the next episode of "Fresh Glass."

female announcer: Support for this program comes from the KPBS Explore Local Content fund, supporting new ideas and programs for San Diego.

Cassandra: To learn more and support our guests, visit us at www.freshglassproductions.com.

♪♪♪