"Becoming"
It's amazing what we can accomplish when we get out of our own way. When we dream and decide to put action into going after those dreams. For Jamele, many of those dreams have been possible to realize because of the community of people who surround him. Early on in his childhood, it was his community that instilled a belief that he would be magnanimous and accomplish anything he wanted to. In his young adulthood, that was reflected by becoming the first person in his family to go to college. As years went on, his world expanded and reflected a growing ecosystem of Black excellence that further inspired his pursuit to become whatever he set his mind to.
In 2020 when the world shut down, Jamele and his friend co-created a podcast called "Music in the Bottle" where the two would break down life impacting events, personally and nationally, while enjoying wine and discussing the latest trends in music. Their goal was to make wine more accessible to their friends and show that wine was a beverage for everyone to enjoy. It's here that he met the first Black Sommelier in his life, George Walker III, who was featured on the podcast. Jamele, who at the time was working at the Modales Wines tasting room, was inspired to expand his knowledge in wine by taking his first WSET course after receiving a scholarship from Wine Unify, a non-profit that welcomes, elevates, and amplifies the voices of non-white, underrepresented minorities in the wine industry. Witnessing Black people thriving in wine--George Walker, his favorite basketball players and their wine labels, and movies like "Uncorked" on Netflix--was a game changer for Jamele, especially because he felt the direct support from organizations that aimed to diversify wine.
In addition to becoming a Wine Unify scholar, Jamele learned about scholarship opportunities offered through The Roots Fund that would allow him to travel out West, into the heart of Napa Valley. Though he'll admit he was nervous to uproot his life for several months and head to California, he focused his energy on thinking of those who had believed in what he could become and all he could achieve. He figured, "let's just throw this [idea] on the dart board, and if it sticks, it sticks." After being accepted as a Roots Fund scholar, Jamele became an intern for Heitz Cellars, which furthered his growth and knowledge in an industry he became deeply passionate about. His excitement for the knowledge, connections, and community he'd gained for a lifetime further inspired him to get back to Michigan and continue expanding the wine scene in his own community. Currently, Jamele is back in Grand Rapids, Michigan and continues to produce, create, and host "Music in the Bottle" podcast with his friends while balancing a career as the Marketing Manager for Modales Wines, a winery located in the heart of the Fennville AVA. Continuously taking that leap of faith brings him great joy knowing he's inspiring his family, nieces and nephews, to forge their own path, follow their dreams, and experience the treasures life has to offer when you choose to break out of your bubble and become what you desire.
Feel the joy as we sip from Jamele's cup, and don't forget to stay connected! Tune in to Music In the Bottle podcast by following along on IG: @musicinthebottlepodcast and his personal IG: @j_fav and don't forget to support incredible organizations like Wine Unify (@wineunify) and The Roots Fund Inc (@rootsfund)
#happysipping
