The W.K. Kellogg Foundation joins Bean Voyage as the Title Sponsor for the fourth Women-Powered Coffee Summit
There is a profound wisdom among the Tzotzil communities: to truly heal, one must return to the origin — the birthplace of both the community and the issues at hand. In this context, “origin” refers not only to the ancestral lands where coffee is grown but also to the foundational relationships and systems that shape the coffee industry. This principle is embodied in the concept of ichbail ta muk', which translates to “to bring one another to largeness or greatness,” emphasizing the importance of communal effort, mutual respect, and collective well-being. By returning to the origin in all its forms — land, culture, and history — we can begin to understand the roots of current challenges and build a more equitable future.
In this spirit, the theme of this year's Women-Powered Coffee Summit (WPCS) is "The Origin." This theme invites us not only to revisit the communities where coffee is produced but also to critically examine the foundations of the coffee industry itself. By understanding its beginnings, we can reimagine and reconstruct an industry that supports thriving livelihoods, particularly for the producing communities at its heart.
In recent times, the volatility of coffee markets and climate change have led to significant challenges, including mental health issues and food insecurity among coffee producers. Addressing these deep-rooted problems requires more than band-aid solutions; it necessitates a return to the origin, a deconstruction of existing systems, and a collective effort to build anew.
Over the past three years, the summit has become a place of connection: producers meeting roasters, traders, baristas, researchers who are eager to build meaningful relationships. It’s been a place of collaboration, with women forming new producer associations, roasters coming together for education and quality control, and thriving business partnerships between producers and traders/roasters.
The impact of the summit comes from its core values:
A Safe and Inclusive Space: A place for women across the coffee supply chain – producers, traders, roasters, baristas, researchers - to gather and forge connections.
Women as Protagonists: A stage for women to share their stories, their knowledge, and their experiences, which so often go unheard.
Success and Sustainability: Showcasing the stories of successful women, while emphasizing climate action and intersectionality, unlocking new opportunities for women to build thriving businesses.
Today, we’re thrilled to welcome the W.K. Kellogg Foundation as the title sponsor for WPCS 2025.
Earlier this year, while exploring possibilities in Chiapas, our team met with Sebastián Frías and the W.K Kellogg Foundation team. We quickly realized how deeply aligned we are. The Foundation’s commitment to equity, social justice, and community leadership mirrors the mission of Bean Voyage.
We were particularly moved by one of the Foundation’s guiding beliefs:
“We believe all people have the inherent capacity to effect change in their lives, in their organizations, and in their communities. We respect individuals and value their collective interests, strengths and cultures.” This perspective resonates deeply with the purpose of WPCS and what we aim to build together.
The Foundation’s support will make the summit free and accessible for 60 smallholder women coffee producers, providing full scholarships for producers from Chiapas and other parts of Mexico to attend this event. Bean Voyage will also offer additional scholarships for smallholder women coffee producers attending from Costa Rica, Colombia and Honduras.
Here are five things you should know about this year’s summit:
The summit will be hosted from October 2-4 at Casa Mazariegos, a beautifully restored historic site in San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas.
The summit itself kicks off with farm visits on October 2, followed by plenaries, workshops, and side events on October 3 and 4.
We launched an open call for speakers and workshop facilitators and received over 140 applications. The final program will be shared in July.
We’re offering pre-WPCS courses – day-long workshops on October 1 to help deepen knowledge on niche topics such as roasting masterclasses for producers and sustainability project design for roasters.
Tickets are available now! Scholarships for producers will be announced soon.
We’re closing our sponsorship round but always welcoming partners and friends who want to get involved. If you’re ready to join us, don’t wait – tickets are limited to 300 participants (50% reserved for smallholder women coffee producers).
Let’s come together to connect, collaborate, and create a future powered by women in coffee.
Join us by getting your ticket here.
Reach out if you’d like to partner or learn more: hello@beanvoyage.org.
We could not be more excited.
———————————————————————————————————————
About Bean Voyage: We build thriving businesses with smallholder women coffee farmers in Latin America.
About W.K Kellogg Foundation: The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal innovator and entrepreneur Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life. The Kellogg Foundation is based in Battle Creek, Michigan, and works throughout the United States and internationally, as well as with sovereign tribes. Special attention is paid to priority places where there are high concentrations of poverty and where children face significant barriers to success. WKKF priority places in the U.S. are in Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and New Orleans; and internationally, are in Mexico and Haiti. For more information, visit www.wkkf.org.
