COMMUNITY SUPPORT
A letter from our President, Olivia Stewart
At Oxbow Rum Distillery, we take pride in our ancestral land, cane farm and sugar mill that provide us with our beautiful ingredients. However, we did not do it alone. The foundation of rum and sugarcane in the Americas was built by enslaved Africans and their descendants. Louisiana, and our family’s farm, are no exception.
Our brand is all about transparency of what’s in the bottle, and we should tell our story with the same intent. While it can feel uncomfortable to openly discuss the darker parts of this history, I’ve found it gets easier and more healing with practice. Talking through it allows us to have a better understanding of the effects on modern society, and compassion for the marginalized communities it continues to implicate.
I see it as both a privilege and a responsibility to produce a beautiful product that honors the land and people, past and present, who have made it possible.
Additionally, Alma, Oxbow and our family members are proud supporters of the below organizations that support underserved BIPOC communities in our region. Curated with care and intention, we aim to use our privilege as a tool to help others.
Thank you for reading,
Olivia Stewart
DONATIONS
All donations are gifted through the Baton Rouge Area Foundation’s (BRAF) Donor Advised Fund.
For more information, please email hello@braf.org.
Earnest Gaines Literary Award
Annual grant for newly published African American writers in honor of PCP resident Earnest Gaines.
Founding Fathers 4 Youth
Black run non-profit that awards scholarships in local PCP public schools and organizes the youth baseball program for the town of New Roads.
Little Zion Missionary Baptist Church
Funding provided for major church building upgrades.
Louisiana Bucket Brigade
Environmental justice group that addresses negative impacts on vulnerable communities by the petrochemical industry.
Mississippi Votes
Empowers young people through civic engagement and educates communities on voting rights through grassroots organizing.
Turning Tables
A New Orleans based leadership and career advancement training program for BIPOC members of the hospitality industry.
River Road African American Museum and Gallery
A museum Dedicated to collecting, preserving, and interpreting information about enslaved communities in South Louisiana.
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services Corporation
Annual funding to expand its legal services into Pointe Coupee for struggling families and vulnerable people.
