‘Education is a catalyst’: Molson Coors gives $125,000 to support Black undergraduate students
Frederic Landtmeters, president of Molson Coors Beverage Company in Canada, and Lisa White, executive director of Concordia’s Equity Office.
Molson Coors is the latest donor to join the Campaign for Concordia: Next-Gen Now. The company has given $125,000 to help alleviate systemic barriers that prevent Black students from attaining higher education.
“Concordia is home to world-class programs that set students up with the right skills and knowledge to create successful, enriching and fulfilling careers,” says Frederic Landtmeters, president of Molson Coors Beverage Company in Canada.
“Both Molson Coors and Concordia have deep-rooted histories in Montreal and operate on a similar set of community values, which includes advocating and actioning for equitable and equal access for all.”
Starting in the 2022-23 academic year, the Molson Coors Bursaries for Black Students will fund five annual in-course bursaries in collaboration with Concordia’s Black Perspectives Office.
The bursaries will assist and encourage Black undergraduate students who are pursuing a degree in any faculty.
Landtmeters says that Molson Coors is committed to social justice and economic empowerment through education.
“Education is a catalyst. With the Molson Coors Bursaries for Black Students, we believe that together, we can help strengthen our communities through workforce readiness and by empowering Black students for future success,” he says.
Empowerment, equality and community building
Events from the last two years — from the Black Lives Matter movement to Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation — have advanced conversations on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) at Molson Coors.
The company has since launched Project Justice, a program that champions DEI by supporting organizations dedicated to empowerment, equality, community-building and justice.
While the Molson Coors Bursaries for Black Students are not part of the Project Justice initiative specifically, they fall within the spirit of the program.
‘A helpful nudge’
Lisa White, BA 12, executive director of Concordia’s Equity Office, says the bursaries will encourage and support current and prospective students in their pursuit of university studies and further increase representation in the student body.
"These five annual bursaries will play a significant role in providing Black undergraduates with more equitable access to university studies,” says White.
“The backing will not only help students realize their fullest potential, but it will lead to many more students successfully completing their studies. These bursaries also go well beyond immediate impacts; they allow for the emergence of more role models and mentors for future generations of students.”
Landtmeters looks forward to seeing how the new bursaries provide a supportive push for Black undergraduate students at Concordia.
“We hope that the Molson Coors Bursaries for Black Students will be a helpful nudge in the very promising paths of its recipients, who surely are each bound for great things and consequently will make Canadian workplaces and communities better,” he says.
