KEEP WALKING FOR PROGRESS WITH THE ‘FIRST STRIDES’ INITIATIVE
The Johnnie Walker ‘First Strides’ initiative celebrates, inspires and enables people and organizations taking bold strides towards progress, and pushing boundaries to move culture forward for all.
Launched in 2022, the long-term initiative invests in cultural trailblazers through grants, visibility, mentorship and empowerment programming. The goal is to uplift diverse communities spanning film, music, sports, art, hospitality, and technology.
HER STRIDES CHANGED THE FABRIC OF FILM
Discover some of the trailblazing women who’ve reimagined, reinvented, and redefined cinema.
GINA PRINCE-BYTHEWOOD
Gina Prince-Bythewood is a wildly prolific director, writer and producer, and longtime advocate for equal representation in the industry. Her films are known for their authentic, character-driven narratives. Prince-Bythewood’s piece was inspired by the bold spirit of her films, and their iconic characters and textures. Designed by Abi Rennie Fabricated by The London Embroidery Studio
ANA LILY AMIRPOUR
Ana Lily Amirpour made her directorial debut in 2014 and immediately tore the mainstream to shreds with her distinctive creative vision and stylistic sense of adventure. Amirpour’s piece is inspired by her films, her outlaw approach to filmmaking, and her mantra “to make the weird real.” Designed by Johnny Cole Fabricated by The London Embroidery Studio
WANURI KAHIU
Wanuri Kahiu is an acclaimed filmmaker, speaker, and science fiction writer whose work champions the need for fun, fierce and frivolous African art. Kahiu’s piece takes inspiration from her approach to filmmaking and the bold, colorful joy present across her work. Designed by Kavel Raferty Fabricated by The London Embroidery Studio
JANICZA BRAVO
Janicza Bravo is an acclaimed writer and director known for breaking boundaries in both cinema and television. Bravo’s piece heroes a quote of hers and uses color and shape to nod to both her work and the films that have inspired it. Designed by Keller Grimmer Fabricated by The London Embroidery Studio
JULIE DASH
Julie Dash was the first African-American woman to have a feature film receive a wide theatrical release and has continued to innovate in the worlds of cinema, television, and fine art ever since. Dash’s piece is inspired by her journey as a filmmaker, the lush atmospheres of her films, and the doors she opened for others in the industry. Designed by King Owusue & Abi Rennie Fabricated by The London Embroidery Studio
CHRISTINE CHOY
Christine Choy is an electrifying artist behind and beyond the camera. Choy’s piece celebrates the defiant spirit of her documentaries, pulling inspiration from the films themselves, the American justice system, and protest sign iconography. Designed by Johnny Cole Fabricated by The London Embroidery Studio
CLAIRE DENIS
Claire Denis has created an inventive body of work and is widely recognized as an inspired director and screenwriter with a vivacious and trenchant perspective. Denis’ piece draws from the atmospheric richness of her films, her imaginative characters, and her human-first approach to filmmaking. Designed by Abi Rennie Fabricated by The London Embroidery Studio
WATCH MORE WOMEN-MADE FILMS
Johnnie Walker has teamed up with MUBI to offer 30 days free to stream incredible films made by women. Redeem below now.
WITH WOMEN IN FILM, WE’RE EMPOWERING WOMEN TO TELL THE STORIES THAT SHAPE OUR CULTURE
As part of a long-standing commitment to gender equity, our partnership with WIF will help break barriers and build a pipeline of women from underrepresented communities into the film industry.
We’re proud to join WIF and celebrate the 65 women who have been nominated for an award this year as the presenting partner for the 16th Annual WIF Oscar Party.
THE STRONG KNOWS STRONG COCKTAIL
GIVE YOUR WATCH PARTIES AN EXTRA KICK WITH A COCKTAIL THAT’S EQUAL PARTS SMOKY, SOUR, AND SWEET.
You’ll need:
1.5 oz Johnnie Walker Black Label
0.5 oz Darjeeling Tea Syrup
0.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
1 dash Angostura Bitters
2 oz Ginger Beer
In a Collins glass, combine Black Label, tea syrup, lemon juice, and bitters. Stir twice, counterclockwise and top with ginger beer. Garnish with candied ginger and a lemon twist.
STRIDES TOWARDS PARITY FOR WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS
With an ambition to help close the gender gap in leadership, Johnnie Walker supports the missions of IFundWomen and She Should Run to create a broad community of women ready and empowered to lead the way forward.
Johnnie Walker collaborated with long-time partner Lilly Singh to script and produce a series of videos championing female leaders and spotlighting the unique challenges they face on the path to progress and parity.
Lilly Singh addresses barriers facing women leaders and how IFundWomen and She Should Run are empowering women to lead.
Sophia Bush highlights issues facing women in the workforce and celebrates the work being done by IFundWomen.
Aurora James empowers women to realize their potential to run for office and join the She Should Run community.
Together with IFundWomen, Johnnie Walker continues to support the organization's mission of closing the funding gap so women entrepreneurs can thrive in the marketplace. Support women-owned businesses and join the IFW community.
She Should Run has set a bold goal to inspire 250,000 women to take their first strides toward public leadership by 2030. Be part of the movement to help mobilize women from all walks of life to explore the possibilities of public leadership.
BLACK ART IS FOREVER
The Johnnie Walker x Blacktag First Strides Creator Grant Program is an empowering initiative to bring Black creators’ visions into fruition through exposure, funding and mentorship. In celebration of those leading the next generation of cultural curators, the program is proud to announce its first five grant recipients who will develop and produce their next project alongside the Blacktag team with powerhouse writer and producer Kenya Barris.
CHIDOZIE EKWENSI
VIEW CHIDOZIE’S WORKAs a queer first generation Nigerian American artist, Chidozie Ekwensi draws inspiration from his own experiences to encourage others facing similar realities. Based in Brooklyn, he is currently crafting his latest work [quarter life] — a semi-autobiographical series following a 25-year-old NYC creative searching for love and meaning after coming out to his parents and quitting the corporate world. Through authentic and humorous storytelling, Chidozie strives to showcase fresh perspectives within the exploration of defining one’s identity.
AMANDA GORDON
VIEW AMANDA'S WORKAspiring to specialize in originating unique stories, writer and director Amanda Gordon has recently been tapping into the paradox of desirability that coincides with Black women at the disposal of public judgement. Nuts, Amanda’s developing coming of age short film, revolves around a single night ensuing of comedic chaos and personal growth through the lens of religion, friendship, and desire. Her narratives reflect reality as one is met with truths behind the stakes that come with a desperate longing for acceptance.
SKYLAR ROCHON
VIEW SKYLAR'S WORKUnfiltered narratives about young Black womanhood are at the core of NYC-based Sarah Rochon’s hyperbolic, slightly comedic, and vigilantly honest writing. Most recently, she has been developing a dramatic-comedy web series called the first 30 days, centered around the journeys of 3 roommates navigating a new city together. Sarah’s desire to uncover the unspoken struggles and perplexing experiences of adulting connect her with audiences through transparent vulnerability.
LACHELLE WATSON
VIEW LACHELLE'S WORKWriter and director LaChelle Watson uses her creative platform to amplify voices of marginalized communities. Her latest short film in progress titled One of The Guys is inspired by LaChelle’s past as a woman in the music industry, unravelling the complexities of platonic male-female relationships and subliminal toxic masculinity within close-knit friendships. Bold ideas and thought-provoking themes encapsulate her work her work, aiming to shed a light on everyday experiences that are often overlooked.
JUAN WOOD II
VIEW JUAN'S WORKJuan Wood is an actor, writer, and producer who seeks to portray Black characters in ways they’ve never been depicted before. His up and coming film project Movers tells the story of two money-hungry brothers who share the same intellect for heinous activities, but find conflict in morality, leading to a rocky shift from being trivial thieves to meticulous heist men. Through humility and empathy, Juan provides his audiences with insight into the lives of those who are cut from different sides of the same culture.
FIRST STRIDES FOR WOMEN
Johnnie Walker and IFundWomen, the go-to funding marketplace for women-owned businesses, teamed up once again to support trailblazing women-owned businesses who are pushing boundaries to move culture forward and create more opportunities for women to achieve their goals.
ANGEL CITY FOOTBALL CLUB X LOS ANGELES TRAILBLAZERS
Continuing to empower and uplift women in partnership with IFundWomen and Angel City Football Club, the Johnnie Walker ‘First Strides’ initiative honored Los Angeles-based innovators by dedicating home games to their contributions to culture.
VIEW MICHELLE’S WORKUPRISERS is a first-of-its-kind brand where fashion meets activism with community at the core. Founded by Michelle K. Hanabusa in 2016, the brand is based in LA but transmits powerful messages globally, disrupting social norms and amplifying diverse stories. UPRISERS have fuel campaigns such as #MagandangMorenx to challenge traditional beauty standards, and #HATEISAVIRUS to combat racism and xenophobia during the pandemic. This isn’t just streetwear – it’s streetwear with a purpose, a microphone for the underrepresented paving the road for progress.
VIEW SHIRA’S WORKThe future of music is female and freelance. That’s what makes GRITTY IN PINK, a community of diverse womxn creators in the music industry, so strong. Shira Yevin’s mission is equitable, and her drive is radical. From crashing Warped Tour – a male-dominated music festival – with her band Shiragirl and a pink RV, to hosting Instagram Live fundraisers during lockdown, she’s always made power moves to push progress. Now with INPINK, Shira’s ready to capitalize on the market with a network that caters to diverse womxn freelancers and elevates the entire music industry. She’s punk, she’s pink and she’s fearlessly in pursuit of change.
AN EMPOWERING ANTHEM CELEBRATING FIRST STRIDES
Johnnie Walker and partners at the National Women's Soccer League's LA-based Angel City Football Club tapped five-time Grammy Award-winning artist Brittany Howard and LA-based artist Tia P. to create "Running with the Angels," the first original anthem for a U.S. women's professional sports team and the official anthem for the ACFC team. The song is an ode to the team's trailblazing spirit, as the world's first majority women-founded, owned and operated pro-soccer team, and will serve as a celebratory anthem for the team and fans as they take the field for their first season next month.