AHIVOY
Transforming Oregon’s Wine Industry Through Equity and Empowerment
AHIVOY (Asociación Hispana para la Industria Vitivinícola de Oregon y del Valle de Willamette) empowers Latinx vineyard stewards in Oregon’s Willamette Valley through education, leadership development, and advocacy, breaking systemic barriers in the wine industry. Through education and mentorship, AHIVOY helps low-income Latinx migrant vineyard workers gain the credentials and skillset necessary to advance to leadership and manager positions in the wine industry.
Partnership Quick Facts
The Challenge
Founded in 2020 by Latinx wine professionals Sofía Torres McKay, Miguel Lopez, and the late Jesús Guillén, AHIVOY faced immense hurdles as a volunteer-led nonprofit. Despite the success of its 17-week Wine Industry Professional Training program, which equips workers with viticulture, enology, and business skills, AHIVOY lacked the capacity to scale.
With demand for the Wine Industry Professional Training Program increasing, and no dedicated staff to manage grants or donor relationships, AHIVOY leadership began searching for a solution.
The Journey
Referred by an AHIVOY board member in 2022, AHIVOY reached out to Elaine at Just Look Left (JLL) to see if she could help. It was an instant connection. With Elaine’s passion for wine and AHIVOY’s purpose-driven mission, they quickly began partnering to build a sustainable funding infrastructure. Some of the first things JLL focused on were:
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Identifying aligned funders: Prioritizing grants for workforce development, immigrant empowerment, and economic equity.
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Crafting compelling narratives: Highlighting AHIVOY’s 85% career advancement rate and stories of graduates like those leasing vines to launch their own wine brands.
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Strengthening systems: Streamlining grant tracking, reporting, and stewardship to secure multi-year commitments.
Over the course of this partnership, AHIVOY achieved some pretty remarkable achievements. One grant award in particular was the multi-year Business Oregon EEIP grant that funded the program, including stipends, tuition assistance, and employer-matched wage increases for graduates. Because of this success, AHIVOY was able to transition from 100% volunteer-led to hiring its first part-time coordinator in 2025.
Conclusion: Scaling for the Future
JLL’s partnership has positioned AHIVOY to continue scaling its impact exponentially. Over the next several years, AHIVOY will focus on hiring an executive director to oversee expansion efforts. Additionally, the organization is launching a post-graduate mentorship program and a Grant Fund for alumni pursuing advanced education or entrepreneurship. By transforming vineyard workers into industry leaders, AHIVOY is redefining what’s possible for Oregon’s wine community.