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New York, NY--The Natural Diamond Council in partnership with Black in Jewelry Coalition (BIJC) announce “the first of its kind” jewelry education program at Baldwin High School, in Baldwin, New York. The pilot program will begin in the Fall of 2024, and it will explore each sector of the jewelry industry from bench to design to retail.

“We remain committed to the growth and advancement of the jewelry industry, with a firm belief in creating opportunities for diverse students aspiring to enter this field,” said Kristina Buckley Kayel, NDC managing director said in the statement. “It is critical we facilitate and expand entry into our legacy industry, where long term quality careers are possible from design to technology to retail and beyond. Joining forces with BIJC to train, inspire and mentor potential talent among a high school population on the fundamentals of jewelry is a catalyst towards realizing our collective mission of building a more equitable future for the diamond jewelry industry. Our ambition is that this program serves as a pilot to be rolled out to high schools across the country.”

To support this new program, the two organizations said they will pause funding on its Emerging Designers Diamond Initiative (EDDI) for 2024. The EDDI program, a partnership with celebrity high jeweler, Lorraine Schwartz, provided support and mentorship for 18 Black, indigenous, (and) people of color (BIPOC) designers to break into the jewelry industry.

As part of the Academic Academies program at Baldwin High School, the jewelry education program will allow students to connect the classroom to the working world through a combination of professional shadow days, internships, and inter-school, regional, and national competitions as well as co-curricular activities, according to the joint statement. The goal of the program is to provide students with a multitude of learning experiences to ensure they gain the skills and knowledge required to succeed despite the challenges they may face.

With the new program, Annie Doresca, BIJC Board president, said the goal “is to inspire students and foster their passion for the jewelry industry while introducing them to modern and ancient techniques in jewelry manufacturing. Introducing such programs to high school students is a positive direction towards enhancing diversity within the industry and making a meaningful impact.”