Vimeo & Mailchimp Presents Lend Voice to Black Businesses with ‘Stories in Place’

Vimeo and Mailchimp Presents are spotlighting businesses from around the world in the time of Covid with their video series, Stories in Place. Today the two unveiled their latest collection – a series highlighting seven Black filmmakers telling the stories of their favorite Black-owned small businesses. Vimeo & Mailchimp Presents Lend Voice to Black Businesses with ‘Stories

Vimeo and Mailchimp Presents joined forces to award grants to the participating filmmakers and featured businesses for their contributions to the collection. The platforms will also leverage their combined global reach to promote the video series across the web and spotlight each of the businesses.

“In a year where so many businesses, and Black-owned businesses in particular, are fighting for survival, the opportunity to support filmmakers telling stories of those businesses feels especially meaningful,” said Sarita Alami, Head of Programming, Mailchimp Presents. “Vimeo was the perfect partner to bring these seven powerful stories of Black entrepreneurship–shot during the most uncertain of times–to life.”

Launched in April 2020, Stories in Place carries the goal of empowering creative professionals to use video to tell the real stories about small businesses and the incredible people behind them. In time for Black History month; the new collection features stories about seven Black-owned businesses from Newark to Nottingham. Keep reading for a synopsis of the videos included in the lates collection of Stories in Place.

Zionly Manna by Curtis Essel — Blending archival and 16mm footage with an intimate one-on-one interview, this dynamic film profiles Jahson Peat, owner of ‘Zionly Manna Vegan Restaurant’ based in Peckham Rye, South London.

STUDIO-SOLE® by Amandla Baraka — After being struck by COVID like many other small businesses, RaShaad and his parents found a way to bring life to the city of Newark, New Jersey, through their Sneaker consignment shop, Studio Sole.

Mitchell’s the Bowl by Troy Browne — On the brink of the family business being passed down to the next generation, Claudette Mitchell reflects on her father’s legacy bringing West Indian food to Nottingham and providing for his family.

Rebyrth Wellness by Cydney Tucker — This is the story of Atlanta-based Doula Imani Byers working to save the lives of Black mothers in their journey from pregnancy to motherhood.

Mosaic on a Stick by Travis Wood — Inspired by colorful mosaic artwork, this mixed media piece follows the story of multiracial artist Lori Greene, owner of the mosaic studio and community art space “Mosaic On A Stick” in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Harriett’s Bookshop by Raishad M. Hardnett, Aidan M. Un —Just weeks before the pandemic hit, Jeannine Cook opened Harriett’s Bookshop in Philadelphia as a way to celebrate women authors, activists, and artists. Since then, her work has taken on a larger role in the fight for sovereignty and protection for Black women.

Kanyoko Boutique by Ng’endo Mukii — Njeri Mereka is a smooth-talking, hymn-singing, 67 year old grandmother who runs Kanyoko Boutique in Nairobi, Kenya, a business she unintentionally started from the trunk of her 1990 Toyota Corolla.

The new Stories in Place collection can be viewed in its entirety here: vimeo.com/storiesinplace.

Vimeo & Mailchimp Presents Lend Voice to Black Businesses with ‘Stories in Place’ Vimeo & Mailchimp Presents Lend Voice to Black Businesses with ‘Stories in Place’