Posted Courtesy of Wright Enterprises San Francisco~Dallas Community Spotlight~~~
San Francisco-June is "Black Music Month" with Juneteenth and Father's Day being celebrated, and among the celebrations, the San Francisco Black Film Festival XXIII, "Continues the Legacy, Healing the World One Film at A Time," June 17-20, 2021.
"Just one sip of our partners' "Roots & Vines" wine from the Motherland is an experiential amalgamation of so many positive themes from joy, to social justice, to economic empowerment, unity and more," said Cree Ray, San Francisco Black Film Festival Co-Director. "CEO of Roots & Vines Trading Company," Jennifer White was a speaker on a panel for "Live Talk @SFBFF Art and Trade in Africa" at last year's festival co-led by my dearly missed father (Kali O'Ray) with his wife Katera Crossley. He was a proponent for all things in the African Diaspora that lead to empowerment and equity. This year, we are pleased to have "Roots & Vines" South African wines as the official wine of the San Francisco Black Film Festival.
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"At 'Roots & Vines Trading Company,' we are focusing on the opening of our pop-up store this week at Mission Valley Mall in San Diego, but it is always a great time to find a way lift a glass of cheer for organizations like the San Francisco Black Film festival that are committed to economic empowerment among the African Diaspora while opening ways of better understanding for all races or people," said Jennifer White, M.Ed. "We can trace our economic leap into the waters of commerce to Mrs. Mathabo Kunene of Durban, who also participated in last year's panel making her continuing call to come to South Africa and do business."
As a business owner, it is great to see how the San Francisco Black Film Festival is more than just entertainment," said Bivett Brackett, CEO of the Big Black Brunch, also a sponsor. "For starters the San Francisco Black Film Festival demonstrates economic empowerment by giving visibility to filmmakers, actors, technicians. Also, It is platform for training youth as seen by the partnership with the National Coalition of 100 Black Women San Francisco Chapter's Doris Ward Workforce Development Employment and Training Program over the past three years."
Check out panels with SFBFF friends such as Dana King, who will talk about "Monumental Reckoning;" Hollywood Director/Producer Leslie Small with star talent Steve Harvey, Shaquille O'Neal, Mo'Nique and more; Hollywood Producer Judy Klein, a Kevin Hart "go-to" producer; the music of Grammy-nominated Ricardo Scales; trumpet phenom Mario Abney of New Orleans; "Music in Monk Time," June 10th at SFJAZZ.COM; and the upcoming tribute of Zimology, the late Bra Zim Ngqawana at the Durban International Film Festival, July 22-August 1, a partner of the San Francisco Black Film Festival.
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ABOUT THE SAN FRANCISCO BLACK FILM FESTIVAL
The Mission of the San Francisco Black Film Festival is to celebrate African American cinema and the African Cultural Diaspora and to showcase a diverse collection of films – from emerging and established filmmakers. This is accomplished by presenting Black films, which reinforce positive images and dispel negative stereotypes, and providing film artists from the Bay Area in particular and around the world in general, a forum for their work to be viewed and discussed. The San Francisco Black Film Festival believes film can lead to a better understanding of and communication between peoples of diverse cultures, races, and lifestyles, while simultaneously serving as a vehicle to initiate dialogue on the important issues of our times. For more information about the San Francisco Black Film Festival visit www.sfbff.org.
ABOUT ROOTS & VINES Trading Company
With deep cultural roots, Roots & Vines Trading Company, creates an exceptional tasting experience for guests to embrace the fruits of passionate entrepreneurs . Flowing from many years of cultural exchange visits to South Africa, SISTERcircle. Inc., based in San Diego, started a women's investment collective to empower Black women by leveraging investment, import and export opportunities through South Africa's booming wine industry via "Roots & Vines Trading Company." As farmers and artisans are deeply concerned with our collective future, Roots & Vines Wine recognizes that sustainability practices benefit the wine makers, our customers and the world. The culture and internal practices at Roots & Vines Wine reflect a commitment to collective action, cooperative economics and responsible consumption that result in sustainable earnings for women. Roots & Vines Wine is committed to women's economic empowerment and partners with Ithemba Labantu to provide training and resources to women entrepreneurs in South Africa.
ABOUT BBB
Big Black Brunch is a social impact company which focuses on preserving and providing support to Black Restaurants and foodpreneurs.
In October 2010, we launched our BBB Restaurant & Retail program in conjunction with the San Francisco African American Chamber of Commerce to create economic opportunities for Black-owned restaurant and retail businesses who were at risk of displacement during the COVID-pandemic. Through this partnership we are successfully creating a safe space for SFAACC members to convene, learn, receive one-on-one technical assistance, and share resources to rebuild the Black community's economic base.