Join your host Hermene Hartman for this special report , 5- part Zoom series, Covid While Black in partnership with Robert R. McCormick Foundation. We'll be discussing mental health, talking to survivors of the corona virus, in addition to featuring black doctors & nurses, black entrepreneurs, and the much ignored last responders/deathcare workers- funeral directors.

In this episode your host Hermene Hartman speaks with Fashion Designer Barbara Bates , Dionne Williams of D.Williams Public Relations and Event Management Group , Owner and Executive Chef Erick Williams at Virtue Restaurant & Bar , Noelle Diprizio VP & Co-founder of Chicago Distilling Company, and Annah Mitchell owner of Gobble Doggs , to discuss how their businesses have survived during this pandemic.

Erick Wiiliams had a decrease in business of 75%. The concerns around the new business processeses for his restaurant were overwhelming. His initial thoughts were to insure that his team was in a position to sustain themeselves vs. implementing furloughs as other restaurants have done. Virtue quickly moved to "take out" soley to create a revenue stream and strong nest egg for the team.

Barbara Bates received a call from two friends suggesting that she shift to making masks for first responsders. Her first run of 500 masks were dontaed to Mt.Sanai Hospital. After that Ms. Bates was determined to learn more about making masks safer and as a result she worked with a manufacturer who has a patent pending product that could be shaved thin enough to be placed into fabric thus giving her masks much needed filters. To date Barbara Bates designs have provided thousands of masks to first responders.

Noelle Diprizio like everyone else went into survival mode. Her company partnered with other craft distilleries and the FDA to map put how to use a product they alread know how to make, ethanol, and the result was making hand sanitizer. They started out servicing first responsders and nursing homes ultimately opening the opportunity to purchase within their commmunities.

Dionne Wiliiams' business was hit very hard. Since she is a publicist and evet planner she initially contacted all her event clients to see if they would consider producing virtual events. Most clients postponed until 2021 but a few moved forward with online fundraisers, panel discussions, webinars, etc. On the PR side her business focused on "content is king" by partnering with influencers and producing facebook live shows.

Annah Mitchell too saw her business decline tremendously during the pandemic. As the owner of Gobble Doggs food truck, a food kiosk, and catering company Annah initially ceased everything until she could find her footing on how to best move forward. Now with the phase 3 reopening the food truck is out but business has been very slow. Annah's positive attitude is simply that she understands that her business has to be built back up one step at a time. 

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Executive Producer - Hermene Hartman/N'DIGO Studio

Co-Producer - Joi Mitchell

Co- Producer - Jerald Miller - Jerald Miller Design

Co- Producer/Editor - Erik Hammond - Clear Vision Multimedia

In partnership with Robert R. McCormick Foundation

 

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