About

Mission Statement:

Our mission at Sweet Blackberry is to bring little known stories of African American achievement to children everywhere. Unfortunately, our schools often lack the time and resources to teach our children more than a handful of stories of African Americans in history. These triumphant stories of individuals surmounting the odds and making invaluable contributions to our society are inspirational and empowering, illustrating for our children the concept that tremendous obstacles are actually opportunities for greatness. In addition to gaining historical knowledge and perspective, children of all races and ethnicities will feel a sense of shared history.

Sweet Blackberry launched to critical acclaim in February 2005 with its first DVD release, “The Journey of Henry ‘Box’ Brown.” Narrated by Emmy award-winning actress, Alfre Woodard, “The Journey of Henry ‘Box’ Brown” brings to life for young children an extremely important chapter in American History, telling an extraordinary tale of human courage about a man who shipped himself, in a box, from Virginia to Philadelphia to freedom.

Sweet Blackberry’s second film, “Garrett’s Gift,” was narrated by award-winning actress, Queen Latifah. It tells the story of young Garrett Morgan, a creative-minded child who was finally able to focus his talents and energies and become one of the country’s most highly regarded inventors.

Sweet Blackberry’s films, “The Journey of Henry ‘Box’ Brown,” and “Garett’s Gift,” have both enjoyed a long run on HBO and HBO Family, and have both garnered several awards, including the Parent’s Choice Award.

Pulling from a deep tradition of storytelling through both words and music, Sweet Blackberry brings a wealth of talent to the screen. Sweet Blackberry’s stories are narrated by actors from film and television, and the narration is complemented by vibrant, eclectic music.

Sweet Blackberry’s plans are to create content that works across multiple media platforms, leveraging the power of stories to teach and reach young children wherever they may be.

Sweet Blackberry was founded by actor/writer, Karyn Parsons (The Fresh Prince of Bel Air). As a new mom, Parsons was motivated by a strong desire to instill a sense of culture and heritage to her daughter. Inspired by her own mother and upbringing, Parsons created Sweet Blackberry—delivering to all children, stories that need to be told and heard.

This culture is American culture; this history is American History.

Tatyana Ali is a Broadway-trained actress, singer, activist and graduate of Harvard University. Audiences recognize her as Ashley from “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” which earned her the NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Youth Actor” and the 1995 and 1997 Hollywood Reporter Young Star Award. She is also the Founder and President of HazraH Entertainment, a production company which produces BUPPIES and Love That Girl!. Heradvocacy work includes President Barak Obama’s campaign, the Millennium Momentum Foundation, and traveling the country as the host of the United Negro College Fund’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities Empower Me Tour.

Sherryl Browne Graves is Professor of Psychological Foundations and Department Chair of Educational Foundations and Counseling at Hunter College in New York. Her courses focus onpsychological foundations of education, including courses in child development, educational psychology and educational research. Her research interests focus on children’s understanding of racial and ethnic portrayals in mass media, the effects of diversity in the educational process and the use of technology in teaching and learning. She has served as a consultant and advisory board members to numerous media organizations including Sesame Workshop, WGBH and KCET Public Television Stations, Discovery Kids and the Public Broadcasting Service.

Liz Dwyer is the education editor at GOOD magazine. She has written on race, parenting and education for several national media outlets, and was named one of Parenting Magazine’s top bloggers of 2010. Dwyer previously worked as the education ambassador for the $20 million dollar Pepsi Refresh Project and as a social media consultant for several companies. She has over fifteen years of experience in education, including teaching grade school in both Guangzhou, China and Compton, California, and worked on Teach For America’s Los Angeles staff, where she supervised first and second-year K-12 teachers in the Compton, Lynwood and Los Angeles Unified school districts. She serves on the board of John Legend’s “Show Me Ed Reform” campaign and runs marathons in her spare time.

Karen S. Gruenberg is a media executive and strategist with extensive experience working across multiple media platforms.  Her work spans the inception and launch of digital distribution outlets–Noggin and Sprout; the creative and business reinvention of Sesame Street; and the development and launch of hit programs: Dragon Tales and Sagwa. Gruenberg recently launched KSG Projects,a media company dedicated to building new creative platforms and brands. Gruenberg also serves as a board member of Out2Play- a New York based-nonprofit dedicated to building playgroundsin areas of need.

Karyn Parsons (Founder and President) is best known as the character “Hilary Banks” on the long-running television show, “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” Karyn created the Sweet Blackberry foundation after being inspired by the true tale of a determined slave and the remarkable lengths he travelled to find his freedom.  While growing up, Karyn’s mother, a librarian in the Black Resource Center of a library in South Central Los Angeles, would share stories of African-American accomplishment with her daughter. A mother and activist, Karyn created Sweet Blackberry to use the power of stories to inspire youth.

Roger L. Patton is an attorney for One Degree of Separation Entertainment Consulting. He served as COO and General Counsel for Hidden Beach Recordings, a record label that launched the career of multi–platinum recording, Jill Scott.  Mr. Patton’s diverse entertainment experience includes having served as Chief Entertainment Counsel for the Clinton Administration’s Presidential Inaugural Committees in 1993 and in 1997.  Mr. Patton is on the advisory board for several new media and non-profit organizations, including The Multiverse Network, FTS Communications and the National Black Child Development Institute.

James Reynolds, Jr. is founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Loop Capital Markets.He has worked in the financial services industry for more than 27 years and strongly believes that successful executives have a responsibility to give back to the community. Mr. Reynolds participates as a board member of the Chicago Alliance to End Homelessness, Chicago United, The Lyric Opera of Chicago, The University of Chicago Hospitals and The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. Additionally, Mr. Reynolds is Chairman of the board for the Chicago Urban League, a member of the Advisory Board of the Levy Institute/Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and he is a member of the CFA Institute.

Stephanie Tavares-Rance co-founded The Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festivalwith her husband Floyd Rance. She began her career in entertainment working on award winning projects such as Frank Sinatra’s Duets I and II and with artists such as Prince, Jon Secada, Gloria Estefan and many others. Stephanie is the President of Crescendo, a public relations and event planning company where she works with such clients as Martell Cognac, HBO, Showtime and Vanguard Media.

Sabrina L. Williams is the Executive Director of home&community, inc., an organization that helps low-income residents organize to change housing policy and minimize the effect of food deserts in their neighborhoods. She has worked in over 40 states as a community organizer and organizational development specialist, and is currently expanding residents’ access to fresh food through institution of community food systems. With a background and education in architecture, law and urban planning, her work has focused on issues of justice and equity in urban communities.