Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ebony Gilbert. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ebony Gilbert , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

My journey began when I was just a youth, and I had no outlet to express my deep concern for the disenfranchised community I lived in. It was only when I began my career as a young writer for the Miami Herald that I found my voice and learned the power of the media. I held onto this understanding when I decided to pursue my MFA in Screenwriting, but it was not just because I wanted a career in Film and TV but also because I wanted to give back and teach.

I made this promise to teach the craft of writing film and TV when I would return each summer to the marginalized communities of Miami and teach at various programs. The very first was Miami Film Life Center based in Overtown– Miami’s most impoverished community. After being awarded the Graduate Student Award for Leadership & Social Activism just days before my graduation, I had the privilege of speaking with the Dean of our program, and I told him, “My degree is not my own. It belongs to those who will be inspired to get one too one day and those who may never have the privilege.”

I’ve had the privilege of teaching in Florida and California as a substitute teacher, an Interventionist, and a full-time tenth-grade teacher during my time between Undergrad and Graduate school. I’ve led writing workshops, created curriculums, and most of all, been impacted by the hearts of young people with a passion for the arts.

I am fortunate to have the career I’ve dreamt of as a young girl growing up in Little Haiti in Miami, FL. I’ve written award-winning plays, a critically-acclaimed graphic novel, TV shows, and produced and directed a documentary set in Sierra Leone, Africa that has earned me numerous awards including a 2024 NAACP Image Award nomination. But what I am most proud of are the initiatives I am dedicated to under my company Dirt-Stained Roses. Those programs include a Scholarship Program, an Internship & Mentorship Program, a Reading Program, and a Screenwriting Program dedicated to students ages 12-18 years old.

Our mission is clear—to foster new voices and promote underrepresented stories. I’ve had this planted in my heart since I was just a teenager and I am proud to see it finally bloom.

Ebony Gilbert , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a writer, filmmaker, and community-activist. I am also the CEO and founder of Dirt-Stained Roses Productions. DIRT-STAINED ROSES is a multiplatform media company committed to innovation, visibility, and social justice. Our company highlights marginalized voices through film, TV, books, and stage plays in hopes of promoting underrepresented stories.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson that I had to unlearn was that I do not suffer from Imposter Syndrome. Every opportunity I am presented with is in my path because I have prepared for it. Believing that I was not ready or deserving held me back in the past, but at this point in my life, I know that I have the skills, gifts, and heart to walk into my destiny. I want others to believe this too.

How’d you meet your business partner?

I am fortunate to have my brother and best friend, Kamali Gilbert, as my business partner. Growing up, we fantasized about the very things we are now living. As adolescents, we created shows, directed documentaries, and produced them in our backyard. We even have old embarrassing VHS tapes as proof!

And when I went to grad school for Screenwriting and he went to school for Production, we would teach each other everything we learned.

This is not just about our careers or a brand identity; we were raised with a love for community so we are just expanding who we have always been.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dirt-stainedroses.com
• Instagram: dsr_productions_

Image Credits

WSE Photography