Juneteenth Resource Guide, Redesigned and Curated for 2025
In 2023, producer Angela Wells and creative technologist Tommy Dunn created an interactive Juneteenth guide to help people find meaningful ways to commemorate the holiday and support black-owned businesses and artists: https://juneteenth.zmbz.com/. This year, they are releasing an updated site that includes a broader list of things to do, places to eat, art shows to see, books to read (which all link out to Reparations Club, an independent black-owned bookstore in LA), and more, for people in Los Angeles and beyond. We want to share this resource with the whole advertising community.
Angela and Tommy were originally inspired to create the guide as companies began recognizing Juneteenth as a holiday. Rather than it becoming “just another day off,” Angela sought to celebrate the richness of black culture and uncover the day’s deeper meaning. As more team members at Zambezi have become involved, the website has been redesigned and further curated, with an improved user experience to make the site more engaging. Team favorites, like restaurants, podcasts, and more, were added to offer a range of content topics — business, fashion, sports, lifestyle — within the highly curated selection.
How Does It Work?
A geomap identifies the user’s location. For visitors based in Los Angeles, they will automatically be brought to a menu that includes EAT, SIP, PLAY, SEE, SOUNDS. The list includes everything from film screenings to art shows and even the Baby Band Juneteenth Jubilee in East Compton. For visitors not in Los Angeles, or those preferring to stay inside, there are books, podcasts, board games and more.
“Each year for Juneteenth, we try to build on what we’ve learned. This year, it felt important to highlight a more thoughtful, elevated selection that truly reflects the richness and diversity of Black-owned businesses and offerings, and also reflects the places where we are actually spending our time,” said Angela Wells, the site’s co-founder and FIN Studios Producer. “Juneteenth is still a holiday many people are learning about, and our hope is that this site encourages more people to explore the city, support the community, and engage with the meaning of the day in a way that feels accessible, beautiful, and fun.”
Find Angela’s personal favorites from the guide below, a list of “ZMBZ Recommends” LA EATS for our Angelenos, and the team that lent a hand spanning Zambezi and our production studio, FIN:
Angela’s Favorites:
Forever from the watch section. Sometimes we’re hard pressed to find content to watch that feels fresh, while also feeling aligned with the times. Forever does a great job at pulling in real teen feelings and distributing to the masses in a way that hasn't necessarily been done before. Plus, I love the back story of this being a Judy Blume novel (originally published in 1975) and her support in telling it today through black characters. Romance and self-discovery narratives that aren't solely tied to stories that focus on trauma for black folks is so important.
Open Water from the read section. This is one of my favorite books, so I had to put it on the list. I received an advanced reader copy back in 2020 and I haven't shut up about it since. It's black love, black art, black expression all tied up into some of the most beautiful writing.
The Cutting Room Floor from the listen section. Recho Omondi is one of the best interviewers out there right now. She's asking questions that people aren't asking, let alone even thinking about, and her podcast is really one that makes me feel like I've learned something new about the guest. So many podcasts are surface level, but she hosts a wide range of guests from all different areas of the fashion world and is able to have amazing conversations with them. She recently went viral for her Steve Madden podcast where he opened up about his time in prison, but she's been doing this since 2018 and has really made a name for herself.
ZMBZ Recommends List: The LA EATS section of the site was specifically curated with restaurants that our Juneteenth team loves and frequents. Because of the added meaning, please take down their recommended dishes for when you visit!
ZMBZ Recommends: The jollof platter.
ZMBZ Recommends: Buffalo cauliflower wrap and ginger crush juice.
ZMBZ Recommends: Cast iron mac and cheese.
ZMBZ Recommends: Dereq tibs and the vegetarian combo.
ZMBZ Recommends: Classic cinnamon roll and the matcha latte.
Credits: Angela Wells, Producer Tommy Dunn, Creative Technologist Jasmine Green, Associate Director, Social Strategy Jonné Pratt, Designer Damien Nemire-Pepe, Studio Motion Design Director Michael Smith, Senior Motion Designer
L-R: (Top) Angela Wells, Tommy Dunn, Jasmine Green, (Bottom) Jonné Pratt, Damien Nemire-Pepe, Michael Smith