Vivian’s Door, based in Mobile, Ala., connects Black entrepreneurs in South and Central Alabama and along the Gulf Coast with the capital, mentorship, and resources they need to build thriving businesses. The organization was founded in the legacy of civil rights activist and trailblazer Vivian Malone Jones. Kindred Futures partnered with Vivian’s Door to support our capacity-build efforts with Black-led Business Support Organizations (BSOs).
Vivian’s Door serves as a gateway for minorityowned businesses to achieve higher levels of success through cultivating valuable anchor and corporate relationships, building stronger community connections, acquiring knowledge, and sourcing business experts, mentors, and investors. A partnership with Kindred was born out of what Janice Malone, co-founder and CEO of Vivian’s Door, describes as both a natural and necessary alignment.
“Over several months of thoughtful conversations, we built a genuine relationship —one grounded in shared values, transparency, and a mutual commitment to meaningful change,” Malone explains, “The more we learned, the more aligned our visions became. So, when the opportunity arose, we didn’t hesitate. This partnership gives Vivian’s Door access to the tools, expertise, and strategic support needed to strengthen our ability to serve small businesses — especially those facing persistent barriers.”
This past year, Evelyn Sheppard of Vivian’s Beauty Supply began working with Vivian’s Door, where she received guidance on sourcing wholesalers and advertising strategy, and attended bi-weekly coaching sessions.
“Through their network, I was connected with a highly skilled subject-matter expert who guided me through the process, resulting in a strong business plan that secured a bank line of credit,” Sheppard explained. In August 2025, she opened the doors of her beauty supply store in rural Mobile County.
Sheppard said Vivian’s Door played a pivotal role in laying the groundwork for her business. “Beyond that, Vivian’s Door connected me with other professionals who helped build the operational foundation of my business,” she said. Malone said their partnership with Kindred Futures has been a game changer in their work supporting small businesses like Sheppard’s. “We feel empowered and connected to something bigger than ourselves,” she said.
“Most importantly, this collaboration enables us to offer more to the businesses we support — more knowledge, more resources, more capital, and more opportunities for growth.”
