Greyston Bakery Focus of Award-Winning Documentary

Yonkers, NY (October, 2023) – Emmy Nominated & Award-Winning Writer/Director Alison Bartlett, has won a prestigious Award of Excellence – Special Mention from 2023 Impact DOCS Awards Competition. The award was given for Bartlett’s Documentary Short, Zen Brownie. Zen Brownie narrated by Jeff Bridges tells the tale of Buddhist Monks and how leading with inclusivity, kindness, and compassion has created a well-known profitable business in Greyston Bakery.

The film has been selected to be part of the YOFI Film Festival and will be screened at the River Front Theatre in Yonkers on November 12.

For tickets and more information on the screening:

Greyston Bakery is a world-class commercial operation located in Yonkers, New York. Greyston creates gold standard brownies enjoyed daily around the world through its inclusion in Ben & Jerry’s ice creams. Bakers join through an Open Hiring® policy which means no interviews, no background checks, and no resumes are required.

“As Greyston enters a new chapter, it is important to look back on our history,” said Greyston’s CEO & President Joseph Kenner. “For 41 years Greyston has been unlocking human potential through inclusive employment. It began with a Buddhist and a bakery and desire to help make communities thrive by being supportive of the folks society has cast aside. While the essence of our mission remains, the next chapter will be to work with other companies to replicate the Open Hiring® process and to expand our workforce training and education programs.’’

Bartlett (Director/Writer/Producer) said she was, “honored to have received The Impact Docs “Award of Excellence.” “Our film’s goal is to highlight kind, inclusive, and profitable leadership.”

“We are pleased to have Zen Brownie win the Impact Docs “Award of Excellence,” said Michael Pirson (Producer), professor at Fordham University. “Our film showcases humanistic business practices that create a world that works for all.”

View the trailer here: Zen Brownie Trailer (vimeo.com)

About Greyston

In 1982 Greyston founder Zen Buddhist Bernie Glassman set out to employ individuals who faced barriers to meaningful employment at the Greyston Bakery. The hiring process was simple, accept anyone with a will to work, a process we now call Open Hiring®. Through the Greyston Employment Opportunity Center (GEOC), job seekers can access workforce development and transitional (re-entry) employment programs. Clients are also paired with a social worker to help connect them external resources they may need. Finally, the Greyston Foundation also offers business services for employers interested in replicating Open Hiring or tapping into the pool of upskilled clients. In 2013 Greyston Bakery was rated Best for the World B-Corp, a designation given to the top B Corps worldwide. And in 2023, Greyston received the Social Innovator of the Year award from Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship at World Economic Forum in Davos. For more information go to www.greyston.org

About Alison Bartlett

Zen Brownie, Doc Short – Emmy-nominee Bartlett, with narration from Oscar-winner Jeff Bridges, tells the tale of Buddhist Monks, Greyston Bakery and how inclusivity, kindness and compassion created a profitable business. With Professor Michael Pirson, the film explores Humanistic Model Management and Open Hiring. Colorful commentary from Ben & Jerry. Tightly crafted, inspiring, entertaining.