Akima A. Brown
Akima A. Brown (she/they) is a self-proclaimed “artist-activist” with nearly twenty years’ experience in the public and private sectors. Her professional credits include writer, producer, and casting professional for projects like the award-winning docu-narrative series, A HAUNTING, on Discovery Network; the feature film IN-LAWFULLY YOURS – streaming on Netflix, and the critically-acclaimed, short-form, festival favorites "Orange Morning" (2019), “Kids & Couture” (2020), and “The Champion” (2021). She is the founder of Reel Families for Change – a nonprofit advocacy agency, committed to eradicating barriers to workplace justice for screen industry professionals – and the CEO of BTG Multimedia Group; a for-profit social enterprise that aims to disrupt the accessibility pipeline for underrepresented populations in the film and television industry. Her organizations have been responsible for cutting edge research, diverse worker retention efforts, and economic advancement opportunities for poor and marginalized demographic groups. Akima's work and expertise has landed her engagements with renowned organizations including SXSW, the Geena Davis Institute, Women in Film and Television International, and the Micheaux Film Festival. As an inter-industry, multimedia professional and social entrepreneur, Akima creates books, films, software applications, and even assistive technologies to bridge divides, close gaps, and empower others. Her work centers around generating equitable solutions that ensure opportunity access and expressive freedom for all those who desire it. Living by the principle, “always content but never complacent”, Akima says she’s always looking for others who believe in the power of collective courage and get into “good and necessary trouble”.