Ashli J. Washington is a screenwriter, director, photographer and designer based in Atlanta, GA. Her work, like any artist, is very personal and speaks through the lens of her experiences as a Black woman raised by a child of the Jim Crow South and an immigrant from the West Indies. Ashli is passionate about telling stories that elevate the Black experience in new, imaginative ways. Through her work, she hopes to provoke conversations and positive change on topics that shape our identities. She creates worlds she didn’t see herself represented in growing up and often still doesn’t see. Ashli believes that every human deserves to see themselves authentically reflected on the black mirrors that greatly impact our self-perception.

Her screenplay, “Sleeping Dogs Lie,” was an official selection for the 2021 Atlanta International Screenplay Awards. Ashli’s first-ever screenplay, “Seven Whole Days,” was third runner-up in the 2020 WATZS Productions' People of Color Creative Screenwriting Competition.

Ashli is a proud alumna of Hampton University, where she studied broadcast journalism. She also holds an associate degree in fashion design from Bauder College.

Damon has always had a passion for stories and the ways they can help illuminate the realities of living life in the margins and bring Black, Queer, and diverse stories to the center. He is passionate about the human condition and seeks to be a part of organizations, missions, and communities celebrating Blackness. 

Driven by a passion for providing Black children with a liberatory educational experience, Damon started his career in 2009 as a middle grades science teacher in southwest Atlanta. During those three years as a classroom teacher, he witnessed the extent to which inequity is arranged in Atlanta, and frankly, most urban cities in America. The intricate and intentional relationship policy, individual practices and behaviors, and systems shape the conditions where most Black, Brown, and low-income children are born and raised.

Prior to his work in the classroom, Damon attended THE Hampton University where he studied Biology. 

During his spare time you can probably find Damon binging Netflix, or other streaming service, listening to music, grabbing a drink from the bar or staring off into space in a park or coffee shop.

Nakeshia Wright is an artist, graphic designer, photographer, teacher and a music enthusiast. The ability to express ones’ self- especially artistically- is a freedom she feels everyone should experience.

Being the go-to party playlist person, a song writer, an orchestra kid since 4th grade, a choir member + director and a rapper y’all never had the privilege to know- music has always been an instrumental part of her life (pun intended).

She feels that music sets a vibe, influences your mood and gives an outlet to express what just speaking sometimes can’t convey. There are literally people who have been diagnosed as “non-verbal” that can sing a song or hum a tune, and that’s powerful. 

Nakeshia is also a proud alumna of THE Hampton University where she studied Communicative Science and Disorders. 

Valentine Williamson, artistically known as Valentine Tarisse is an experienced and respected non-profit leader, performing arts manager/administrator, clinician, consultant, Emmy-nominated producer, and a multi-hyphenate creative with proven proficiency in program management, arts management/administration, event management & live-event production, creative content, communications/marketing strategy, college student development and project management.

In addition to her professional work in higher education and the performing arts/entertainment, Valentine is a caretaker, dance fitness instructor and content creator with focus on wellness, lifestyle and sharing her dramatic antics. She is a fierce advocate for civic engagement, arts education, body positivity, mental health awareness and for diversity, equity and inclusion. She is a plant mom and enjoys traveling, spending quality time with friends and family, and collecting vinyl records.