the team
Reel Families for Change is powered by a “tiny but mighty” team of part-time contractors and zealous volunteers, committed to elevating care for America’s screenworkers (i.e., film, TV, and video games).
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Administrative Leadership
Akima A. Brown
Founder & Executive Director
Akima A. Brown
Akima A. Brown is a long-time disruptor. Her work of nearly twenty years spans the public and private sectors, centering on systemic solutions-building around equity, inclusion, and access needs.
As Founder and Executive Director of Reel Families, their role centers on archtecting work-life solutions that ensure career access and advancement for other caregiving filmmakers.
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As Founder and Executive Director of Reel Families, their role centers on archtecting work-life solutions that ensure career access and advancement for other caregiving filmmakers.
Charenelle Thompson
Associate,
Marketing & Communications
Marketing & Communications
Charenelle Thompson
Charenelle Thompson is a seasoned professional with a mission to cultivate authenticity, nurture creativity, and help others step boldly into their next chapter.
In her MarComm Associate role, she'll be charged with helping RFC achieve the heightened integrity and visibility needed to make care-centered production the norm.
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In her MarComm Associate role, she'll be charged with helping RFC achieve the heightened integrity and visibility needed to make care-centered production the norm.
Nace DeSanders
Associate,
Business Operations
Business Operations
Nace DeSanders
Nace DeSanders joins RFC as Business Operations Associate and inaugural Lead for our care-centered people operations department. She leads outreach and partnership efforts for our field test programs, innovative care solutions, and the broader work of standardizing care-centered operations in screen production.
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Regional Services
Linia Hardy
Public Ambassador,
Pacific Region
Pacific Region
Linia Hardy
Meet Linia Hardy, our Pacific Region Public Ambassador. She’s worked in the LA film and television community for the past six years and is a member of the Art Directors Guild Local 800.
She says, “As a future caregiver, I want to be part of building something better; a world where people can work in the screen industry and commit to their families.”
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Ali Hopson
Public Ambassador,
Southern Region
Southern Region
Ali Hopson
Ali Hopson is a filmmaker, activist, and mother. As our Southern Regional Ambassador, she's helping us change the way we support film families in and around Texas.
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Janae Smith
Public Ambassador
DelMarVa Region
DelMarVa Region
Janae Smith
Janae Smith is a Delaware-based artist and filmmaker. She's the newest member of the Reel Families for Change team; joining the Community Support Team. Janae serves as a local leader in the DelMarva region where RFC is working to support the development of equitable new production hubs. Janae says, "I believe RFC will help me reach my goal of helping others in this industry."
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Board of Directors
Dinah J. Louissaint
President
Dinah J. Louissaint
Dinah J. Louissaint is a long-time advocate of mothers, children, and families. From her work in the NYC Dept. of Health and Human Services to volunteering with employer-supported re-entry programs for workers returning from family leave.
As RFC's Board President, Dinah leads efforts to teach creative industry employers how to support vulnerable workers as they provide care/age.
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As RFC's Board President, Dinah leads efforts to teach creative industry employers how to support vulnerable workers as they provide care/age.
Ali D. Hopson
Director
Ali D. Hopson
Ali has been in the film locations, production, events & film industry for over a decade. Growing up in a family of media professionals, photographers, and activists, from a young age, she's always dabbled in writing, filming, and photography.
Now, as a mother-filmmaker, she strives to build sustainable support channels that allow her and her peers to thrive.
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Now, as a mother-filmmaker, she strives to build sustainable support channels that allow her and her peers to thrive.
Rayne Marcus
Treasurer
Rayne Marcus
Rayne Marcus is a 25+ year film industry veteran with work sites spanning New York, Los Angeles, Vancouver, and Atlanta.
She also serves Board of Directors for Reel Families for Change, currently as Treasurer, where she supports the organization's public awareness campaigns, coalition building initiatives, and sustainability and succession planning efforts.
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Kim Rohrer
Director
Kim Rohrer
Kim firmly believes that working families deserve better, on and behind the screen.
She’s a 15+ year HR veteran, building progressive people practices with a focus on values-led behaviors and inclusive policies. She’s also a parent, a fierce advocate for creating better workplaces for caregivers, and a writer committed to telling more inclusive stories about our real, lived experiences.
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She’s a 15+ year HR veteran, building progressive people practices with a focus on values-led behaviors and inclusive policies. She’s also a parent, a fierce advocate for creating better workplaces for caregivers, and a writer committed to telling more inclusive stories about our real, lived experiences.
Advisory Council
ALEXA COBLENTZ
Denise Murray
KENDRA DOBSON
Samantha Panchèvre
