About Us
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
ABOUT US
"The freedom of Black women is the freedom of all people. By amplifying our voices, we shatter chains of oppression and pave the way to collective liberation."
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- Dear America Executive Producer, Shennell Barnes
Our Story...
“Dear America, A Letter from Black Women” illuminates the untold story of Black women while exploring their pivotal role in shaping the nation's political history and the contemporary fight to protect the democracy they've long upheld. From scholars to activists, this feature film amplifies the diverse voices of Black women as they mobilize to defend their rights and the future of American democracy in the face of rising threats.
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Meet The Production Team
Executive Producer & Writer,
Shennell McCloud
Shennell Barnes-McCloud is a trailblazing social justice leader and media executive. As CEO of Project Ready, she has transformed Newark's political landscape through voter registration drives and policy advocacy, resulting in her constituents holding 51% of local offices.
As Executive Producer of the Dear America Project, Shennell amplifies the voices of Black women nationally through a groundbreaking iHeart Radio show and an upcoming documentary. Recognized with numerous fellowships and awards, Shennell is a 2024 Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women Program Cohort member and YWCA Northern New Jersey Racial Justice Award Honoree. Her tireless efforts have made her a driving force for equity and representation in American politics.
Producer,
Julia Carias-Linares
Julia Carias-Linares is a media executive, actress, and businesswoman. She is a founding partner and CEO of FREEDOM STUDIOS, INC., a media company creating thought-provoking, groundbreaking content that inspires social change. As a television executive, she worked for three of A+E Television Networks’ brands – Lifetime, A&E, and FYI, as part of the core team that successfully rebranded the Biography channel to FYI into the number one upscale entertainment network on ad-supported cable in 2015.
Producer,
Meiling Macias-Toro
Meiling Macias-Toro is an award-winning executive producer, advertising and media expert with over 35 years of experience producing content and commercials for Fortune500 Brands. As former Head of Production in various Agencies, she led production teams in integrated creative production for: TV, digital content, social, print and experiential. Her trajectory includes brand campaigns featuring celebrities and artists such as the Latin legendary Celia Cruz, Edward James Olmos, Eva Langoria, Isaac Hayes, Mary J. Blige, soccer legend Pele, and basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to name a few.
Macias-Toro is co-founder of Freedom Studios, a media and content production company focused on thought-provoking stories that inspire social change and Freedom Global Network, a telecommunication company with long-term plans to serve Latin America. She passionately advocates for education, health and human rights for children.
Director,
Dana Offenbach
Dana Offenbach is a member of the prestigious Producers Guild of America and New York Women in Film & Television. She is an award-winning producer/director who grew up in Washington Heights, where she developed her diverse creative vision. She is the founder and owner of CinemaStreet Pictures, Inc., which develops and produces original content across all platforms, and her films have won Best Narrative Feature, Best Screenplay, Best of Festival, Best Short Film, World Premiere Honors, and an NAACP Nomination for Outstanding Independent Feature.
Associate Producer,
Dr. Brittany Kirkland
Dr. Brittany Kirkland has a decade-long career in Education and Project Management, which includes being an Adjunct Professor in Psychology and having worked on the Academic Operations and Strategy team for a charter school network.
Dr. Kirkland is currently serving her 2nd Term as a Board of Education Member and was appointed to serve on the Board of Directors for the New Jersey School Board Association. Her various roles in education brought her to Project Ready NJ as the Chief Program Officer.
Our Clients
