● About us — Film · Music · Live Events
We don't just create content. We create pathways.
The Culture Works Initiative connects the creation of Black-centered film, television, music, documentary storytelling, entertainment marketing, and live cultural experiences with measurable opportunities for workforce development, arts access, cultural preservation, and community economic growth.
The problem
The talent is here. Access isn't.
We focus on the unequal access to careers, professional networks, paid opportunities, and leadership pathways within entertainment. Black creativity shapes global culture — yet the pathways into the industries built around it remain uneven.
36% → 24%
Women creating original U.S. streaming series, 2024–25 to 2025–26
SDSU, Boxed In 2025–26
32% → 22%
Women directing original U.S. streaming programs, same period
SDSU, Boxed In 2025–26
8.3%
Creators of most-watched scripted streaming shows (2024) who were people of color
UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report, Dec 2025
3.3%
Creators in that same study who were Black
UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report, Dec 2025
How we do it
Four pathways into a career
Create
Film, television and digital production.
Practical production skills and supervised work experience.
Launch
Entertainment marketing, advertising, publicity, media and rollout strategy.
A professional marketing portfolio that travels beyond entertainment.
Activate
Concerts, screenings, premieres, cultural events and event operations.
Skills to plan and execute professional cultural experiences.
Preserve
Black music heritage, documentary research, cultural storytelling and archival education.
Storytelling skills that responsibly preserve Black cultural history.
Each program must have defined activities, eligible funding uses, and measurable outcomes before it is offered for support.
Causes to give to
Choose the impact you want to make
Mental Health in the Workplace
Supporting conversations about emotional well-being, personal agency, healthy relationships, and power dynamics at work.
Learn more →Workforce & Careers
Creating opportunities for paid training, mentorship, professional experience, and economic mobility.
Learn more →Arts & Culture
Preserving cultural legacies and expanding opportunities for storytelling from every community.
Learn more →
Women & Creative Leadership
Developing professional pathways and leadership opportunities for women in creative industries.
Learn more →Faith & Music Heritage
Preserving gospel music history and creating opportunities through inspirational storytelling.
Learn more →Community & Economic Impact
Connecting the creative economy with local business opportunities, paid employment, community programming, and entrepreneurial growth.
Learn more →~70%
of Black consumers surveyed say it's important that TV and film be written and produced by diverse teams.
Deloitte, 2024 Digital Media Trends