Resources

Hotlines & Helplines

IATSE

SAG-AFTRA

WOMEN IN FILM

Anti-Harassment & Discrimination

STATE OF OHIO

Safety & Legal Help

  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers For The Arts: If you are an artist or arts organization in the Greater Cleveland area seeking free legal assistance, please contact the VLA to submit an application.
  • Women In Film: WIF advocates for and advances the careers of women working in the screen industries to achieve parity and transform culture. The WIF Help Line for Sexual Harassment and Misconduct in the Entertainment Industry offers resources and support, including referrals to pro bono legal services, low-fee therapy, and free support groups, to anyone who has experienced sexual harassment or misconduct while working in the entertainment industry. Their trauma-informed staff take calls from across the country, and referral services currently serve California, New York, and Georgia.
  • The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, or IATSE, Safety Hotline Program: Support staffers currently working in IATSE-covered positions, the IATSE Safety Hotline was launched for union members to report hazards on the job that have either been overlooked or gone unaddressed by employers. Union members can call toll free at 844-IA AWARE or 844-422-9273. The caller can either leave a message for or talk to a safety representative who will begin handling the issue.

Organizations & Charities

BAIL PROJECT INC.

A non-profit organization designed to combat mass incarceration by disrupting the money bail system — one person at a time. We believe that paying bail for someone in need is an act of resistance against a system that criminalizes race and poverty and an act of solidarity with local communities and movements for decarceration.

*The Bail Project is a partner with Legal Aid

Learn more here: https://bailproject.org/

THE BLACKHOUSE FOUNDATION

The Blackhouse was founded in 2006 by Brickson Diamond, Carol Ann Shine, and Ryan Tarpley to help provide a space where African American filmmakers felt welcomed, celebrated their success, and had an opportunity to connect with other filmmakers of color. Their goal is to continually change the way audiences think about Black movies and television and to keep the conversation about Black storytelling going on-screen and off for years to come.

Learn more here: https://theblackhouse.org

BLACK LIVES MATTER / BLACK LIVES MATTER CLEVELAND

Black Lives Matter was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. Black Lives Matter Foundation, Inc. is a global organization in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes. By combating and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centering Black joy, we are winning immediate improvements in our lives.

Learn more about Black Lives Matter: https://blacklivesmatter.com/
Learn more about Black Lives Matter Cleveland: https://www.facebook.com/BLM216/
Learn how to safely support BLM online: https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/support-black-lives-matter-online/

BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA

Black Public Media is committed to a fully realized expression of democracy in media, which requires developing, producing, and funding media content about the African American and global Black experience by  providing training and support for Black content creators working in film and emerging media. Black Public Media supports the development of visionary content creators and distributes stories about the global Black experience to inspire a more equitable and inclusive future.

Learn more here: https://blackpublicmedia.org

THE BLACK TV & FILM COLLECTIVE

The Black TV & Film Collective was created to provide opportunities for Black and African descent artists to achieve economically sustainable careers in all areas of content creation. BTFC is a collective of screenwriters, directors, producers, content creators, editors, cinematographers, animators, agents and other media professionals.

Learn more here: https://www.blacktvfilmcollective.org

BLACK VOTERS MATTER FUND

Their goal is to Increase power in our communities and effective voting allows a community to determine its own destiny.

Learn more here: https://www.blackvotersmatterfund.org

BROWN GIRLS DOC MAFIA

Brown Girls Doc Mafia is an initiative advocating for over 3,300 women and non-binary people of color working in the documentary film industry around the world. We fight inequality by building community and sharing resources, nourishing our creative brilliance, demanding access and visibility in creative and professional environments, enriching our community with the knowledge to sustain ourselves financially, and by cutting through oppressive industry structures to advocate for 
our members.

Learn more about Brown Girls Doc Mafia: https://www.browngirlsdocmafia.com

CAMPAIGN ZERO & #8CANTWAIT

Funds donated to Campaign Zero support the data-driven analysis of policing practices across the country, research to identify effective solutions to end police violence, technical assistance to organizers leading police accountability campaigns and the development of model legislation and advocacy to end police violence nationwide. Campaign Zero recently went live with the #8cantwait Campaign, which focuses on 8 specific policies to reduce police violence.

Learn about Campaign Zero: https://www.joincampaignzero.org/
Learn about #8cantwait: https://8cantwait.org/

CLEVELAND NAACP

The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.

Learn more here: http://clevelandnaacp.org/


COLOR OF CHANGE HOLLYWOOD

We collaborate with like-minded insiders and influencers to change representations of Black people – and issues affecting Black people – across the media landscape.

Learn about Color of Change Hollywood: https://hollywood.colorofchange.org

DIVERSE REPRESENTATION

The mission of Diverse Representation is to increase the hiring and exposure and number of African-American agents, attorneys, managers, and publicists who work in the sports and entertainment industry.

Learn more about Diverse Representation: https://www.diverserepresentation.com

DIVERSITY CENTER OF CLEVELAND

Their mission – “to eliminate bias bigotry and racism” remains the same, as do our programs, operations and governance structure. Today, through their School & Youth Programming, SHIFT Consulting, and LeadDIVERSITY we strive to reach toward our vision of creating communities where all people are connected, respected, and valued.

Learn more here: http://www.diversitycenterneo.org/about-us/

EDWINS

Located in Shaker Heights, this restaurant has a purpose: We give formerly incarcerated adults a foundation in the culinary and hospitality industry while providing a support network necessary their long-term success.

Learn more here: https://edwinsrestaurant.org/


FIRELIGHT MEDIA

Firelight Media is the premier destination for non-fiction cinema by and about communities of color. Firelight Media produces documentary films, supports filmmakers of color, and cultivates audiences for their work. We are committed to reach and engage diverse audiences around the world through documentary films.

Learn more here: https://www.firelightmedia.tv

HOLLYWOOD COMMISSION

Chaired by Anita Hill, the Hollywood Commission brings together entertainment executives, independent experts, and advisors to take the necessary collective steps towards tackling the culture of abuse and power disparity in the industry.

Learn more here: https://www.hollywoodcommission.org/

HUE YOU KNOW

HUE bolsters diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging. Our mission is to build community, provide mentorship, and foster employment opportunities for BIPOC media professionals.

Learn more here: https://hueyouknow.com

JHRTS

The junior membership division of Hollywood Radio & Television Socity (HRTS), created in 2000, continues the organization’s longstanding tradition of community-building, and allows HRTS to do what no other organization ever has — to nurture professionals working in the TV and entertainment industry who are in the earliest stages of their careers. Led by the JHRTS Board, comprised of a diverse group of elected JHRTS members, the junior society connects, educates and provides access to the industry through bicoastal member-only events, the HRTS Mentorship Program and other resources and initiatives such as the annual JHRTS Script Competition, HRTS Diversity & Inclusion Guide and the new Writers Group Program.

Learn more here: https://hrts.org/jhrts-about/

LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF CLEVELAND

Secures justice and resolves fundamental problems for those who are low income and vulnerable by providing high-quality legal services.

Learn more here: https://lasclev.org/donationform/

LUTHERAN METROPOLITAN MINISTRY (LMM)

LMM seeks that people who are oppressed, forgotten, and hurting be empowered, valued, and healed by our unwavering commitment to addressing chronic needs, enabling people to self-sufficiency, and advocating for system change. As a catalyst and convener for meaningful conversation, LMM seeks to change the social, political, and religious conversation about justice from one of limitations to one of possibilities.

Learn more here: https://www.lutheranmetro.org/

POLICE BRUTALITY CENTER

The mission of the Police Brutality Center is to offer resources to people and families affected with educational information and support.

Learn more here: https://policebrutalitycenter.org/


THINK TANK FOR INCLUSION AND EQUITY

A consortium of working TV writers spanning staff writer to showrunner who know first-hand the challenges faced by underrepresented TV writers (Women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, Disabled People) because TTIE is comprised of underrepresented writers from all of these communities. As the only intersectional social change organization that advocates within the entertainment industry for a diverse cross-section of underrepresented communities, TTIE is uniquely situated to empower underrepresented writers and transform the industry into one in which all writers and all stories can thrive.

Learn more here: https://www.writeinclusion.org/

TOWARDS EMPLOYMENT

Towards Employment is a proven leader in workforce development that connects people to careers, which changes people’s lives, advances business, and strengthens the community in Northeast Ohio. Our mission is to empower individuals to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency through employment.

Learn more here: https://www.towardsemployment.org/

URBAN LEAGUE OF GREATER CLEVELAND

The mission of the Urban League of Greater Cleveland is dedicated to providing equal opportunities for African-Americans and other minority members to develop and exercise their potential on par with all other Americans through education, research, advocacy and provision of services.

Learn about the Urban League of Greater Cleveland: https://ulcleveland.org/
Learn about the National Urban League: https://nul.org/

WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA WEST COMMITTEE OF BLACK WRITERS

The WGAW Committee of Black Writers’ mission is to empower, increase visibility, and create career and networking opportunities for Black writers in Hollywood.

Connect with the Committee of Black Writers on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WGAwCBW/

YOUNG ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVISTS

An organization that “believes that if Hollywood content creates culture, and if we want to change global culture, we need to change the people who make it.” As an activist hub in the entertainment industry, the organization produces action-oriented events and initiatives to transform both the internal makeup of the industry and our world at large.

Learn more here: https://www.youngentertainmentactivists.com/ 

Support Disability Inclusion

AMC Sensory Friendly Films

AMC is proud to partner with the Austism Society to offer unique movie showings where we turn the lights up and turn the sound down, so you can get up, dance, walk, shout or sing! Our Sensory Friendly Film program is available on the second and fourth Saturday (family-friendly) and Wednesday evenings (mature audiences) of every month. Please check your local theatre listings for specific showtimes, and don’t forget to share your family fun with #AMCSensoryFriendly.  See Cleveland’s Participating Theatre.

Easterseals Disability Film Challenge

Check out the films submitted this year and check back for updates on future opportunities to submit!

NBF-Newsline

A free audio news service for anyone who is blind, low-vision, deafblind, or otherwise print-disabled that offers access to more than 500 publications, emergency weather alerts, job listings, and more.

Octane Seating – Actors with Disabilities in Film/Hollywood

This comprehensive resource blog post from Octane Seating provides in-depth information on disabilities and how they’ve been portrayed in the world of acting, actors who have disabilities in film and Hollywood, and why it is important to have this type of representation in cinema. The movies that portray disabilities, especially when actors with disabilities themselves are given the opportunity to play these roles, are powerful types of representation that create support, inclusion, and awareness for the many individuals that live with a disability. Although there is a point of contention in cinema, where actors without disabilities play characters with a disability, both activists and audiences are working to create a more welcoming and open-minded place in Hollywood and film for actors living with disabilities to thrive in.

PTEOE’s ‘Performers with Disability: Inclusion, Authenticity & Allyship’ live stream

The discussion coincides with the 30th anniversary of the American with Disabilities Act, a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life. For the panel, a major focus was the portrayal of persons with disabilities by non-disabled performers and its effects on how the media and industry views the community overall.

Support Equity find funds that support Black, Indigenous and people of color, women, people with disabilities and LGBTIQ communities impacted by COVID-19.

Variety and Easterseals sponsored inclusion resources to advance disability representation in entertainment. Includes recommendations and resources for casting directors, actors with disabilities, writers, directors/producers, studios/networks, below-the-line professionals, and more.